The language of systems change and transformation is now widely used across the fields of social innovation, philanthropy, public policy, and evaluation.
These terms are often applied loosely, interchangeably, or simply to signal that large scale change is required. However, they surface questions – even confusion – about what that means for the day-to-day work of changemaking.
The purpose of this primer is modest and deliberate: to establish a small set of working distinctions that set the context for the Tamarack-Here to There Consulting Inc. Transformation Framework Series.
In some cases, it may also help practitioners, funders, and evaluators think more clearly about the kinds of change they are pursuing – and the implications that follow. The content of this primer should be read as a snapshotin-time (late 2025), not a definitive map. The ideas discussed here are evolving rapidly in response to shifting social, economic, technological, and political conditions. The intent is to support shared understanding and better judgment, not to fix terminology in place.
