Systems thinking 

Systems thinking is a way of making sense of the complexity of the world by looking at it in
terms of wholes and relationships rather than by splitting it down into its parts.

Tools for Systems Thinkers: The 6 Fundamental Concepts of Systems Thinking

Words have power, and in systems thinking, we use some very specific words that

intentionally define a different set of actions to mainstream thinking. Words like ‘synthesis,’

‘emergence,’ ‘interconnectedness,’ and ‘feedback loops’ can be overwhelming for some

people. Since they have very specific meanings in relation to systems, allow me to start off

with the exploration of six* key themes.

*There are way more than six, but I picked the most important ones that you  definitely need

to know, and as we progress through this systems thinking toolkit series, I will expand on

some of the other key terms that make up a systems mindset.

1. Interconnectedness

Systems thinking requires a shift in mindset, away from linear to circular. The fundamental

principle of this shift is that everything is interconnected. We talk about interconnectedness

not in a spiritual way, but in a biological sciences way.

Essentially, everything is reliant upon something else for survival. Humans need food, air, and

water to sustain our bodies, and trees need carbon dioxide and sunlight to thrive. Everything

needs something else, often a complex array of other things, to survive.

Inanimate objects are also reliant on other things: a chair needs a tree to grow to provide its

wood, and a cell phone needs electricity distribution to power it. So, when we say ‘everything

is interconnected’ from a systems thinking perspective, we are defining a fundamental

principle of life. From this, we can shift the way we see the world, from a linear, structured
“mechanical worldview’ to a dynamic, chaotic, interconnected array of relationships and

feedback loops.

A systems thinker uses this mindset to untangle and work within the complexity of life on

Earth.

2. Synthesis

In general, synthesis refers to the combining of two or more things to create something new.

When it comes to systems thinking, the goal is synthesis, as opposed to analysis, which is the

dissection of complexity into manageable components. Analysis fits into the mechanical and

reductionist worldview, where the world is broken down into parts.

But all systems are dynamic and often complex; thus, we need a more holistic approach to

understanding phenomena. Synthesis is about understanding the whole and the parts at the

same time, along with the relationships and the connections that make up the dynamics of the

whole.

Essentially, synthesis is the ability to see interconnectedness.

3. Emergence

From a systems perspective, we know that larger things emerge from smaller parts: emergence

is the natural outcome of things coming together. In the most abstract sense, emergence
describes the universal concept of how life emerges from individual biological elements in

diverse and unique ways.

Emergence is the outcome of the synergies of the parts; it is about non-linearity and self-

organization and we often use the term ‘emergence’ to describe the outcome of things

interacting together.

A simple example of emergence is a snowflake. It forms out of environmental factors and

biological elements. When the temperature is right, freezing water particles form in beautiful

fractal patterns around a single molecule of matter, such as a speck of pollution, a spore, or

even dead skin cells.

Conceptually, people often find emergence a bit tricky to get their head around, but when you

get it, your brain starts to form emergent outcomes from the disparate and often odd things

you encounter in the world.

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it will be a butterfly — R. Buckminster Fuller

4. Feedback Loops

Since everything is interconnected, there are constant feedback loops and flows between

elements of a system. We can observe, understand, and intervene in feedback loops once we

understand their type and dynamics.

The two main types of feedback loops are reinforcing and balancing. What can be confusing

is a reinforcing feedback loop is not usually a good thing. This happens when elements in a

system reinforce more of the same, such as population growth or algae growing exponentially

in a pond. In reinforcing  loops, an abundance of one element can continually refine itself,

which often leads to it taking over.

A balancing feedback loop, however, is where elements within the system balance things out.

Nature basically got this down to a tee with the predator/prey situation — but if you take out

too much of one animal from an ecosystem, the next thing you know, you have a population

explosion of another, which is the other type of feedback — reinforcing.

5. Causality

Understanding feedback loops is about gaining perspective of causality: how one thing results

in another thing in a dynamic and constantly evolving system (all systems are dynamic and

constantly changing in some way; that is the essence of life).

Cause and effect are pretty common concepts in many professions and life in general —

parents try to teach this type of critical life lesson to their young ones, and I’m sure you can

remember a recent time you were at the mercy of an impact from an unintentional action.

Causality as a concept in systems thinking is really about being able to decipher the way

things influence each other in a system. Understanding causality leads to a deeper perspective

on agency, feedback loops, connections and relationships, which are all fundamental parts of

systems mapping.
6. Systems Mapping

Systems mapping is one of the key tools of the systems thinker. There are many ways to map,

from analog cluster mapping to complex digital feedback analysis. However, the fundamental
principles and practices of systems mapping are universal. Identify and map the elements of

‘things’ within a system to understand how they interconnect, relate and act in a complex

system, and from here, unique insights and discoveries can be used to develop interventions,

shifts, or policy decisions that will dramatically change the system in the most effective way.
This introduction to six key concepts are critical building blocks for developing a detailed

perspective of how the world works from a systems perspective and will enhance your ability

to think divergently and creatively for a positive impact.

Working and teaching systems thinking for years has led me to develop additional new tools,

as well as employ these time-honored concepts from the pioneers.

What stands out to me as critical in order to make a positive impact, is the ability to develop

your own individual agency and actions. To do that, you first have to wrap your head around

the core concepts. I have an online class where I explain all of this here.

What is Systems Thinking?

