system thinking presentation

Introduction to Systems Thinking

Jul 09, 2014

2.91k likes | 5.39k Views

Introduction to Systems Thinking. Pakinee Ariya. Learning Outcome. After attending this lecture, participants should be able to understand: What is a system and its characteristics Systems Thinking and its applications. Frequently Asked Question (FAQ). Activity1 : what is a

Share Presentation

• systems thinking models
• linear cause
• actual inventory inventory adjustment
• action model

Presentation Transcript

Introduction to Systems Thinking PakineeAriya

Learning Outcome After attending this lecture, participants should be able to understand: • What is a system and its characteristics • Systems Thinking and its applications

Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) Activity1: what is a system according to your idea? ( 5 min.) • WHAT IS A SYSTEM? • Your definition?

What is a system? • A definition offered by Gregory Watson in his book, Business Systems Engineering • “System means a grouping of parts that operate together for a common purpose.” (Watson, 1994).

What is a System?... “A system is an entity that maintains its existence and functions as a whole through the interaction of its parts. The behavior of systems depends on how the parts are related, rather than on the parts themselves. Therefore you can understand many different systems using the same principles. Each part of the system may influence the whole system, and changes to any part of the system will always have side effects.” Joseph O’Connor & Ian McDermott, The Art of System Thinking.

Example of a system:

Car Assembly Parts

Ecological System

Organic/Biological Systems

Connectedness Feature “If you wish to understand a system, and so be in a position to predict its behavior, it is necessary to study the system as a whole. Cutting it up into bits for study is likely to destroy the system’s connectedness, and hence the system itself.” (Sherwood, 2002)

Connectedness Feature “If you wish to influence or control the behavior of a system, you must act on the system as a whole. Tweaking it in one place in the hope that nothing will happen in another is doomed to failure—that’s what connectedness is all about.” (Sherwood, 2002).

THE FIFTH DISCIPLINES To know more about Systems Thinking, read this book! Personal Mastery Shared Vision Mental Models Systems Thinking Team Learning Book by Peter Senge in 1990 on Learning Organization

Component of a learning organization • Mental models • Personal mastery • Building shared vision • Team learning • Systems thinking The Fifth Discipline is SYSTEMS THINKING

Learning organization The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge (1990) “A learning organization is a place where people are continually discovering how they create their reality.” Innovate an invention to replicate at a meaningful scale and cost.

Mental model • Why Best Ideas Fail • Conflict with deeply held internal images of how the world works • Mental models determine how we take action • Mental models are so powerful - because they affect what we see

I take Actions based on my beliefs I adopt Beliefs about the world I draw Conclusions I make Assumptions based on the meanings I added I add Meanings (cultural and personal) I select “Data” from what I observe Observable “data” and experiences (as a might capture it) The reflexive loops (our beliefs at least what data we select next time)

Personal mastery PERSONAL MASTERY • The Spirit of the Learning Organization • Organizations learn only through individuals who learn • Individual learning does not guarantee organizational learning, but without it no organizational learning can occur • Personal Vision

Share vision • A Common Caring • A shared vision is a vision that many people are truly committed to and it reflects their own personal vision • Helps establish overarching goals • Provides a rudder to keep the learning process on course when stresses develop

Prestage I Stage I Forming Stage II Storming Stage III Norming Stage IV Performing Stage V Adjourning Stages of Group Development

Through learning we can….. • Re-create ourselves • Become able to do things we never were able to do before • Re-perceive the world and our relationship to it • Extend our capacity to create, to be part of the generative process of life

Team learning • The fundamental learning unit • Alignment - necessary condition before empowering the individual will empower the whole team

System thinking • The conceptual cornerstone that underlies all of the five learning disciplines • A discipline for seeing wholes • Seeing structures that underlie complex situations • Seeing interrelationships rather than linear cause and effect chains. • Seeing processes of change rather than snapshots

“The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking at which they were created.” Albert Einstein

