General Introduction to Systems ThinkingGeneral Introduction to Systems Thinking

The Green ChangemakersJuly 2007

Sustainable Development Online Course

OutlineOutline

I. I. The Systems View of LifeThe Systems View of Life

II. II. A Need for Paradigm Shift in ThinkingA Need for Paradigm Shift in Thinking

III. III. Systems Thinking SkillsSystems Thinking Skills

IVIV. . Wisdom for SustainabilityWisdom for Sustainability

ReferencesReferences

"How we think is how we act, is how we are, and determines the results we get".

The Systems View of Life

Life itself is made up of complex and interdependent systems.

When one key element of a system in our lives changes, it simultaneously affects many other elements in our lives.

"Reductionism and holism, analysis and synthesis, are complementary approaches that, used in proper balance, help us obtain a deeper knowledge of life". - Fritjof Capra

UNITY through DIVERSITYWe are merely a strand in the web of life.

Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. Picture source: http://www.dreamwolvez.com/DREAMBOYZ.html

Systems within systems

Picture source: www.russiandolls.co.uk

• Each system interrelates and reacts to other living systems

at higher and lower levels (subsystems),

in addition to other systems at its own

level.

• Living systems are organized as

“holarchies” or “natural” hierarchies.

12 Characteristics of Living Systems

The first six of these characteristics apply to the living system as a whole, while the last six describe the inner workings of a living system.

The Whole System: Living Systems Characteristics 1–6

(1) Holism: Living systems are whole entities with unique characteristics. A system is a collection of related parts that interact in an organized way for a purpose.

(2) Living systems have defined boundaries.

(3) Living systems are open systems.

12 Characteristics of Living Systems

(4) Living systems transform inputs into outputs.

Industrial Agriculture = simple linear machine

Ecological Agriculture = complex cyclic organism

(5) Living systems require feedback to continue living. Ex: evolution.

(6) Living systems pursue multiple outcomes.

Pictures adapted from John M. Gerber, 2007

12 Characteristics of Living Systems

The Inner Working of Systems: Living Systems Characteristics 7–12

(7) Living systems display equifinality (the principle that the same results can be achievedvwith different initial conditions and through different ways).

(8) Living systems are subject to entropy (gradually breakdown). However, entropy can be arrested in open systems.

(9) Living systems are hierachical.

12 Characteristics of Living Systems

(10) Living systems have interrelated parts.

(11) Living systems tend toward dynamic equilibrium (a natural state of balance and stability).

(12) Living systems produce internal elaboration that leads naturally to greater complexity.

OutlineOutline

I. I. The Systems View of LifeThe Systems View of Life

II. II. A Need for Paradigm Shift in ThinkingA Need for Paradigm Shift in Thinking

III. III. Systems Thinking SkillsSystems Thinking Skills

IVIV. . Wisdom for SustainabilityWisdom for Sustainability

ReferencesReferences

Why is systems thinking valuable?

Systems thinking is founded on some basic, universal principles.

It can help you design smart, enduring solutions to problems.

It gives you a more accurate picture of reality.

It also encourages you to think about problems and solutions with an eye toward the long-term and bigger view.

We sometimes fix on our part of the system, and miss the whole.

Two halves of an elephant is not an elephant!

Slide adapted from John M. Gerber, 2007

The solution of one problem may cause another problem (unintended results)

Artist Gary Larson

Ex: The ”Green Revolution” agricultural technologies were introduced into Asia in the late 1960s as a solution for food insecurity. Decades later, they have proved detrimental in terms of biodiversity loss, increased use of agro-chemical based pest and weed control, water logging, salinization and land degradation.

Slide adapted from LEAD International and Sustainability Institute

In complex systems, cause and effect are often distant in time and space

Slide adapted from John M. Gerber, 2007

We may act to produce short-term benefits and long-term costs.

Then, systems thinking help us... to see “cause and effect” over long

periods of time and far away in space, (avoid actions that are favorable now and harmful later).

to recognise solutions that will cause more problems.

Picture source: http://thwink.org/sustain/glossary/LeveragePoint.gif

to see the ”whole”.

to find the powerful leverage points for systemic change.

Systems Thinking is...

Environment or ”contextual” thinking: thinking in terms of connectedness, relationships and context.

Network thinking: emphasizes on the relationships among objects more than separate objects themselves. Small catalytic events can cause large change in a system. Systems thinking promotes organizational communication at all levels.

Process thinking: focuses on processes more than outcomes as a way of managing. Every structure is seen as the manifestation of underlying processes. If we want to change the results, we must first change the process that led to the results.

Systems thinking is a tool to begin finding root cause!

The “iceberg” model of systemic relationships is a simple tool to begin to unravel complexity and discover root cause of behavior.

Lets look at it…..

Slide adapted from John M. Gerber, 2007

Events

Patternsof Behavior

SystemicStructure

Mental Models

The Iceberg

Slide adapted from John M. Gerber, 2007

Systems Thinking...

