Welcome to SiD
Welcome to the Course
By Tom Bosschaert, creator of the SiD framework
Symbiosis in Development (SiD) is a framework for understanding and redesigning complex human systems so they work well for people and planet over the long term. It combines systems thinking, sustainability science, and a practical five-step method used by teams around the world.
This learning platform is free and open. You can move at your own pace, follow a guided path, or explore individual units. Each unit includes a reading, one or more video lectures, and an exercise with optional AI feedback.
What you will learn
- How to see and map complex systems using the SNO and ELSI-8 frameworks
- How to measure sustainability using the three RAH indicators: Resilience, Autonomy, and Harmony
- How to apply the five-step SiD method to real-world challenges
- How to use a set of practical tools for analysis, scenario planning, and design
How to use this platform
Choose a path from the learning hub and work through the units in order. Mark each unit complete as you go. If you create a free account, your progress is saved, you earn badges, and you can download a certificate when you finish a path.
If you prefer to explore freely, use the unit browser or the search to find topics that interest you.
About SiD
SiD was developed by Tom Bosschaert at Except Integrated Sustainability over two decades of practice across cities, organizations, ecosystems, and supply chains. It is described in full in the book Symbiosis in Development (2019). This platform distils that book into a structured learning experience open to everyone.
Exercise
Reflect and Apply
- Think of a challenge you care about, whether personal, professional, or societal. How would your approach change if you framed it as a system problem rather than a single issue to fix?
- SiD consists of four nested components: Theory, Method, Process, and Tools. Which component feels most natural to you right now, and which feels most unfamiliar? What does that tell you about your current thinking style?
- Tom describes SiD as "an a-ha machine." Recall a moment in your life when you suddenly saw a familiar situation in a completely new way. What triggered that shift, and how might a structured framework accelerate such moments?
Share your reflections in the exercise submission below to earn 25 points.
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