WHAT IS SYSTEMS THINKING? • Founded in 1956 by MIT professor, Jay Forrester. • System thinking allows people to make their understanding of social system explicit and improve them in the same way that people use engineering principles to improve their understanding of mechanical system. • It is use to:- • Examining how we create our own problems • Seeing the big picture • Structure influences performance

SYSTEM THINKING APPROACH

Examples of area System Thinking has proven its value include: • Complex problems that involve helping many actors see the “big picture” and not just their part of it • Recurring problems or those that have been made worse by past attempts to fix them • Issues where an action affects (or is affected by) the environment surrounding the issue, either the natural environment or the competitive environment • Problems whose solutions are not obvious

!!! ?? ?? Systems ThinkingLearning to see the world systemically Encourages us to see the whole as well as the parts. • WHOLE   PARTS •  Holistic Thinking Multiple (often) restricted views

Systems Thinking… Helps us explore interdependencies and looking for patterns. Max Barret Webecoist.com

Systems Thinking… Helps us understand feedback structures that change systems over time. River Fractal - Héctor Garrido

Systems Thinking… Helps us understand results of our decisions… http://www.systems-thinking.org/theWay/theWay.htm

The Iceberg or Vision

Action Model

What are some Systems Thinking tools? • Systems Thinking Models • Behavior Engineering Model (Gilbert, 1996) • Human Performance System (Rummler,1995) • Performance Matrix (Gilbert, 1996) • Relationship Map (Rummler,1995)

Behavior Engineering Model

Human performance system

Performance matrix

Relationship map

SYSTEMS THINKING TOOLS • Causal Loop Diagrams • A useful way to represent dynamic interrelationships • Provide a visual representation with which to communicate that understanding • Make explicit one's understanding of a system structure - Capture the mental model

Components of Causal Loop Diagrams • Variables - an element in a situation which may act or be acted upon •  Vary up or down over time (not an event) •  Nouns or noun phrases (not action words) • Links / Arrows - show the relationship and the direction • of influence between variables • S's and O's - show the way one variable moves or changes in relation to another •  S stands for "same direction” •  O stands for "opposite direction” • or B - Balancing feedback loop that seeks equilibrium • or R - Reinforcing feedback loop that amplifies change

Behavior Over Time Supportive Behavior Perf. Level Unsupportive Behavior Time Types of Causal Loop Diagrams Reinforcing Loop Structure Employee Performance Employee Performance S S Supervisor’s Supportive Behavior Supervisor’s Supportive Behavior

Behavior Over Time Actual Inventory 100 ++ Desired Inventory 100 100 - - Time Types of Causal Loop Diagrams Balancing Loop Structure Desired Inventory S Discrepancy O S Actual Inventory Inventory Adjustment S

SYSTEMS THINKING ARCHETYPES • A class of tools that capture the "common stories” in systems thinking • Powerful tools for diagnosing problems and identifying high leverage interventions that creates fundamental change

Example of System Thinking Archetype • Fixes that Fail / Backfire • Limits to Growth/Success • Shifting the Burden / Addiction • Tragedy of the Commons • Drifting Goals

1. Fixes that Fail S Behavior Over Time Problem Symptom Fix O Delay S S Time Unintended Consequences

1. Fixes that Fail

1. Fixes that Fail • Breaking a “Fixes that Fail” cycle usually requires two actions: acknowledging that the fix is merely alleviating a symptom, and making a commitment to solve the real problem now. • A two pronged attack of applying the fix and planning out the fundamental solution will help ensure that you don’t get caught in a perpetual cycle of solving yesterdays “solutions”

2. Limits to Growth Behavior Over Time Perf. Level Time Structure “Burnout” S Growing Action Target Diminishing Returns S O S Positive Reinforcement Corrective Action Actual Performance S

2. Limits to Growth Market Exposure to Potential Customers S Market Size S S Potential Customers S Sales O

3. Shifting the Burden Quick fixes + + _ Problem/symptom Side effects _ + Time Source of problem /Root cause _ Behavior Over Time Efforts Quick fix Problem symptom Capacity of system to fix itself

+ + _ Damage of Road Feeling of Okay _ + Time Proper Road Contruction _ Apply patched Behavior Over Time 3. Shifting the Burden Apply patches Damage of road Proper road construction

• More by User

Introduction to Critical Thinking

Introduction to Critical Thinking. Part II Asking Analytical Questions using Elements of Reasoning. 3 Key Questions. Why do we need critical thinking? What is critical thinking? What do we do to think critically? . The Three Dimensions of Critical Thinking. Reasoning: three aspects.

