What is the Systemic Thinking score?
Systemic Thinking (SYS) is one of the 8 core dimensions in the Compassion Benchmark framework — the independent 0–100 scoring system applied to governments, companies, AI labs, robotics labs, and cities. Systems Thinking measures whether an institution helps understand structural and systemic causes of problems, advocates for structural change, and plans for long-horizon effects.
Systemic Thinkingis scored using 5 anchored subdimensions, each rated 0–5 against documented evidence. Those subdimension scores combine into the entity's SYS dimension score, which contributes equally alongside the other 7 dimensions to the entity's overall composite score and performance band.
The 5 Systemic Thinking subdimensions
Each subdimension is a specific assessment question, scored 0–5 against a behavioral anchor ladder from documented evidence.
S1
Root Cause Orientation
Does this entity address causes of suffering, not only symptoms?
0–5 anchor scale for S1
- All resources at symptom relief, root causes not discussed
- Root causes acknowledged, no resources allocated
- Some resources to root cause, ≥1 upstream intervention
- Explicit strategy, ≥1 documented case of reducing downstream need
- Significant resources to structural change, downstream demand reduced
S2
Long-Term Impact
Does this entity plan for and measure long-horizon effects?
0–5 anchor scale for S2
- Planning horizon is one budget cycle
- 3–5 year plan, primarily aspirational
- 5+ year planning with specific long-term goals, some tracking
- Long-term outcome data influences strategy, theory of change published
- 10+ year impact model reviewed, longitudinal progress on structural change
S3
Interconnection Awareness
Does this entity understand how its actions affect adjacent systems?
0–5 anchor scale for S3
- No awareness of second-order effects
- Adjacent systems identified, no systematic tracking
- ≥1 case of identifying and responding to unintended consequence
- Cross-system effects systematically mapped in major decisions
- Joint planning with adjacent systems, cross-system outcomes tracked
S4
Structural Critique
Does this entity critically examine structures that perpetuate the suffering it addresses?
0–5 anchor scale for S4
- Does not question structures that sustain need for its services
- Structural critique in communications, disconnected from action
- ≥1 public position taken that carries institutional risk
- Active advocacy documented, positions against short-term interest
- Contributed to ≥1 structural change, acknowledges own model's role
S5
Coalitional Compassion
Does this entity collaborate to amplify impact beyond its own capacity?
0–5 anchor scale for S5
- Works in isolation, no resource or learning sharing
- Some coalition participation, primarily extractive
- Active coalition member with documented contributions
- Joint outcomes, resource sharing with smaller organizations
- Has ceded leadership/credit/resources to better-positioned organization