There are various approaches to solving problems that require us to analyze and interpret data. However, complex problems can require different perspectives to work upon and different elements that altogether play a crucial role in solving them. Systems thinking is one such process of solving and understanding how different things influence each other within an environment or as a whole.
Some of the examples of systems thinking can be found in our nature where various elements like water, air, plants, and even animals play a crucial role to perish or survive. When we apply this similar concept of system thinking in organizations, we get to see people, processes, structures, etc. which work together in achieving a common goal. In this article, we are going to explain to you the basic concepts of System thinking and how it can affect your personal or professional life. Read on to find out more.
What are the components of Systems thinking
Systems thinking has been more commonly defined as a holistic approach to solving problems, where you inspect various parts of the problem, rather than reflecting on events, outcomes, or even specific parts, and unknowingly contributing to the development of unintended consequences in the future.
Systems thinking is not a single thing as a whole but a collection of relationships, practices, and habits within a framework. It is believed that the different parts of the system can be understood best in the event where they are compared with each other or other kinds of systems, rather than being inspected in insolation. The main focus of systems thinking is cyclical, unlike the linear effect and cause. That holds the key to the success of this method.
The term systems thinking can have a whole lot of different meanings to different people. The main discipline behind the idea of systems thinking is more than just an assortment of methods and tools. It also has an underlying philosophy which makes it so applicable in different fields and aspects of our life.
A broader way of inspecting and understanding problems
From business tools like loop diagrams and management simulators to medical applications and treatments, system thinking defines the way for a broader inspection of all the elements involved in the system. This leads to fairer and more positive outcomes which allow us to examine and detect problems more accurately and also prevent us from acting without thinking.
System thinking also involves moving away from observing data or events, to identifying patterns of normal or erratic behavior over a period of time, to even surfacing the structures that are driving those patterns and events.
When we understand structures that are not serving us efficiently, we can change those underlying structures and expand the range of choices that are available to us, and also create solutions to problems that are long term and satisfying.
Thus, to sum it up, systems thinking requires clarity, curiosity, compassion, courage, and choice. This includes a willingness to view situations clearly and to acknowledge the fact that we are all interrelated.
Concepts of Systems Thinking
- Interconnectedness – Systems thinking requires a change in our mindset, the way we view problems, from linear to circular. The fundamental principle underlying this shift is that everything is connected. However, we do not indicate any relation to a spiritual way, but only in a biological and scientific manner.Everything around us is interrelated for something or the other for survival. We as humans need air, water, and food to survive. Trees need sunlight and carbon dioxide. Everything around us needs something or the other and a complex array of things get created for survival.
- Synthesis – Synthesis essentially means the combination of two or more things to create a new object or thing. When you come to systems thinking, the goal here is to use synthesis contrary to analysis, which means the dissection of complex patterns into more manageable ones. In analysis, the world is often broken down into several parts.However, all the systems present around us are dynamic and complex. Thus, we need a holistic approach to understand different phenomena. Synthesis is all about understanding the parts and also the whole at the same, along with all the connections and relationships that make it up.
- Emergence – When we look at things from the perspective of systems, we get to realize that large things often emerge from lesser tiny parts. Emergence is one of the natural outcome of things; the way life emerges from different individual biological elements uniquely and diversely. It is about things interacting with one another and resulting in the emergence of a totally different outcome in the end.
- Causality – It is a concept where things are deciphered by understanding the way different objects within a system affect one another. It helps to provide a deeper insight into agency, relationships, and connections, which brings us to our 5th point, systems mapping.
- Systems Mapping – One of the key tools which the systems thinker incorporates is systems mapping. There are different ways to map, such as digital feedbacks, cluster mapping, etc. However, here in systems mapping, things work differently. The elements in a system are understood and mapped only to find a relationship between them.
Final thoughts
Systems thinking finds use in several different applications in our life. From science to engineering, medicine, research, and surveys, systems thinking has been shown to have a positive outcome far greater than the traditional methods use. It is only a matter of time before mankind explores the possibility of more such complex thinking patterns which only proves to make life easier and better for all of us.
This article helps you to understand the concepts of systems thinking and its applications. A scientific approach to problem-solving is what the world needs right now and we can all agree that examining the different parts and components of an issue can give rise to better solutions than the ones we have in hand.
Books on the topic of Sysyems Thinking:
1.Thinking in Systems: A Primer by Chelsea Green Publishing
