Articles

Insight, tools, and news from our work in complex systems.

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Murray StubbsInsight

How we verify AI-assisted work

The checks we run before anyone relies on work produced with AI.

SnowmeltInsight

Our upcoming ImpactLab Masterclass: Sharper strategy. Greater Impact.

A one-day masterclass with ImpactInstitute, led by Dr Tim Tompson, Dr Leanne Sobel (Snowmelt Expert Collaborator), Paula Cowan (impactInstitute), Royden Howie (ImpactInstitute). Sydney, Wednesday 30 September 2026.

SnowmeltInsight

Managing complexity with design

Across our work at Snowmelt, systemic design is used to work with complexity and support managers in their work. We present these as four management dimensions for systemic design intervention.

SnowmeltNews

Dr Leanne Sobel on her time at Snowmelt and what comes next

After almost two years on the Snowmelt team, Leanne is stepping into a new role as an expert collaborator. We sat down to reflect on her time with us and what's ahead.

SnowmeltNews

Welcoming Darrel Rhea as an expert collaborator

We sat down to welcome Darrel and learn more about his background and perspective.

SnowmeltNews

2025 Year in review

As we look ahead to 2026, we first wanted to pause and reflect on last year – our wins, our challenges, and what we learned. Let’s look at the year that was: 2025.

SnowmeltNews

Welcoming Berne Gibbons as an expert collaborator

We welcome Berne as an expert collaborator. Learn about her background and perspective.

SnowmeltNews

Welcoming Anne Moore as an expert collaborator

We welcome Anne as an expert collaborator. Learn about her background and perspective.

SnowmeltNews

Snowmelt is hosting the Pacific Edition of RSD14

Snowmelt is proud to host the Pacific Edition of RSD14 (Relating Systems Thinking & Design Symposium), running October 3–11, 2025. This series brings systemic design conversations to our region, with sessions scheduled in Pacific-friendly time zones (UTC+8 to UTC+11).

Chloé OruInsight

Stirring the sediment: the material practices of systemic design

Systemic design approaches in strategy are about more than building maps; it's about actively stirring the hidden currents of culture, relationships, and everyday materials towards long-lasting change.

Chloé OruNews

Meet Chloé Oru: Our new Systemic Design Analyst

We welcome Chloé as our newest Systemic Design Analyst. Learn about her background and perspective.

SnowmeltNews

2024 Year in review

As we look ahead to 2025, we first wanted to pause and reflect on last year – our wins, our challenges, and what we learned. Let’s look at the year that was: 2024.

Dr Tim TompsonTools

See an organisation as a whole: Snowmelt’s Fractal Market Map™️

A business is not a static entity. It’s a living, breathing organism; prone to flux and growth. So, how can we best understand a business as a whole? We've developed a new frame of reference we call the ‘Fractal Market Map™️’.

SnowmeltNews

Meet Leanne Sobel: Our new Director, Strategic Design

We welcome Leanne as our Director, Strategic Design. Learn about her background and perspective.

SnowmeltNews

2023 Year in review

As we look ahead to another exciting year in 2024, we first wanted to pause and reflect on last year – our wins, our challenges, and what we learned. Let’s look at the year that was: 2023.

SnowmeltNews

Snowmelt in nature

This article explores snowmelt as a transitory and catalytic state that occurs in nature. It provides us with a powerful metaphor for understanding human systems.

SnowmeltInsight

'Snowmelt' in organisations

Snowmelt represents a change of state—the transition from solid to liquid. For us, it’s more than just a name; it describes how we think and work.

Murray StubbsInsight

How systemic design really works

At Snowmelt, we consider systemic design as a mindset and process. Rather than rushing into ‘solution mode’, systemic design moves thinking and conversations upstream.

Dr Tim TompsonInsight

What is systemic design?

Systemic design is an approach developed to help people—designers, practitioners, strategists and others—to better handle uncertain and complex challenges.

Dr Tim TompsonInsight

How to operationalise 'network effects'

The promise of ‘network effects’ is a common feature in startup pitch decks, explaining how a platform-based product will grow.

Newsletter

Once a month: one systems idea you can use, one thing we learned in the field, no announcements.

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