What Is Systems Thinking?

Overview/Description
 What exactly is a system? Why is it important to understand systems? How can you use systems thinking to manage your organizations more effectively? Systems thinking enables you to delve into the inner workings of your organization to get to the core of what drives your company forward--or backward. Not only will you solve problems, but you will also be able to change the thinking that leads to the problems in the first place. Systems thinking is a way of seeing more and farther, enabling you to manage yourself and your people with the best information possible.

Target Audience
 Managers, supervisors, team leaders

Expected Duration
2.5 hours

Lesson Objectives:

Systems Defined

  • recognize the benefits of using systems thinking.
  • identify the characteristics of systems.
  • differentiate between the characteristics of a natural system's purpose and a mechanical system's purpose.
  • identify the three levels of perspective in systems thinking.

    • Systemic Behavior

  • recognize the importance of understanding systemic behavior.
  • differentiate between the characteristics of circular feedback loop thinking and linear cause-and-effect thinking.
  • identify the characteristics of reinforcing loops.
  • identify the characteristics of balancing loops.

    • Deciphering Diagrams

  • recognize the benefits of interpreting systemic loops.
  • identify the reasons diagram loops are an important tool in systems thinking.
  • identify the aspects of the loop diagram for systems thinking.
  • identify the four types of delays possible in systems.

    • Going Deeper into Levels of Perspective

  • recognize the value of understanding the levels of perspectives and the mode of action associated with each.
  • match the level of perspective with the corresponding form of action.
  • identify the characteristics of mental models as a level of perspective.
  • identify the characteristics of vision as a level of perspective.

    • Course Number: STGY0401