Projects at the Centre for Innovative Human Systems
CIHS projects operate inside real-world systems where human behaviour, organisational structures, technology, and context interact under pressure.
Our projects are not abstract studies. They are embedded in live environments and developed in partnership with organisations, practitioners, and public institutions. Each project contributes to understanding how systems actually work and how they can be improved.
You can find further information on past projects we have worked on in our project case studies section and details of some our current projects below.
How CIHS Approaches Project Work
CIHS projects are shaped by a consistent systems philosophy.
Across all projects, we focus on:
- Working within real operational constraints rather than idealised settings
- Understanding interactions between people, processes, and environments
- Combining empirical research with applied system design
- Generating learning that informs practice, education, and policy
- Building long-term partnerships rather than one-off interventions
This approach allows projects to contribute to lasting system capability rather than short-term outputs.
Projects Organised by System Challenge
CIHS projects are organised around recurring human system challenges rather than isolated topics. These challenges reflect the core areas of CIHS research and practice.
Human System Dynamics
Projects in this area examine how people interact with complex systems, particularly in safety critical and high risk contexts.
This includes work on human factors, system safety, automation, mobility and transport systems, traffic psychology, and performance under pressure.
These projects support safer system design and more reliable performance across domains where failure has significant consequences.
Organisations, Work, and Human Futures
Projects in this area focus on how work is organised, experienced, and changing.
Research and applied work address workplace wellbeing, organisational design, leadership, coordination, and the challenges facing modern work systems. Increasing attention is given to time, pace, and sustainability within organisational life.
These projects support organisations seeking evidence-based approaches to performance and wellbeing in complex environments.
Sustainable and Societal Systems
Projects in this area address large scale challenges where human behaviour and system design are central.
Work includes behaviour change, sustainability transitions, public sector systems, mobility, and environmental contexts. Projects support organisations and institutions navigating long-term system change.
Healthcare Systems as a Flagship Domain
Healthcare systems are a major focus of CIHS project work and cut across all system challenges.
CIHS projects in healthcare examine clinical systems, patient safety, care delivery, digital health, organisational dynamics, and system resilience. This work is conducted in close partnership with health services and practitioners.
From Projects to Impact
CIHS projects produce outcomes that extend beyond individual deliverables.
Across our portfolio, projects contribute to:
- Evidence based frameworks and tools
- Training programmes and professional education
- Improved system design and organisational practices
- Policy and regulatory insight
- Long-term partnerships with organisations and institutions
Learning from projects feeds directly into CIHS research, teaching, and applied systems work.
Current and Past Projects
CIHS maintains a diverse portfolio of ongoing and completed projects across sectors and system challenges.
Visitors interested in specific projects can explore individual project pages below or contact CIHS to discuss how project experience may relate to their own system challenges.
Work with CIHS on a Project
CIHS welcomes collaboration on research, applied projects, and system design initiatives.
If you are interested in working with CIHS on a complex human system challenge, we encourage you to get in touch to explore possible forms of collaboration.