1.82k views • 68 slides

Introduction to Systems Thinking. By Louis Rowitz, PhD Director Illinois Institute for Maternal and Child Health Leadership.

1.21k views • 25 slides

Introduction to Critical Thinking. GXEX1406 Thinking and Communication Skills. What is critical thinking?. Cognitive skills and intellectual dispositions needed to effectively: Identify, analyze and evaluate arguments and truth claims Discover and overcome personal prejudices and biases

994 views • 24 slides

Introduction to Systems Thinking and Causal Loops

Introduction to Systems Thinking and Causal Loops. Todd Little. LEARNING ORGANIZATIONS. THE FIVE DISCIPLINES. Personal Mastery. Shared Vision. Mental Models. Systems Thinking. Team Learning. MECHANISTIC VIEW . Universe is a machine Analytic method leads to reductionism

854 views • 44 slides

Introduction to Critical Thinking. Concepts and Strategies. 3 Key Questions. Why do we need critical thinking? What is critical thinking? How do we design instruction to foster critical thought? . Why do we need critical thinking?. Critical thinking isn’t natural. Walking vs. Ballet

2.7k views • 56 slides

Introduction to Systems Thinking. Zaipul Anwar Bin Zainu din Lecturer in Institute of Product Design & Manufacturing, (IPROM) Universiti Kuala Lumpur Tel: 03-27154715, 019-3262427 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.zaipul.com Blog: http://zaipul.com/category/blogs

1.11k views • 44 slides

Introduction to Critical Thinking. Think Slowly Ask Questions Cultivate a Healthy Skepticism. Making Sense. Students often say things like “that makes sense”, and they conclude that what makes sense is thus true . Truth and Making Sense. It is important to understand that:

1.02k views • 65 slides

Introduction to Critical Thinking. How do you put a giraffe into your refrigerator?. The correct answer to number 1 is: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe, and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an over complicated way.

282 views • 9 slides

Introduction to Critical Thinking. Question?. Why do YOU study for a Degree?. Do You Agree With This Statement?. “Some people study all their life and at their death they have learned everything except to THINK ” – Francois Domergue. Why?. Do You Agree? .

684 views • 44 slides

Introduction to Critical Thinking. Question?. Why do YOU study for a Degree?. Do You Agree With This Statement?. “Some people study all their life and at their death they have learned everything except to THINK ” – Francois Domergue. Why?. Do You Agree?. Why is Imagination so Important?

1.66k views • 44 slides

Introduction to Systems Thinking and Causal Loops. Todd Little. LEARNING ORGANIZATIONS. THE FIVE DISCIPLINES. Personal Mastery. Shared Vision. Mental Models. Systems Thinking. Team Learning. MECHANISTIC VIEW. Universe is a machine Analytic method leads to reductionism

994 views • 44 slides

Introduction to Critical Thinking. Question?. Why do YOU study for a Degree?. Do You Agree With This Statement?. “Some people study all their life and at their death they have learned everything except to THINK ” – Francois Domergue. Why?. Do You Agree?.

813 views • 46 slides

Introduction to Critical Thinking. Lecture III Fall 2008. Appeal to Authority. I’m becoming a vegetarian. I.B. Singer said it is the ethical thing to do, and he won the Nobel Prize!

469 views • 34 slides

INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL THINKING

INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL THINKING.