Moves the focus away from events and patterns of behavior (which are symptoms of problems) and toward systemic structure and the underlying mental models

Holistic thinking: widens the circle of understanding to comprehend connections that exist between all things. A strategy for handling complexity.

Backward thinking: involves testing assumptions and asking many questions to get to the root of the problem.

A core of where to start in systems thinking.

OutlineOutline

I. I. The Systems View of LifeThe Systems View of Life

II. II. A Need for Paradigm Shift in ThinkingA Need for Paradigm Shift in Thinking

III. III. Systems Thinking SkillsSystems Thinking Skills

IVIV. . Wisdom for SustainabilityWisdom for Sustainability

ReferencesReferences

DESIGNThe organizing principle in Systems Thinking.

Design the organization based on its ideal desired future vision.

First focus on outcomes, and then to think and work backwards to identify numerous potential pathways to reach the desied outcomes.

→ Easier to find solutions that best fit and optimize all the parts and relationships within the system.

5 strategic questions underlie the Systems Thinking Approach

The questions begin with the future environment and the end in mind and work backwards from there to trace possible paths to those desired outcomes.

Phase A: Where do we want to be?

Phase B: How will we know when we get there?

Phase C: Where are we now?

Phase D: How do we get there?

Phase E: What other factors could change in the future environment that we need to consider?

Systems are circular, so is the Systems Thinking Approach. After phase E, we come back around to phase A.

The Simplicity of Systems Thinking

Picture adapted from Stephen G. Haines, Gail Aller-Stead, and James McKinlay, 2005

Backward Thinking Diagram

The Systems Thinking diagram…

…provides an elegantly simple way to reduce complexity by focusing attention on:

The system as a whole

Its outputs/outcomes

Feedback within the environment

Its inputs

Its throughput

Steps in the Systems Thinking Method

Picture adapted from ”The Thinking in Systems Thinking”

Table adapted from ”The Thinking in Systems Thinking”

Systems Thinking and the 7 Skills

Picture adapted from ”The Thinking in Systems Thinking”

Guiding Principles

Systems are multiple-goal-seeking organisms. What are the desired outcomes?

Be flexible and adaptive (the Feedback Loop) How will we know we’ve achieved our goals?

The Whole is more important than the Parts. What is the relationship of X to Y?

Focus and strengthen the system of organizations (Holism). Are we dealing with means or ends? What is the purpose of each level of the system and how does it relate to the system as a whole?

Guiding Principles

There are many different ways to achieve the same desired outcomes: involvement of the right people in planning and implementing the solutions and actions is key (Equifinality).

What do we need to do to ensure staying, and perseverance over time (to reverse the entropy)?

Systems within systems within systems are too complex to fully understand and manage centrally. What do we centralize (mostly ends) and what should we decentralize (mostly how’s and means)?

Guiding Principles

Root causes and effects are usually not linked closely in Time and Space.

What are the root causes? Caution: Dig deep, and dig again. The root causes are rarely obvious.

Problems can’t be solved at the level at which they were created: go to the next higher systems level and its desired outcome in order to succeed.

What is our common superordinate goal here?

OutlineOutline

I. I. The Systems View of LifeThe Systems View of Life

II. II. A Need for Paradigm Shift in ThinkingA Need for Paradigm Shift in Thinking

III. III. Systems Thinking SkillsSystems Thinking Skills

IVIV. . Wisdom for SustainabilityWisdom for Sustainability

ReferencesReferences

Dancing with Systems

Expand the boundary of caring.

The real system is interconnected. No part of the human race is separate either from other human beings or from the global ecosystem.

Celebrate complexity and respect diversity.

At the system level, the overwhelming force in nature is cooperation, not competition.

Systems Intelligence in Everyday Life

A philosophy of life, a way out of egocentricity.

→ Systems approach starts when you see the world through the eyes of another person.

* Appreciation * No judgements

* Interest * Humor * Listening

* Thanking * Encouragement * Friendliness

→ Systems Intelligence is about the betterment and improvement of human life.

Wisdom in effect is systems thinking

Think from the perspective of the whole system rather than the individual.

Caring for the whole mostly means caring for future generations – for our children.

See the big picture – to understand and act upon the interconnectedness of all things – to operate in harmony with others and with nature.

→ live a more satisfying and effective life.→ better able to deal with the growing complexity of modern society.

Together, we build!

Picture source: http://www.heartfeltcharitycards.com

References• Dancing With Systems, Donella Meadows,

2001. • System Change, Frank Dixon, 2006. • Systems Intelligence, Raimo P. Hämäläinen

and Esa Saarinen.• Systems Thinking Introduction, presentation

by John M. Gerber, 2007• The Turning Point (1982), The Web of Life

(1996) by Fritjof Capra, • The "Thinking" in Systems Thinking, Barry

Richmond