systems thinking © 2009 - jane qiong zhang and linda vanasupa 1 storyboard 3 properties that...

Systems Thinking

© 2009 - Jane Qiong Zhang and Linda Vanasupa 1

Storyboard

3 properties that determine

system behavior

Open vs. closed thermodynamic

systems

Map events Link events in causal loops

Events proceed from patterns

Patterns proceed from systemic

structure

resiliency

capacity

Awareness of facts:Systems exhibit certain

properties that guide design decisions

Main point All activity takes place within dynamic, interacting

systems that cannot be separated from one another

Awareness of personal role:

Addressing system requires being able to visually represent the system

Awareness of strategies:

Changing symptoms requires changing systemic structure

redundancy

This work made possible in part by the National Science Foundation, DUE#0717428

Systems Thinking

© 2009 - Jane Qiong Zhang and Linda Vanasupa

Dynamic Systems

2© 2009 - Jane Qiong Zhang and Linda Vanasupa

Systems Thinking


Boundary

Surroundings

Elements defined by those analyzing the system

Changes with time

Group of interacting components

Outside the system

Conceptually “separates” the system and surroundings

The Dynamic System Concept

system

The Dynamic System Concept

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Systems Thinking


Boundary1 meter in all directions around my desk

system

Classroom Activity

(2 minutes)

Using the system above, redefine the system BOUNDARY so that the learning system above results in more learning. Share your results with you neighbor.

The classroom

Example

Surroundings

The instructor, me, my notebook, my pen, my desk, my chair

My Learning System


Systems Thinking


Boundary

system

Boundary

system

Thermodynamic Systems

Can exchange energy but not matter

Can exchange energy & matter

Closed vs. Open

Surroundings Surroundings

E m E

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Systems Thinking


Boundary

system

Example

Classroom Activity

(2 minutes)

Turn to your neighbor and determine the boundary for this system. Determine the factors that qualify it as a open thermodynamic system.

The US, atmosphereSurroundings

Cars, gas sold in US, roads, buses, trains, subways

US Transportation System


Systems Thinking


Boundary

system

The Key System Properties

Capacity- depends on placement of the system boundary and system properties

Interdependency- degree of interconnectedness among the sub-systems within the system; higher interconnectedness results in less stable systems

Resiliency- ability to adapt to changes in the surroundings; greater redundancy results in greater resiliency.

Redundancy- the extent to which there are duplicate paths within the system to produce the same result.

Surroundings

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Systems Thinking


Boundary

system






Surroundings

8

Systems Thinking


Boundary






Surroundings

system

9

Systems Thinking


Boundary

system






Surroundings

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Systems Thinking


Example: Construction

Materials Flow Cycle for Aggregates

Classroom Activity

(2 minutes)

Turn to your neighbor, isolate a sub-unit of the system pictured above. Identity all inputs and output of the sub-system that you isolated.

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Systems Thinking


Natural Dynamic Systems


Systems Thinking



Ideas: C.S. Hollings 13

Systems Thinking



Ideas: C.S. Hollings 14

Systems Thinking



Ideas: C.S. Hollings, M. Chertow 15

Systems Thinking


System Behavior


Systems Thinking


Systems Thinking

Events

Patterns

Systemic structure

Symptoms, seen as resulting from patterns of behavior

Developed in response to the system’s structure

Create the patterns and symptomatic events

Considers “the whole” rather than parts of the whole

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Systems Thinking


Classroom Activity

(5 minutes)

In groups of 2 or 3, identify an example of a global system tied to economic activity. Describe events, and patterns of behavior of this system.

Example

Events

Patterns

Systemic structure

Global climate change

CO2 emissions over time; use of fossil fuels over time

US government-subsidized fossil fuel production; fossil-fuel-based national energy infrastructure

Considers “the whole” rather than parts of the whole


Systems Thinking


Example: Managing Agricultural Pests

Linear, cause and effect Circular, cause, response, feedback

Isolate interactions to analyze Integrate interactions to analyze

Traditional Thinking vs. System Thinking

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Systems Thinking


Visually-representing Systems


Systems Thinking


Systems Thinking Tools

births deathspopulation

“+” =changes occur in the same directions (“s” also used)

“–” =changes occur in the opposite directions (“o” also used)

Resources

a Reinforcing loop a Balancing loop

Time delay

Representing Systemic Structures with Causal Loop Diagrams

+ –

+ –+

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Systems Thinking



Resources

a Reinforcing loop a Balancing loop

Time delay

Causal Loop Diagrams: “Limits to Growth”

+ –

+ –+

Guidelines for Drawing CLD

1. Use nouns, that can vary

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Systems Thinking



Resources

Time delay


+ –

+ –+


2. Indicate polarity

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Systems Thinking



Resources

Time delay


+ –

+ –+


3. Show delays

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Systems Thinking



“Shifting the Burden” from true solution to quick fix solution

Individual Activity

(10 minutes)

Create your own “shifting the burden” story and share it with another. Start by identifying a “problem symptom,” and a “quick fix.”


Systems Thinking


Classroom Activity

(5 minutes)

Here are two conceptual “models” of the relationship between nature, society and economic systems. Which of these models more accurately depicts reality? Why? Draw a causal loop diagram associated with the model.

The Global System


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