476 views • 34 slides

Introduction to Social Thinking

Introduction to Social Thinking. Brittany Schmidt, MA-CCC/SLP www.abc-autism.com [email protected] 605-351-1002. What is Social Thinking?. The process through which we think about people and their thoughts, intentions, point of view, emotions, etc.

524 views • 28 slides

Introduction to Critical Thinking. Concepts and Instructional Strategies Part I. 3 Key Questions. Why do we need critical thinking? What is critical thinking? How do we design instruction to foster critical thought?. Why do we need critical thinking?. Critical thinking isn’t natural.

1.1k views • 57 slides

INTRODUCTION TO THINKING TOOLS

INTRODUCTION TO THINKING TOOLS. Analyze “SMART PHONE”. Blank Paper = 16 Boxes. LANGUAGE OF THE DISCIPLINE. Jargon Terms Terminology Lingo Phrasing Lexicon. What language, in regards to smart phones, is essential for the consumer to know or understand?. Apps texting

542 views • 38 slides

Introduction to Critical Thinking. Part II Asking Analytical Questions using Elements of Reasoning. 3 Key Questions. Why do we need critical thinking? What is critical thinking? What do we do to think critically?. The Three Dimensions of Critical Thinking. Reasoning: three aspects.

966 views • 68 slides

INTRODUCTION TO STRATEGIC THINKING

INTRODUCTION TO STRATEGIC THINKING. Muhammad Nazim bin Abd. Rahman Deputy Head of Cluster Leadership and Executive Development Cluster INTAN Bukit Kiara. Updated 2018. Lecture Content. Strategic Thinking Strategic Thinking Definitions Tips to Enhance Strategic Thinking

159 views • 9 slides

Introduction to Critical Thinking. Lecture III. Appeal to Authority. I’m becoming a vegetarian. I.B. Singer said it is the ethical thing to do, and he won the Nobel Prize! I’m buying a Bumpster mountain bike. My critical thinking instructor says they’re the best, and he’s very intelligent.

376 views • 34 slides

Introduction to Critical Thinking. By Wayne Davidson M.Ed. Da Vinci School for Science and the Arts. Question ?. Why do YOU study?. Do You Agree With This Statement?. “Some people study all their life and at their death they have learned everything except to THINK ” – Francois Domergue.

995 views • 42 slides

• My presentations

Auth with social network:

Download presentation

We think you have liked this presentation. If you wish to download it, please recommend it to your friends in any social system. Share buttons are a little bit lower. Thank you!

Presentation is loading. Please wait.

What is systems thinking? Unit One Tools for Systems Thinking.

Published by MargaretMargaret McDonald Modified over 9 years ago

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "What is systems thinking? Unit One Tools for Systems Thinking."— Presentation transcript:

ED 300: Human Growth and Learning Welcome Opening Prayer.

Management, Leadership, & Internal Organization………..

Systems Thinking Part 2 Louis Rowitz, PhD

Wholly Frijoles! Teaching Sustainability thru Interactive Systems Thinking Education Jill Ramirez, M.A., Coordinator of Sustainability Education, Residence.

Model of factors at play in the perpetration of violence Introducing an interactive model for understanding violence against women, violence against children.

Module VI Understanding Systems System Behavior. Learning Objectives System Behavior and Structure – Why we should care – What system structure is – Strategies.

What is systems thinking? Unit 1 Tools for Systems Thinking.

THE CONTEXT OF MANAGING STRATEGICALLY Katie Klingele John Stewart Heather Hignojos.

Chapter 4 How to Observe Children

Team Task Choose 1 Progression to READ: Number and Operations--Fractions Ratios and Proportional Relationships Develop “Content” Knowledge.

Close Reading Preparing for the arrival of Common Core Standards in Social Studies.

1 Systems Thinking and Evaluation Beverly Parsons, PhD Patricia Jessup, PhD InSites

Team Training Dr. Steve Training & Development INP6325 * Adapted from Salas & Canon-Bowers.

