I want to give some context about this series of posts. I continue to explore Strategic Complex Design (SCD) as a framework for connecting strategy with the new challenges associated with the uncertainty and complexity in which our teams, projects, and clients live.

In previous entries, I discussed how categorical thinking can limit our ability to analyze the complex problems we work on. In a world where problems are interdependent and multidimensional, we need a different type of thinking: Systems Thinking. This type of thinking allows us to address not only the symptoms but also the root causes of the challenges.

The constituent elements of any system are: components, interconnections, and the purpose. I explained in a previous post how Strategic Complex Design (SCD) focuses on making effective interventions in the key components and interconnections of a system to redirect the very purpose of the system.

The components that make up a system.

By using Visual Sensemaking to map and comprehensively surface the system, planning incremental changes in elements and interconnections, and creating new narratives within an efficient communication plan are the core of Strategic Complex Design (SCD) interventions within Complex Systems.

In this article, I will focus on another element of systems thinking applied to Strategic Complex Design (SCD): feedback loops. These dynamic cycles explain how different elements of a system interact and define its behavior.

As an example of the presence of these loops in complex problems, I found it interesting to do so through the case of the Irish Hip-Hop band Kneecap and its influence on the resurgence of the use of Irish as a practical case.

Kneecap

“C.E.A.R.T.A.” means “rights” in Irish Gaelic. It’s also the name of a song by the Irish Hip-Hop group Kneecap. “C.E.A.R.T.A.” refers to the struggle for linguistic and cultural rights in Ireland. This claim to Irish identity is framed within a historical context of 800 years of colonization and conflict with England.”

Kneecap is formed by Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara, and DJ Próvaí, artists who use Gaelic Hip-Hop to express their point of view on everyday reality in their lyrics. Topics include the Northern Irish conflict, drug abuse, and criticism of the current political system. This use of Gaelic offers a non-romanized view of the language. By rapping about modern urban life using Gaelic with humor and naturalness in contexts where it had not normally been represented, Kneecap dismantles stereotypes about Gaelic speakers, making it an effective means of expression on equal terms with any other language.

Kneecap’s impact has also been amplified thanks to their semi-fictional biopic, also called Kneecap, which won the Sundance Film Festival’s NEXT Audience Award. Being the first Irish-language film to compete at Sundance adds special significance to this achievement. Kneecap is not just a band; it is a movement that is putting Ireland on the map of global hip-hop.

Stocks

Returning to Strategic Complex Design (SCD)… What exactly are stocks in systems thinking? Let’s think of them as the warehouses of the system, those places where resources or reserves accumulate. They can be tangible, like the amount of water in a bathtub, the number of speakers of a language, or intangible, like trust in a brand or the level of knowledge on a topic.

Stocks are important because they help us understand the inertia of problems that live in systems. ‘Stocks’ do not change instantly, but rather accumulate or are emptied gradually through inflow and outflow. For example, the amount of water in a bathtub does not increase instantaneously, it needs time and an inflow of water greater than the outflow. In our practical case with Kneecap, we will see how the number of speakers of a language (Irish) does not increase or decrease overnight, but depends on the flows of people who learn the language and the flows of people who stop using it.

The system structure of a bathtub. A stock with an inflow and an outflow.

Why do stocks matter in Strategic Complex Design (SCD)?

• Delays: Stocks generate delays in system responses. If through Strategic Complex Design (SCD) interventions we increase the inflow to a stock, we will not see an immediate change in its level, but it will take time to accumulate.
• Inertia: Stocks give inertia to systems, therefore even if a drastic change is desired in a system, Stocks prevent these sudden changes. Therefore, even if we implement significant changes, it may take time to see the effects of our Strategic Complex Design (SCD) interventions.
• Accumulation and depletion: Stocks can accumulate or deplete, which can have important consequences for the system. For example, excessive accumulation of waste can pollute the environment, while the depletion of natural resources can lead to scarcity, this must be foreseen in our Strategic Complex Design (SCD) interventions.

“Delays,” “inertia,” or “accumulation and depletion” are elements that must be anticipated and managed as natural system behaviors when we design interventions for complex problems.

Feedback Loops

Feedback Loop

Feedback Loops are dynamics that explain how the stocks of a system increase or decrease and determine the behavior of the system. They are cycles of cause and effect that can amplify or balance changes within the system. These loops are fundamental to understanding complex systems, as they allow us to identify repetitive behavior patterns and predict how a system might evolve. There are two main types of feedback loops.

Reinforcing Loops

Imagine a snowball rolling downhill: it gets bigger and picks up speed. This is how reinforcing loops work. A small initial change is amplified as the effect feeds back into the cause, generating exponential growth or decline.