Systems thinking is a holistic way to investigate factors and interactions that could contribute
to a possible outcome. A mind-set more than a prescribed practice, systems thinking provides
an understanding of how individuals can work together in different types of teams and
through that understanding, create the best possible processes to accomplish just about
anything.
There are systems all around us, if we know where to look.

A family unit is one system, while the community in which we live is another. That
community is part of a bigger system of a county or city. All parts of a university make up
different systems within the whole. Financial aid, the classroom and the library make up
different systems.

By learning to view the world as a series of systems, and by understanding our part within
them, we can begin to make better decisions, be better teammates and find infinite ways to be
more productive in all areas of our lives.

What Is Systems Thinking?

In short, “systems thinking is about investigating what set of factors and interactions are
contributing to or could contribute to a possible outcome,” said Steve Brown,

“Systems thinking is useful in helping teams become more aware of how they’re interacting
with each other and within the team, and it helps them understand the outcomes they’re
producing,” Brown said.

What is an Example of Systems Thinking?

While any team at work or at play is a system, perhaps the biggest system of all is the one
with which we’re most familiar: the natural environment.

“Think about the different interactions of the ecosystem and how they change,” Brown said.
When one aspect of the ecosystem changes, there is a domino effect on the rest of the system,
sometimes in ways we could not have predicted.

Now, apply that thinking to the workplace. Consider nursing, for example.

“You have professionals who need to have a comprehensive understanding of many different
systems in order to do their job,” said Dumeng. “They need to know about the human body,
but also the community, the population and information management. Nursing professionals
have to be able to connect the dots far and wide throughout these different systems to provide
the best outcome for patient treatment.”

How Do You Use Systems Thinking?

Systems thinking is a great tool to remind us to always consider the bigger picture, according
to Brown. While it's easy to see how to take things apart, it can be much more challenging to
understand how the individual parts interact to make up the big picture. 

Before sitting down on your own or with a team to devise a project, make a change, or solve
a problem, consider the different systems your ideas could impact.
“Applying a systems thinking mindset can help provide clarity for all of the different factors
that impact results," Brown said. "This type of thinking also helps you identify potential
problem areas and provide you with a sense of perspective."

What Are Characteristics of Systems Thinking?

Holistic thinking is a key characteristic of systems thinking. “Consider the whole over the
parts,” Dumeng said. “Study the patterns of behavior that you might see, and think
holistically about your project to ensure you’re making the best decisions that you can.”
Consider all possible stakeholders who might have insight or who might be affected,
positively or negatively, by your proposed change.

Another key characteristic of systems thinking is the willingness to ask the right questions.
Brown suggests starting by naming the problem, and then considering the factors that might
be impacting the problem. Throughout the inquiry, try to be disciplined in determining the
answers. A willingness to ask the right questions and consider all possible answers, as well as
taking the time to experiment to find the answers rather than guess at the answers ourselves,
is key.

Why is it Important to be a Systems Thinker?

The world is complex, so our thinking should be complex as well. By making it a habit to
consider and reconsider how our own role might be connected to others, we can mitigate
impact and work together to create better solutions. 

“If you just try to fix a problem by focusing on the part that needs fixing and not considering
how that part got broken in the first place," said Brown, "or how the fix may impact others,
you risk either getting a new problem, or you get the same problem again later.”

What Are the Systems of Thinking Tools?

A RACI chart is an excellent tool for systems thinking. RACI stands for:

 Responsible
 Accountable
 Consulted
 Informed

Considering each of those elements when attempting to solve any problem “helps you
continuously ask who is responsible for this decision, and determine who the right people are
who need to be informed before making a decision or a change,” Dumeng said.

For Brown, the iceberg metaphor is a classic tool. “The outcomes that we see are only what’s
above the surface of the water,” he said.

When applying the iceberg metaphor to any problem, ask these questions: 

 What might be below the surface?

 What the possible laws, policies, or other pieces of information that affect the
problem you're trying to solve?
  What possible issues or concerns might lead to what you see above the water?

Always start with what you know, but apply the iceberg metaphor as a reminder to ask lots of
questions about what might be lurking below.

What Are the Benefits of Systems Thinking?

The benefits of systems thinking are wide-ranging.

Involving the right stakeholders from the beginning saves time, energy and ultimately, money
when making any business decision. “Systems thinking helps you move through a decision
logically, continuously asking if this decision will impact anyone outside the scope,” said
Dumeng.

When implementing change, administrators need to consider all stakeholders across the entire
affected system before taking action. “Otherwise,” said Dumeng, “we’re just going back to
assumptions with our design and that’s not the most effective path to creating something
worthwhile.”

What Are the Key Concepts of Systems Theory?

Both Dumeng and Brown agree that the hallmark of systems thinking is the way this mindset
forces non-linear thinking. “Including perspectives from outside your narrow scope helps
widen your frame of vision and helps you see outcomes you might not have considered,” said
Dumeng.

Adopting a systems thinking mindset is never about winning a battle or being right. Systems
thinking helps each person manage different perspectives to bring them together in the best
possible way. Keeping that in mind can help you effectively solve any problem.

What is the Difference Between Design Thinking and Systems Thinking?

Understanding the system is critical before you can create the design. It's helpful to apply
systems thinking before designing a project, because "you can use systems thinking to
consider which stakeholders will be most affected by your proposed project," said Dumeng. 

By doing that, you can use their feedback to design the project. "This way, you are basing
your design on what the stakeholders actually need, not what you think they need” said
Dumeng.