An Exploration of Who You Are and Who You Want to Be! Henrico High School 2011.

Understanding Systemic Thinking Teaching People to Think in a World With Interdependent Variables Presented By: J. Brian Atwater.

ENVS 189—Intro. To Systems Thinking. 17 Practices of Systems Thinking 13.Thinking critically about causation, not just correlation Looking beyond basic.

7 Chapter Management, Leadership, and the Internal Organization

Systems Thinking and Decision Making Models Mediated Modeling 2/6/07.

Counseling 407 Introduction to Systems Dr. Jeffrey K. Edwards, LMFT.

Meaningful Learning in an Information Age

About project

© 2024 SlidePlayer.com Inc. All rights reserved.

Intro to Systems Thinking

Slides for "Intro to Systems Thinking" workshop. Session details and resources available here: http://pwoessner.wikispaces.com/Introduction+to+Systems+Thinking Read less

More Related Content

• 1. Introduction to Systems Thinking Patrick Woessner Lausanne Laptop Institute 2012 http://bitly.com/systems_thinking_2012
• 2. The Dilbert System
• 3. Knowledge and Experience 0 5 10 I Recognize Dilbert I Have Heard of Jay Forrester Systems Thinking Sends Me Flowers On My Birthday
• 4. The World’s Biggest Problems • Armed Conflict • Spread of Infectious Disease • Growing Population • Availability of Energy • International Terrorism • The Economy • Climate Change • Poverty, Hunger, Lack of Water Date Source: Eurobarometer survey of the EU, 2011 Image Source: 123RF
• 5. Why Do These Problems Persist?
• 6. Schools Have Not Prepared Students to Solve Them
• 7. Learning to solve this… A car averages 27 miles per gallon. If gas costs $4.04 per gallon, which of the following is closest to how much the gas would cost for this car to travel 2,727 typical miles? A. $44.44 B. $109.08 C. $118.80 D. $408.04 E. $444.40 Question Source: ACT Prep Image Source: MarketMixup
• 8. won’t teach you to solve this. The United States consumers more than 20% (7 billion barrels) of the world’s oil supply annually yet only has 2% of the world’s proven oil reserves. What factors will determine when we reach “peak oil”—the point in time when the maximum rate of petroleum extraction is reached, after which the rate of oil production is expected to enter terminal decline? Image Source: OnlineBikeMania
• 9. Systems Thinking Traditional analysis focuses on the individual pieces of what is being studied. Systems thinking focuses on how the things being studied interact with the other constituents of the system. Instead of isolating smaller and smaller parts of the system being studied, systems thinking works by expanding its view to consider larger and larger numbers of interactions as an issue is being studied. Image Source: Flickr Creative Commons, by erwlas
• 11. Problem Solving: Pest Control Problem: Insect “A” is damaging crops Traditional Analysis Approach: Spray pesticide to kill the insects Pesticide Application Insect “A” Declines Crops Flourish OVER TIME… Insect “A” Population Insect “B” Population Insect “B” Population Explodes Crops Damaged Even More
• 12. What is a System? A set of elements or parts that is coherently organized and interconnected in a pattern or structure that produces a characteristic set of behaviors, often classified as its “function” or “purpose.” (Donella Meadows)
• 13. Components of a System Inter- Elements Function connections
• 14. Elements • Typically the most obvious part of a dynamic system • Changing elements often has very little effect on the system Elements Image Source: Armchair GM
• 15. Interconnections • Often involve the flow of information • Changing relationships usually changes system behavior Inter- connections Image Source: Creative Commons by ~IconTexto
• 16. Function • Typically the least obvious part of a dynamic system • A change in purpose changes a system profoundly Function Image Source: Antique Radios
