09 Tom Inns: Healthcare system design
In this episode, I talk to Tom Inns, the principal at Cofink, the system mapping, facilitation and coaching consultancy.
The concept of Systems design has been around for decades. I’ve even been called a Systems Thinker a few times for my sins, but I’ve always found it a bit of an esoteric and even eccentric subject. Whenever I open a book or article on the topic, I don’t get far before being hit with dense and abstract schematics. Each author also seems to have a different approach, probably because the concept of systems is used in so many different domains, from biology and software engineering to urban planning and sociology and policy.
Tom has a refreshingly straight-forward way of talking about the topic that includes lots of analogies and metaphors, which I think makes it much more accessible.
00:53 Career background
03:45 System design
06:40 System vs service design
10:42 What good looks like
18:35 System design process
31:47 Painting with data
36:34 Testing and learning
41:21 The craft of system design
46:21 Domain knowledge
49:11 Documentation and handover
54:40 Using maps to identify automation opportunities
TOM INNES
Website: www.cofink.co.uk
Email: tom@cofink.co.uk
Tom studied engineering at the University of Bristol, design at the Royal College of Art & Imperial College, London and has a PhD from Brunel University, awarded for research exploring the impact of design thinking on drivers of innovation success in small businesses.
In 2000 he became Professor of Design & Head of the School of Design at the University of Dundee. He directed the AHRC/EPSRC’s UK-wide Designing for the 21st Century research initiative between 2005-2010 before becoming Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design and then Director (CEO) of Glasgow School of Art from 2013 to 2018.
In 2019 he established consultancy, COFINK Ltd., using design and systems thinking approaches to help individuals and organisations understand complex challenges and collaborate to develop innovative solutions. Through COFINK he was worked with a wide range of health trusts, charities, businesses, universities and research organisations across the UK, and in Europe, USA, China and Africa.
Tom also works part-time as a Research Fellow at DMEM, University of Strathclyde, (Glasgow) as a Visiting Professor at Heriot Watt University (Edinburgh & Dubai) and with Magnetic (London & Manchester) as a Design Coach for Innovate UK’s Design for Growth programme.
Tom’s writing on topics discussed in the podcast:
A paper Tom wrote in 2024 for the DMI’s Design Management Review. This describes the Patient Ecosystem Mapping methodology discussed in the podcast.
A short guide to how the Patient Ecosystem Mapping approach works and how Tom supports this approach through his consultancy COFINK Ltd.
A paper Tom co-authored for the DMI’s Design Management Journal in 2020, with ENT Consultant Surgeon, Rod Mountain, exploring how design thinking can help inform innovation in health and care
A paper Tom wrote for the DMI’s Design Management Journal in 2013 describing how design can support facilitation.
Other useful reading:
The classic primer text on systems thinking (500,000 copies sold through multiple editions).
Meadows, D. H. (2015) Thinking in Systems. Chelsea Green Publishing
An interesting book that attempts to connect design thinking and systems thinking
Cababa, S. (2023) Closing the Loop, Systems thinking for Designers. Rosenfield
KEVIN & PLAN
Kevin McCullagh is the founder of Plan, a product strategy consultancy based in London, which helps design and innovation leaders with strategic clarity. He writes and speaks on Foresight, Innovation and Leadership.
Website: www.plan.london
Email: kevin@plan.london
MUSIC
By Nico Delaney
https://www.instagram.com/marksson.music
