system, tradition or ecology

As we have been looking at the topic and talking about the readings and our feelings, it has come to my mind that what we are designing our way into is perhaps an ecology rather than a system or a tradition. Or perhaps it is better to say, that it is a an ecology that is made up of social practices, conventions and traditions. If this is the case, then how do we design into this, especially with the expectation of achieving social change as we are? What are the implications for doing this? What are the repercussions?