• 17. Systems: Key Points • A system is more than the sum of its parts. • Many of the interconnections in systems operate through the flow of information. • The least obvious part of the system, its function or purpose, is often the most crucial determinate of the system’s behavior. • System structure is the source of system behavior. System behavior reveals itself as a series of events over time.
• 18. A System Case Study
• 19. What is Thinking? “Thinking consists of two activities: constructing mental models and then simulating them in order to draw conclusions and make decisions.” – Barry Richmond Understanding the concept of a tree requires more information than is available through sensory experience alone. It’s built on past experiences and knowledge. Source: Jeremy Merritt
• 20. Mental Models Image Source: Flickr Creative Commons, by Dave Hosford
• 21. Mental Models Image Source: Sports in Wisconsin
• 22. Mental Models Image Source: The Baby Proofing Blog
• 23. Changing Thinking Fold your arms the way you would if you were bored, with one falling over the other. Uncross your arms and fold them again, the other way, with the other arm on top. Image Source: Flickr Creative Commons by CJ Berry
• 24. Thinking in Systems “The problems we have created in the world today will not be solved by the level of thinking that created them.” --Albert Einstein Image Source: Flickr Creative Commons, by mansionwb
• 26. Image Source: Waters Foundation
• 27. Image Source: Waters Foundation
• 28. Image Source: Waters Foundation
• 29. Image Source: Waters Foundation
• 30. Image Source: Waters Foundation
• 31. Image Source: Waters Foundation
• 32. Image Source: Waters Foundation
• 33. Image Source: Waters Foundation
• 34. Image Source: Waters Foundation
• 35. Image Source: Waters Foundation
• 36. Image Source: Waters Foundation
• 37. Image Source: Waters Foundation
• 38. Image Source: Waters Foundation
• 39. Habits Rubric for Students
• 40. Modeling Systems “Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful.” --George Box (Emeritus Professor of Statistics, University of Wisconsin-Madison) Image Source: Wikipedia
• 41. Modeling Systems We are limited in our capacity to form and reform mental models. Systems modeling allows us to move from “what” to “what if” and make our thinking visible The basic building blocks of dynamic models are stocks, flows, and loops
• 42. Stocks • Stocks are the foundation of any system and are the elements that you can see, feel, count, or measure • Stocks do not have to be physical
• 43. Flows • Stocks change over time through the actions of a flow • A stock is the present memory of the changing flows within the system
• 44. Loops • A feedback loop is formed when changes in a stock affect the flows into or out of that same stock • Balancing feedback loops are stability seeking and try to keep a stock at a certain level or within a certain range • Reinforcing feedback loops occur when a system element has the ability to reproduce itself or grow at a constant fraction of itself
• 45. Problem Solving: Pest Control Insect “A” Population Insect “B” Population
• 46. “Seek and Destroy” Model Is this system really that simple?
• 47. Systems Thinking Model
• 48. Modeling Influenza
• 50. Exploring Models • Forio NetSim • MIT Sloan • ISEE STELLA Models Complete List of Models and Simulations http://bitly.com/systems_thinking_2012
• 51. Getting Started • Partner: Systems Thinking is hard to master alone • Read: Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows • Identify: Articulate the systems in your curriculum • Create: Draw a simple stock-flow-loop diagram • Simulate: Explore a systems model using the Habits of Systems Thinkers
• 52. Contact Information • Presentation Resources: http://bitly.com/systems_thinking_2012 • Email: [email protected] • Twitter: http://twitter.com/pcwoessner • Blog: http://pwoessner.com/ • Skype: pwoessner • Office: 314-995-7375

