I've recently started reading up on systems theory and cybernetic systems and contrary to what the names suggest learning more about the theory does not make you better at designing systems. You get much more attuned to how large and complex systems fail but there is no crank you can turn that will provide insights and then let you implement changes that will lead to positive progress.
No matter what you do at the end of the day you have to still convince people that what they're doing is probably wrong and no one ever wants to hear that. Cognitive dissonance and sunk cost thinking almost always trump any kind of analysis and the system continues to operate as it has always operated until a large enough shock shakes it and changes are made. Most often the changes are made too late and great human misery is the result. Current climate issues is one prominent example that comes to mind. Uber and Zenefits being the other examples that I can think of were earlier interventions would have helped.
I've been learning about systems theory for about five years now, and I've been frustrated by the same things, but I've come through them to something which I think provides a path forward.
I think changes which lead to positive progress are hard, and the bigger the problem or the higher up Meadows's leverage list, the harder the changes are. Cognitive dissonance and sunk cost thinking and other cognitive biases do increase the challenge as well. But I do see examples where I and others were able to make positive changes from our understanding of systems theory. I see making these changes as a marathon, not a sprint, so try to adopt an attitude of celebrating every step of the way ("dayenu"), and I also look to work like Nancy Leveson's[0], which tries to systematize the process of turning a systems understanding into actionable feedback.
It's often perceived to be the case that earlier interventions would have led to fewer losses, but it's important to adopt an understanding that the past is past, and all we can do to move forward is to change our behavior now. As the man says, the best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago, but the second-best time is today.
I have that book. It is were I learned the term "socio-technical system". It is a great book and I recommend it to people whenever I get the chance. It is also much more than just safety engineering and is one of the more clearer expositions of cybernetic systems that I've read.
Like the sibling comment says it's a marathon. Especially because the strongest leverage points require people to change their way of thinking which requires first gaining their trust and then feeding them quality information.
This book[1] is an attempt to apply systems theory to our political system. I recommend it as a concise explanation of a perspective that highlights the faults in our current way of thinking. What is needed is a common reference system for people to have productive political discussion and I feel systems theory provides that, if only the information was more widespread.
You can't control a system that you can't control, you can only influence it. If a company wants me to fix a technical problem with their system, I can't actually fix it unless I have the relevant access and control, such as SSH keys and username / passwords to web interfaces. I can suggest fixes, but I can't actually fix it.
Plenty of things are simply too big for one person to do.
Homeostasis (of various kinds, but certainly risk homeostasis) is a huge problem for humanity, which becomes more dangerous with increased technological capability and synchronization. Systems theory doesn't solve it, true. I hope more than just you and I are worried about it.
No matter what you do at the end of the day you have to still convince people that what they're doing is probably wrong and no one ever wants to hear that. Cognitive dissonance and sunk cost thinking almost always trump any kind of analysis and the system continues to operate as it has always operated until a large enough shock shakes it and changes are made. Most often the changes are made too late and great human misery is the result. Current climate issues is one prominent example that comes to mind. Uber and Zenefits being the other examples that I can think of were earlier interventions would have helped.