We build a lightweight framework for understanding systems thinking
How it Works
We have developed a framework that integrates these various perspectives on what system thinking is. This interpretation starts with the term itself, systems thinking and from this derives the two key aspects, thinking and systems. Thinking is the process of reasoning, there are two basic processes of reasoning, called analysis and synthesis, analysis is deductive it breaks things down, synthesis used inductive and abductive reasoning to build things up. Systems thinking is primarily a way of thinking based on synthesis.
System Thinking
Finally many people will directly associate systems thinking with system dynamics, dynamics is the study of how something changes overtime and system dynamics can be understood to deal with the feedback loops and causal relations that drive a systems development. In a broader sense dynamics can include any process of change within a system, such as adaptation or evolution.
Complexity Theory
Synthetic thinking is the first building block to systems thinking, in order to be a systems thinker one needs to understand synthetic thinking but this can’t really be done in isolation one needs to understand the tools of reasoning and the analytical way of thinking before one can properly understand synthesis. Thus the first major component - course - to the framework is sets out to introduce to students the basic tools of analytical and synthetic reasoning.
Complexity Science
Whereas analysis breaks things down through reductionism, synthesis looks at how they are put to gether through the process of emergence. Central to the systems thinking paradigm is looking at the connections between things instead of the component parts themselves. Systems thinking looks at how synergistic interactions between parts creates something that is more than the sum of its parts through what is called the process of emergence. To understand systems thinking one needs to understand how the process of emergence gives rise to new levels of organization and the hierarchical structure that are formed out of this.
Complexity Management
The model of a systems is clearly another central part of systems thinking, from some interpretations systems thinking can be defined as simply thinking using the model of a system, many people will approach the subject from this perspective and understanding the model of a system is a key part of being a systems thinker. The model of a system gives some structure to our reasoning and common language with which to communicate insight through
Systems Design
Whereas analysis breaks things down through reductionism, synthesis looks at how they are put to gether through the process of emergence. Central to the systems thinking paradigm is looking at the connections between things instead of the component parts themselves. Systems thinking looks at how synergistic interactions between parts creates something that is more than the sum of its parts through what is called the process of emergence. To understand systems thinking one needs to understand how the process of emergence gives rise to new levels of organization and the hierarchical structure that are formed out of this.
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