Much of the current literature on Business Development Service (BDS) market development focuses on the role of the facilitator in program implementation. Yet, one of the lessons that emerged from the Practitioner Learning Program (PLP) in BDS Market Assessment was the importance of the role of the facilitator in market assessment and program design. This technical note provides advice on how to operationalize a systems perspective with reference to the role of the facilitator in the market assessment stage of BDS market development. This technical note offers practical advice for facilitating organizations, based on the hands-on experiences of PLP participants and other practitioners in the field.