Extension agents collaborating to redesign organic systems

Appropriate next steps are deeply personal and highly context specific.  This is why formulaic, centrally-directed and imposed change always fails to achieve its stated aims and invariably causes more problems than it solves.  Consequently, the collaborative 'extension' task is to design and implement institutional and community structures and processes that can enable those involved to take those appropriate next steps, and to evaluate, celebrate and learn their way forwards as they go.  Achieving this will require improved relational competence, a greater focus on system maintenance, and a broad paradigm shift involving the redesign of systems to avoid problems and support wellbeing.