For example, seeing a person running without a clear cause for it. This normally does not affect our stock of alertness or panic, but if we continue to see people running for no apparent reason, our stock of alertness or panic will increase with each new person we see running. The way to represent this type of loop is as follows:

Example structure of a Reinforcing Loop.

In designing Strategic Complex Design (SCD) interventions, it is crucial to identify and leverage the right positive reinforcing loops, while seeking strategies to break or mitigate negative loops.

Balancing Loops

If Reinforcing Loops are like a snowball, Balancing Loops are like a thermostat: they seek to maintain balance. They act as a brake that counteracts change, keeping the system stable.

For example, if the population of a species increases too much, the scarcity of resources can cause an increase in mortality or a decrease in the birth rate, which in turn reduces the population and restores balance. The relationship between the number of hunters and the number of their prey could be reflected by this representation:

Example structure of a Balancing Loop.

In many cases, Balancing Loops arise in response to a change or disturbance in the system. They can be self-regulating mechanisms that allow the system to adapt and survive.

“Understanding Balancing Loops in Strategic Complex Design (SCD) is essential for designing interventions that do not destabilize the system. Sometimes, it is necessary to modify or even deactivate some of these loops in order to generate a desired change.”

Feedback Loops

In a complex system, multiple reinforcing and balancing loops interact with each other, creating a fascinating and often unpredictable dynamic. A small change in one loop can have unexpected consequences in other parts of the system, like the famous ‘butterfly effect‘.

Feedback Loop structure with reinforcing and balancing loops.

Therefore, it is essential to visualize the Feedback Loops to understand the interconnections and cause-and-effect relationships within the system. Tools such as causal loop diagrams or system maps can be very useful.

When designing interventions in Strategic Complex Design (SCD), it is important to bear in mind that systems do not change linearly. Feedback Loops generate cycles of growth, resistance, stagnation or even collapse. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor the loops and adapt interventions as the system evolves.

Stocks and Feedback Loops in the number of speakers of a language

Putting all this theory into action, let’s see how we could use the different feedback loops to understand the stocks, accelerators, and balancers that may exist in the use of a language like Irish.

The number of speakers of a language is influenced by several feedback loops that determine its stability, growth, or decline. It is impossible to list them all, but some key loops would be:

• Interest in the language. How identified the inhabitants of a territory feel with a language.
• Language Proficiency. That which allows fluent communication within the same community.
• The applicability of the language in everyday life. The possibility of using the language as a vehicle of expression for the daily life of its speakers.

These elements combined interact through reinforcing and balancing loops that directly affect the linguistic vitality of a language. In the case of Irish, Gaeilge, it is a minority language with constitutional status in the Republic of Ireland and official recognition in the European Union. However, despite its rich history and symbolism, English dominates as the language of the majority of the Irish population.

Interest in the language

One of the main challenges in the use of Irish lies in the persistence of stereotypes that associate this language with the archaic and the rural. At a cultural and economic level, Irish continues to be associated with the rural Gaeltacht areas and is perceived as a traditional language, reinforced by its emphasis on literature and folklore. In addition, the supremacy of English in commercial and technological fields has relegated Irish to a secondary role, especially in urban and professional settings. The lack of modern and urban content in Irish media has strengthened the idea that the language lacks relevance in contemporary life.

To overcome this image, it is crucial to show and increase the relevance and usefulness of the language in modern contexts. Modernizing vocabulary and adapting to new technologies are essential steps to achieve this.

Structure of the Feedback Loop that represents the interest in Irish

Language Proficiency

According to statistics, 39.8% of the population of the Republic of Ireland claims to have knowledge of Irish, but only 2% use it daily outside of education. In Northern Ireland, 11% of the population claims to have some knowledge of the language. This discrepancy between knowledge and daily use is undoubtedly one of the biggest obstacles to the normalization of Irish.

Education plays a fundamental role in the transmission of Irish to new generations. Although it is a compulsory subject in schools in the Republic of Ireland, many students do not achieve fluency and do not use the language after graduation. The dynamics of formal education, by themselves, limit the interest of students. It is necessary to look for new strategies that encourage more dynamic learning and connect with the reality of young new speakers.

To go beyond the academic field, it is important to foster spaces where Irish is used naturally and spontaneously. It is about creating a sense of community among its speakers through artistic and cultural expressions. Showing Irish as a living language: making its linguistic rules more flexible and allowing a greater diversity of expressions and vocabulary.

