Summarized highlights from Human Learning Systems and Relational Public Service | Toby Lowe

Open vs. Closed Systems in Public Service

Toby Lowe’s presentation contrasts two fundamental approaches to public service delivery:

Closed systems are characterized by “transactional relationships” where interactions are rigid, predefined, and limited in scope
Open systems feature “whole person relationships” that view individuals holistically, with their own needs and stories

Dimensions of Relationships in Open and Closed Systems

Lowe identifies several key dimensions that differentiate relationships in public service contexts:

Purpose, boundaries and scope of relationship

Closed systems: Narrowly defined purpose with strict boundaries
Open systems: Broader purpose allowing for adaptation and flexibility

Relationship context – the scope and meaning of information in the relationship

Closed systems: Limited information exchange, focused only on predefined needs
Open systems: Richer context, considering the whole person’s situation

What is exchanged in the relationship?

Closed systems: Standardized services or transactions
Open systems: More dynamic and personalized support

What are the desired qualities of the relationship?

Closed systems: Efficiency, consistency, standardization
Open systems: Trust, empathy, adaptability

Reflexivity in the relationship

Closed systems: Limited self-awareness or adaptation
Open systems: Ongoing reflection and learning

Power in the relationship

Closed systems: Hierarchical, with power concentrated in the service provider
Open systems: More balanced power dynamics, with greater agency for service users

Connection to Human Learning Systems

The Human Learning Systems approach provides practical examples of how open system relationships can be implemented in public service contexts. As noted in the highlights, Lowe uses “Human Learning Systems examples to illustrate dimensions of open system relationships.”
This framework aligns with the author’s ongoing work on “Reflective Relational Practice,” which similarly explores “the dimensions of relationships” in terms of “healthy and unhealthy relationships” and how they support “the workings and effectiveness of complex social systems.”
Tana logo