Systems Thinking

by Flinkliv · Updated December. 14, 2024

Conversation about system thinking
Conversation between A and B about system thinking. A: Systems thinking is an effective process of describing systems.


  1. Why do you need to learn systems thinking?
  2. What is systems thinking?
  3. Examples of systems thinking


Why do you need to learn systems thinking?

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:

  1. Distinctions: differentiate between and among systems, organizations, structures, or ideas. Use the following questions in this phase: What is …? What is not …?
  2. 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 …?
  3. 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?
  4. 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:

Conversation about distinctions in systems thinking
Conversation between A and B about distinctions. A: "What is this?" B: "This is a satellite." By Flinkliv.com


Example of system in systems thinking:

Conversation about systems in systems thinking
Conversation between A and B about systems. A: "What are the parts of this system?" B: "A satellite has the following components: power system, antenna, thrusters, onboard computer, and sensors." By Flinkliv.com


Example of relationships in systems thinking:

Conversation about relationships in systems thinking
Conversation between A and B about relationships. A: "How are they related?" B: "The power system generates electricity for all components. The onboard computer controls all the components, communicates with the earth via the antenna, changes the satellite direction via the thrusters, and performs the satellite mission via the sensors." By Flinkliv.com


Example of perspective in systems thinking:

Conversation about perspective in systems thinking
Conversation between A and B about perspective. A: "Can we make different types of satellites?" B: "Yes. There are satellites for communications, remote sensing, navigation, global positioning, geostationary, ground, etc." By Flinkliv.com


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.

Conversation about cognitive biases vs systems thinking
Conversation between A and B about cognitive biases vs systems thinking. A: "Why do people disregard facts that oppose their wrong ideas?" B: "Because of the mental model and cognitive biases. 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." A: "Basically, in my head, I have a world model and filters." B: "Yes." A: "I never heard about that at school." By Flinkliv.com







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