Systems thinking is an
effective process of describing systems.
Systems thinking helps us
to see the big picture, such as overall structures and
patterns.
Systems thinking allows us to
identify the real causes of
problems in
systems and organizations.
Systems thinking helps us to
redesign existing systems and create new systems.
What is systems thinking?
Systems thinking is a process to understand simple or complex
systems, using four simple steps distinction, system,
relationships, perspective.
The process is in four simple phases:
Distinctions: differentiate between and among systems,
organizations, structures, or ideas. Use the following
questions in this phase:
What is …?What is not …?
Systems: identify elements, parts, subsystems, or ideas
within a system, organization, structure, or idea. Use the
following question in this phase:
What are the parts of this …?
Relationships: understanding relationships among
elements, parts, subsystems, or ideas. Use the following
questions in this phase:
What is the relationship between these parts?How can this part affect that part?
Perspectives: looking at the system from a different
point of view and angles. Use the following question in this
phase:
Can we see … from a different point of view?
Here are examples to improve your systems thinking process:
Examples of systems thinking
Example of distinctions in systems thinking:
Example of system in systems thinking:
Example of relationships in systems thinking:
Example of perspective in systems thinking:
Cognitive biases and systems thinking
We experience the world indirectly through our mental model,
shaped by our experiences, beliefs, culture, news, etc.
Cognitive biases are error thinking when we process and interpret
information.
