ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we recount some of the major influences on SCT and how we integrated these as we developed and deepened our conceptualization of the phases of system development. We then discuss how using systems theory and integrating our work with SAVI enabled us to recognize the phases of system development as related to whole system communication patterns. This supported our work in operationally defining the phases of system development as a force field, a model which guides our work with phase dynamics. We also describe how we have viewed phases as living human systems defined as a phase-specific hierarchy of role-systems.
