What are the tenets of our approach with clients? Based on more than 20 years of experience in the trenches with diverse organizations, we have evolved a philosophy and methods that characterize the engagements that we undertake.

The discipline of Systems Thinking offers a way of understanding dynamic complexity and working more effectively within all types of systems.

Methods and tools from this field support people in recognizing interdependencies--the feedback relationships that produce the performance we see; and help us to manage our actions and policies to get desired results.

Breakthrough Learning uses mapping and modeling techniques and a range of tools for supporting clients to think systemically and achieve the results they want.

We call our approach Applied Systems Thinking. Grounded in the theory and philosophy of the discipline, Breakthrough Learning specializes in helping people to apply Systems Thinking in ways that are practical and effective at all levels of an organization.

Our products support people in learning to apply the discipline of Systems Thinking, and our services routinely incorporate the discipline.

We are committed to process excellence in our own work, and we help clients to integrate the philosophy and methods as well.

Every process is perfectly designed for producing the results we get. Whether a process is cumbersome and error-prone or whether it smoothly produces the outcomes we desire is entirely within our control!

At Breakthrough Learning we know how to design excellent processes that workwhether an error-free medication delivery process, or a customer-friendly service-enrollment process, or a diabetes management process.

Various methods for process excellence have been used in many industries for years. Quality Improvement, Statistical Process Control, 6 Sigma — these are all part of the field of process excellence. Breakthrough Learning draws from a broad range of experience, selectively using the steps, techniques and tools that have proven successful in diverse organizations.

The approach to process excellence that we teach is Big!mprovement, which we offer to clients either for single projects or for integrating throughout the organization.

Breakthrough Learning specializes in the development of simulation experiences for decision support and for team learning.

Our Friday Night at the ER team learning game is an example of a physical simulation tool that takes the form of a board game. Our Six Decisions program is an example of an simulation in the form of an interactive, computer-based tool. We also develop custom simulation tools to represent a client organization's particular challenge.

We have found that computer-based simulation models are among the most powerful Systems Thinking tools. Teams become highly engaged in a process of exploring and experimenting with models that represent their business or their system of interest. They learn why and how the organization produces specific results by testing ideas, by experiencing the consequences of actions over time and by seeing physical representations of the system structure.

Computer-based simulation tools are used:

• for decision support concerning a complex problem;
• for gaining insight about the likely consequences, both near- and long-term, of alternative actions;
• for identifying leverage points for intervening in a system to produce desired results;
• for scenario planning: preparing an organization for successful management under different, possible future environments;
• for understanding whole-system, dynamic performance: tracking more complex and changing variables than is possible with other analytic methods;
• for communicating broadly with diverse stakeholders about complex issues and organizational performance needs.

Breakthrough Learning develops such tools and assists in their successful use within organizations.

Breakthrough Learning provides consulting services to client organizations in areas of strategic planning, business development, redesign, and process improvement. Features of our consulting services include:

• Emphasis on team learning so that clients gain insight as well as answers to immediate problems
• Commitment to a sound analytic method based on measurable performance requirements and alternative strategies to meet them
• Use of a Systems Thinking approach that considers local and organizational goals, the structure and interrelated elements of the organization, and changes over time
• For complex challenges, use of computer-based simulation tools for modeling and testing ideas.

We also design learning programs and training curricula to meet specific client needs; and our staff provide coaching services that assist individuals in meeting personal life and work goals.