SYSTEMS THINKING: THINKING AND ACTING DIFFERENTLY

72 Pages·2015·1.04 MB·English

by  Systems Manager

SYSTEMS THINKING:
THINKING AND ACTING
DIFFERENTLY

Michael Goodman

January 13, 2015
© Innovation Associates Organizational Learning, 14 Church Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748 Phone: [phone]
Systems Thinking
I’m sure glad
the hole isn’t in
our end...
Objectives

• Understand what systems thinking is and why it is
important

• Introduce basic systems thinking framework, principles
and tools

• Explore mental models and the impacts they have

• Hands on experience actually applying systems thinking
to your own work

• Engage in a structured community dialog
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Topic Agenda
– Introduction to Organizational Learning and Change
– Systems Thinking
• Distinguishing Traditional from Systems Thinking
• The Iceberg and Exercise
• Basic Language of Systems Thinking
• Applying systems thinking in communities
– Mental Models
• Sherlock Holmes exercise
• Ladder of inference
• Effective conversation tools
• Belief-Action-Results Maps Exercise
• Mental models exercise
– Café Dialogue – A tool for collective thinking and action
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Two Types of Thinking
Conventional Systems
appropriate for appropriate for chronic,
simple problems complex/messy
problems
Conventional vs Systems Thinking
Conventional Systems Thinking
The connection between The relationship between
problems and their problems and their
causes is obvious and causes is indirect and not
easy to trace obvious
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Conventional vs Systems Thinking
Conventional Systems Thinking
We contribute to our own
Others, either within or problems
outside our organization,
are to blame for our Everyone is acting
problems and must be reasonably and
the ones to change responsibly and no one is
to blame
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Conventional vs Systems Thinking
Conventional Systems Thinking
Most quick fixes either make
What we do short-term
no long-term difference or
will also assure long-
actually make matters worse
term success
in the long run
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Conventional vs Systems Thinking
Conventional Systems Thinking
In order to optimize the
In order to optimize the
whole, we must improve
whole, we must optimize
relationships among the
the parts
parts
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Conventional vs Systems Thinking
Conventional Systems Thinking
The best way to
Only a few high leverage
implement change is to
interventions are required
aggressively tackle many
for large systems change
independent initiatives
simultaneously.
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