Vincent Patrick
A systemic approach to robust public action and learning transitions, internally and externally
Lab approaches have become established within public organisations, promising to drive systemic transitions externally and facilitate multi-layered internal transformations. However, despite their popularity and positive localized impacts, their potential for systemic and long-lasting transformation remains under-realised. Drawing from extensive field experience in French Labs and within the Erasme public innovation laboratory in Lyon, France, this paper explores the specific conditions and methodological frameworks under which such approaches lead to substantial evolutions in practices and territories. It introduces the Dynamic Living Lab (DLL), a systemic design approach developed to offer a replicable and adaptable pathway between think tanks and do tanks in public innovation context.
The DLL methodology integrates four complementary tools: the DLL Quadrant, Nine Approaches to Change, Leverage and Action Tree, and the Community Activation and Action Plan. Each tool is designed to bridge the dichotomies typically faced by innovation labs—between strategic vision and practical experimentation, internal and external engagement, and structured planning versus emergent adaptation.
Through an in-depth analysis of the Greening Lab project—a multi-year program aiming to plant 300,000 trees within the Lyon metropolitan area—this paper explores how DLL tools effectively supported long-term systemic journeys, iterative community activation, and adaptive governance. Despite the strengths identified, challenges remain, notably regarding institutional embedding, scalability, and evaluation practices. Recommendations for future development of DLL emphasise strengthening evaluative frameworks, increasing modularity, and fostering digital interactivity to enhance systemic adoption.
Keywords: Labs, Systemic management, System leadership, Public governance, Complex partnerships, Systems of relationality, Change Management