Changesthrough

Changesthrough is a neologism used to describe a mode of change in which transformation arises from the internal dynamics of a system rather than from direct external imposition. The term emphasizes pathways of change that flow through networks via interactions, feedback, and thresholds.

Origin and usage: The term is not widely standardized; it appears in contemporary discussions across systems thinking, organizational theory, and speculative design as a shorthand for non-linear change through connected elements.

Theoretical basis: Changesthrough aligns with complex systems theory, cybernetics, and process philosophy. It highlights emergent behavior and distributed causation, where small perturbations propagate along connections, possibly amplifying or dampening as they circulate. Change occurs through iterative feedback loops, adaptation, and restructuring of relationships, rather than through a single decisive act.

Applications: In organizational change, practitioners use the concept to model how policies, culture, and workflows co-evolve; in technology design, it frames how user interactions and system constraints co-create evolution; in ecological and social contexts, it describes cascading effects of interventions.

Critique: Some scholars argue that "changesthrough" is vague without concrete metrics; others note it risks conflating processual change with causation, potentially obscuring agentive roles. Proponents call for clear definitions and case-based analyses.

See also: emergent property, feedback loop, diffusion of innovations, systems thinking, process philosophy.