1 minute read
Roles
Actors—whether organizations or individuals—and their interactions are at the heart of all human systems. When designing for system change, we don’t only think of actors, but more importantly, of the functions or roles they take on within a system. Distinguishing roles from actors is important because a single actor can often play several roles in a system.
Social entrepreneurs typically create opportunities for actors to play new roles to enable change: for example, a village woman who becomes a local health entrepreneur providing access to important information, resources, and linkages; a neighborhood shop that becomes a local data collection center; or a student body that is elevated by the school to contribute to policies and budget planning. Each of these examples demonstrate how individuals can be enabled to play new roles as stakeholders.
Platforms are uniquely positioned to redefine roles, add new roles, and to make the actions of existing roles more visible, transparent, traceable, and manageable. It is a remarkable tool that can enable giving previously underrepresented people a voice and a license to act. Its ability to set and pre-define roles therefore allows for unlocking of agency and opens possibilities for participation.
