On Identity
A shared identity as a system steward asks people to notice risks and connections beyond their formal roles. The proposal is to make risk discussion part of work across departments, rather than leaving it entirely to designated risk managers.
THE IDEA
On identity
Risk is an accepted management language that can help people discuss how an organization works. Its usefulness is limited if only designated risk owners and managers take part.
The authors propose a shared identity of system steward. Someone in that role pays attention to effects beyond their own task and shares observations with people elsewhere in the organization. Formal responsibilities still matter, but they need not define the limits of what someone notices or reports.
The practical question is how people across departments can make connections visible and respond together when risks emerge.
When to use it
When implementing a new organizational policy, use the system steward identity to involve employees from diverse departments in identifying potential risks and benefits.
During a crisis, encourage everyone to act as system stewards to improve situational awareness and coordination across functions.
In strategic planning, ask team members to adopt a system steward perspective to challenge assumptions and uncover blind spots.
When designing cross-functional projects, explicitly frame the work around a shared identity of system stewardship to foster collaboration and adaptability.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Cross-Departmental Risk Identification
Imagine a technology company asking employees to report risks beyond their assigned tasks. A support worker notices that a billing change creates confusing customer messages and brings the issue to the billing team. The shared steward role gives that observation a route into the decision.
Hospital Patient Safety Initiative
Imagine a hospital inviting clinical, administrative, and cleaning staff to report near-misses. Teams review reports together and track whether proposed changes help. This illustrates a shared reporting process; it is not evidence of a measured reduction in medical errors.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
How can you promote a 'system steward' identity in your own organization or team?
What barriers currently prevent risk language and system visibility from being trans-disciplinary in your workplace?
How does your formal role both enable and constrain your ability to see the broader system?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Cynefin - Weaving Sense-Making into the Fabric of Our World ED02 (Dave Snowden Sonja Blignaut Zhen Goh)