Applying a participatory systems and value approach in a transdisciplinary exercise: on assessing the impact of training and education initiatives

Participatory systems approaches are readily used in multi- and inter-disciplinary exploration of shared processes, but are less-commonly applied in trans-disciplinary efforts eliciting principles that generalise across contexts. The authors were charged with developing a transdisciplinary framework for prospectively or retrospectively assessing initiatives to improve education and training within a multifaceted organisation. A common System Impact Model (SIM) was developed in a series of workshops involving thirty participants from different disciplines, clinical specialisms, and organisations. The model provided a greater understanding of the interrelationships between factors influencing the benefits of education and training and development as seen from various stakeholder perspectives. It was used to create a system for assessing the impact of initiatives on service-users/patients, trainees, and organisations. It was shown to enable a range of participants to connect on common challenges, to maximise cross-, multi-, and inter-disciplinary learning, and to uncover new strategies for delivering value, as system designers.