Structure of the Feedback Loop that represents the level of knowledge of Irish

The applicability of the language in everyday life

The Irish language has been associated with nationalism and republicanism, especially in Northern Ireland, which has led to a high political charge in the use of the language. To expand its use, Irish must expand its use and be shown as a means of expressing any reality relevant to its society, the same as any other language.

The population needs, especially new speakers, to see themselves represented through their language. Expressing their daily life, being able to incorporate current issues and address relevant issues. It is essential to modernize its image, its vocabulary, its constructions through contemporary uses, arts, and cultural expressions. That the Irish language be more attractive to a demographic group, that of new speakers, who might not otherwise be interested in its use.

Daily use is crucial to consolidate and expand a linguistic community. The more opportunities there are to use the language in the media, social networks, and workplaces, the more its relevance is reinforced. The lack of these spaces creates a balancing loop that can lead to demotivation and the eventual abandonment of the language.

Structure of the Feedback Loop that represents the incentives for daily use of Irish

The Kneecap Impact on Loops and Stocks

Kneecap is not just a hip-hop group; it’s the epicenter of a cultural revolution that mixes music, activism, and provocation in its rawest form. With an irreverent style and an unwavering love for the Irish language, they have stirred controversy with lyrics full of political criticism, incendiary murals, and a defiant stance against the British government and law enforcement. But their impact goes far beyond the scandal: they have achieved something few thought possible, making new generations look at Irish again as a living, urban, and rebellious language.

Kneecap’s Fine Art

Kneecap is modifying Reinforcing Loops, making them more powerful, and decreasing the influence of Balancing Loops. The stocks of interest in the language, the level of knowledge of the language, and the applicability of the language in everyday life begin to break their natural tendencies of delays, accumulation, and lag.

As if it were an intervention designed by Complex Design, Kneecap is working on all these elements at once to force these changes in loops and stocks:

• Challenging stereotypes and modernizing the language
• Greater national and international visibility and interest
• Promotion through popular media such as music and film
• Reconnecting with younger generations
• Fostering a sense of community
• Challenging linguistic “norms”

Challenging stereotypes and modernizing the language

Kneecap challenges traditional, often romanticized, views of the Irish language by using it in a modern urban context. They rap about contemporary life, including drug use, which is not typical of most music in Irish. This approach makes the language more accessible and closer to younger generations. By using Irish in a modern context, they elevate the language and bring it into the 21st century.

Greater national and international visibility and interest

Kneecap’s success, including their award-winning film at Sundance, has attracted international attention to the Irish language. Their music and film have gained a following around the world, increasing the visibility of Irish (here’s a Spaniard talking about Irish for example). This exposure has sparked interest in the language among new audiences.

Promotion through popular media such as music and film

Kneecap is promoting the use of Irish through their music and film, offering modern content in the language. Their work demonstrates that Irish can be used as a means for new forms of expression, including rap and urban drama. This inspires a new generation of speakers and shows that Irish is a living language.

Reconnecting with younger generations

By incorporating modern themes and addressing issues relevant to young people, Kneecap is making the Irish language more appealing to a demographic that might not otherwise be interested. Their music reflects the lives of many Irish speakers today, where they converse in English and Irish interchangeably.

Fostering a sense of community

Kneecap’s work has helped foster a sense of community among Irish speakers, particularly in Northern Ireland. By portraying a working-class republican Irish life, they have addressed issues that affect many young people. Their message resonates with the youth of Northern Ireland and is contributing to the revitalization of Irish and reversing the demonization to which it has been subjected.

Challenging linguistic “norms”

Kneecap’s global reach shows that hip-hop doesn’t need to be in English to be successful, challenging the dominance of English in music and opening up possibilities for other artists from minority languages. This demonstrates that music can transcend language barriers, even if the audience doesn’t understand the words.

Strategic Complex Design (SCD) & Feedback Loops

The Kneecap case demonstrates that, even in complex systems with deep inertia, it is possible to intervene strategically to alter dynamics and revitalize declining elements. The band has reconfigured reinforcing loops, weakened balancing loops, and, above all, has increased the key stocks for the resurgence of Irish: interest, applicability, and sense of community.

“From the perspective of Strategic Complex Design (SCD), Kneecap illustrates how cultural change can act as a lever to transform deep-rooted social systems. It is not just about music or activism: it is intervention in a linguistic, cultural, and political ecosystem.”

Returning to the starting point of this series, this is where systems thinking demonstrates its value: it allows us to see how small agents can generate large transformations when the right loops are activated. And it reminds us that, faced with complexity, it is not about finding linear answers, but about designing interventions that allow the system to evolve towards more inclusive and resilient futures.