Editor's Notes

• What do you consider to be the world’s biggest problems? Are these problems “new”?
• How common is this type of problem in school?How common/important is this type of problem in life?
• Both types of analysis/thinking are important but the latter is often missing from schoolsSystems thinking is the process of understanding how a group of interacting, interrelated, interdependent components influence each other within the whole.Traditional analysis can’t always see the forest for the trees
• Some studies suggest that the majority of the 25 insects that cause the most crop damage became problems because of exactly this type of approach
• What are some common systems? What do they have in common?
• A system is more than the sum of its partsMany of the interconnections in systems operate through the flow of informationThe least obvious part of the system, its function or purpose, is often the most crucial determinate of the system’s behaviorSystem structure is the source of system behavior. System behavior reveals itself as a series of events over time.
• Textbooks, curriculum, administrators, presidents, etc. don’t affect major change within a system.Ex: Tony LaRussa and Albert Pujols left the Cardinals, but they are still the 11 time World Champs
• Interconnects are often difficult to see but have great impact on the system.Ex: The shift from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 changed the nature of the Internet, information, and online interactions
• System functions seem obvious but may not be clear to all observersEx: Raytheon Company began as the American Appliance Company, a maker of machinery, motors and components (vacuum tubes). Today they make weapon defense systems (Patriot Missles).
• If you want to change (or understand) a system, you MUST focus on system structure because structure drives behavior.
• What are the Elements in this system? The Interactions? The Function?What are the problems with this system? What change(s) would make it better?
• Barry Richmond is known as leader in the field of systems thinking and system dynamics[1] and for the development of the STELLA/IThinkmodelling environment for simulation.[2]The tree is actually a concept of something that exists in physical reality.  The “tree concept” is a model. 
• Take a look at these images for a few moments and then think about what is happening inside your mind as you look at them. My guess is that with each image you thought about what happens next.  If so, you were actually simulating a mental model forward in time.  The images don’t show you what happened next, but you can probably make a pretty good guess.  This guess is the result of simulating a mental model of what is depicted.  And, you can simulate different outcomes. Notes Source: Jeremy Merritt
• Step 1: Look at your arms and notice which one is on top. Notice how this feels? Is it comfortable? Does it feel normal?Step 2: How does that feel? What do you notice?Activity source: The Systems Thinking Playbook by Sweeney and Meadows
• The Habits of a Systems Thinker, developed by the Waters Foundation, encompass a spectrum of thinking strategies that foster problem-solving and encourage questioning. Though “habit” is defined as a usual way of doing things, the Habits of a Systems Thinker do not suggest that systems thinkers are limited by routine ways of thinking. Rather, the Habits encourage flexible thinking and appreciation of new, emerging insights and multiple perspectives.
• Note: The following “notes” for the Habits slides refer to the I Love Lucy clip shown on an earlier slide.Does the person in charge of that assembly line/factory system have the big picture? Do Lucy or Ethel?
• What elements changed in the system?
• Think about the structure of the assembly line; how does its structure affect its behavior?
• What should the supervisor have done to gain better perspective and increase understanding?
• What example of this did you see in the film clip?
• Would the short term actions (gain) taken by the supervisor lead to long term pain?
• How did the supervisor measure success?
• It’s important to note that time delays work in both directions (before and after making changes).
• What did the supervisor see as the leverage point in the system?
• What unintended consequence(s) can you identify from the example clip?
• What was the supervisor’s mental model of how the system worked? Did it account for different outcomes?
• Examples from the clip?
• The I Love Lucy clip illustrated a linear process (assembly line) driven by linear thinking. The cause-effect cycle was never considered.
• A detailed rubric for LS, MS, US is available on the session wiki.
• Everything we think we know about the world is a model. Our models have a strong congruence with the world, but fall far short of representing the real world fully.
• Think of a stock as a container (e.g. bathtub) that can “hold” a measurable amount of something (e.g. water)
• A stock takes time to change because a flow takes time to flow
• The information delivered by a feedback loop can only affect future behavior; it cannot send a signal fast enough to correct behavior that drove the current feedback
• Think back to our earlier example of insect control; what was the problem with that approach (Seek and Destroy) to resolving the problem?
• This model from “Tracing Connections: Voices of Systems Thinkers” illustrates a more complete picture of the factors (elements) that influence this systemThese types of models can be created by students and are very helpful in identifying the important pieces (elements) and relationships.Creating a model for faculty morale or student achievement can be a great exercise for introducing teachers to ST principles.
• This simple model (which I will demonstrate via STELLA) illustrates the spread of a disease through a population.What are the stocks? Flows? Loops?