Systems Analysis
Complex systems rarely have simple boundaries.
IGOR analyses how people, organisations, technologies, information and environments interact, revealing the relationships, dependencies and patterns of behaviour that shape how complex systems actually perform.
We look beyond individual components to understand how activity in one part of a system affects what happens elsewhere. This allows us to identify critical dependencies, information flows, structural gaps and points where change could alter the behaviour or performance of the wider system.
We combine human science, systems thinking and computational methods to:
- analyse complex organisational and social systems and the relationships between their component parts
- identify critical nodes, dependencies, information flows and structural gaps within distributed systems
- model human, organisational and social variables within complex systems
- design organisational and information architectures that enable distributed capabilities to operate as coherent systems
- evaluate alternative system configurations and approaches to improve coordination, resilience and effectiveness
- generate evidence to support organisational capability and technology design decisions
Experience
IGOR has worked extensively with Australia’s national security and emergency management communities, contributing to the security of Australia through systems analysis, organisational research and applied work on complex capabilities.
Our experience extends across government, research and industry environments where outcomes depend on interactions between multiple organisations, people, technologies, information flows and operating conditions.
We have worked from detailed analysis of component interactions through to large-scale distributed systems involving multiple organisations and capabilities.
Selected Work
Understanding Distributed Social Systems
IGOR analysed a globally distributed social system with no formal organisational structure, using social and cultural modelling and network analysis to identify significant nodes, relationships and patterns of influence and behaviour.
Explore the Project →
Designing a Federated Capability
IGOR examined how independent organisations and jurisdictions could share information, learn collectively and coordinate without losing their autonomy. The work developed a federated organisational model for enabling distributed capabilities to operate as a coherent whole.
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Analysing Complex Biometric Technologies
IGOR analysed alternative approaches to biometric technology, examining available techniques and their potential application across diverse operational environments. The work provided evidence for decisions about technology selection, deployment and capability development.
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Building an Enduring Operations Analysis Capability
IGOR established an enduring analytical capability for understanding complex operations and activities. The work connected systems-level analysis, organisational knowledge and practical analytical methods to support more rigorous understanding of complex operational environments.
Explore military operations analysis capability →
Evaluating Multinational Activities
IGOR established the frameworks, indicators and measures required to evaluate performance across a complex multinational activity. The approach provided a common basis for assessing performance and achievement across multiple organisations, systems and objectives.
Explore TS13 exercise evaluation →
Strategic Decision Support & Futures Experimentation
IGOR brought together human science, simulation, technology, specialist expertise and international collaboration to create an environment for exploring future scenarios and supporting long-term capability decisions.
Explore military joint decision support →
Building Integrated Capability Governance
IGOR developed a governance model for a complex capability moving from a single organisational structure towards a more integrated model. The work examined roles, authorities, responsibilities, communication and resource sharing across organisational boundaries, and established a change management approach for implementing the new governance model.
Explore Rapid Task 42 governance →
Understanding the Conditions for Organisational Change
IGOR undertook a whole-of-organisation review to identify the structural and cultural conditions affecting communication, coordination and organisational change.
Rather than treating culture as an individual behaviour problem, IGOR analysed the organisational environment producing those behaviours and developed recommendations for creating conditions in which change could occur.
Strategic Reform
IGOR analysed a large organisation as a complex system of people, organisations, technologies, information and processes, identifying relationships, dependencies, interfaces and opportunities for reform. The work provided a systemic basis for improving organisational efficiency and accountability while maintaining the organisation’s ability to deliver and sustain future capability.
Explore the Strategic Reform Program →
Changing Organisational Behaviour to Improve Capability
IGOR led the cultural change and change management component of a major capability improvement programme, working alongside external strategy specialists and operational personnel. IGOR applied a systems approach to identify the behaviours and organisational conditions sustaining the existing culture, using behavioural change as a practical lever for wider organisational and capability improvement.
Managing change across a long-term capability system
IGOR developed the cultural change and change management scope for a long-term capability transformation.
The work recognised that sustainable change depended on interactions between people, platforms, technology, training, maintenance, processes and supporting organisations, and on managing the emergent behaviours produced by those interactions over a six- to ten-year change horizon.
Explore Mine Hunter Coastal capability improvement →
Culture change in a scientific research organisation
IGOR supported a major organisational renewal, providing cultural analysis, change management and implementation expertise. IGOR applied a systems approach tailored to the distinctive characteristics of a scientific research organisation, examining how purpose, people, professional disciplines, knowledge structures and long-term research horizons shaped organisational culture and performance.
Strengthening collaboration and organisational learning
IGOR worked with a large scientific organisation to understand and improve the conditions supporting collaboration, knowledge sharing and organisational learning.
Using simulated activities and iterative evaluation, IGOR examined how disciplinary structures, professional identities and organisational behaviours affected collaboration, developing practical approaches for strengthening knowledge sharing across the organisation.
Make sense of your complex systems
IGOR works with organisations seeking to understand how people, technologies, information and organisational structures interact within complex systems — and to design better ways for those systems to work.