Systems and Complexity Thinking to Master Leadership Challenges in Interprofessional Health Professionals Education

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to propose that knowledge, understanding, and application of systems and complexity thinking can improve assessment, implementation, and evaluation of interprofessional education (IPE). Using a case story, the authors describe and explain a meta-model of systems and complexity thinking to support leaders in implementing and evaluating IPE initiatives. The meta-model incorporates the use of several important, interrelated frameworks that tackle issues of sense making, systems, and complexity thinking as well as polarity management at different levels of scale in an organization. Combined, these theories and frameworks support recognition and management of cross-scale interactions and help leaders make sense of distinctions among simple, complicated, complex, and chaotic situations among IPE issues associated with healthcare disciplines within institutions. The application and use of Liberating Structures and polarity management practices enable leaders to engage people and gain insight into the complexities involved in successful implementation of IPE programs.