Transcript Presentation on Systems Thinking (Nanette Chadwick)

Systems Thinking:
Concepts for Problem Solving
Nanette Chadwick
Faculty Sustainability Workshop
May 12, 2015
)
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SYSTEMS THINKING:
-- understands systems as dynamic wholes rather than
as collections of parts,
as webs of interdependent connections that create
emerging patterns.
-- sees isolated events in the larger context of emergent
patterns as they unfold through time.
-- sees how the parts within wholes interrelate, and
identifies leverage points to lead to desired outcomes.
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Systems thinking is a discipline for seeing wholes. It is a
framework for seeing interrelationships rather than
things, for seeing patterns of change rather than
static 'snapshots.' It is a set of general principles -distilled over the course of the twentieth century,
spanning fields as diverse as the physical and social
sciences, engineering, and management.... During
the last thirty years, these tools have been applied to
understand a wide range of corporate, urban,
regional, economic, political, ecological, and even
psychological systems. And systems thinking is a
sensibility -- for the subtle interconnectedness that
gives living systems their unique character.
Peter Senge
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"All the important problems we face are
systemic problems: the survival of the planet's
ecology, world peace, the elimination of
hunger and disease, the education of youth,
and social justice--just to name a few. Over the
past several decades the systemic nature of
these complex problems has gradually entered
the public's consciousness. Complex problems
are systemic, complex problems are
counterintuitive, systemic problems are
everywhere, systemic problems are messy
problems."
Hutchins
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ICEBERG MODEL
TOOLS
• React to Events –
What do we notice?
Describe what you
observe.

• Describe the
Patterns and Trends
Behavior over
Time Graphs
• Identify the
Systemic Structures causal relationships
 Causal Loop
Diagrams,
Leverage Points
• Transform our
Mental Models
 Identify mental
models
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STEPS FOR USING TOOLS:
[See handout]
(1) Observe an event or phenomenon.
EXAMPLE: Americans consume a large
amount of fast food.
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(2) Describe patterns and trends
BEHAVIOR –
be specific – define your scale!
Behavior over time Graph (BOTG)
-Represent
your
perception
-General trends
OR
-Data intensive
-Detailed
TIME – define your scale! – seconds, days,
years?
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Amount of fast food
consumed per person per year
Trends in fast food consumption
1960
Time (years)
2010
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Average U.S. Food Expenditure Shares:At-Home vs.Away-from-Home.
Source: Budget shares based on data from Food Expenditures Data Set, ERS, USDA;
at http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-expenditures.aspx.
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Many examples of BOTGs in article assigned for reading.
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(3) Identify system structure.
What are causes and effects of the
trend in higher fast food
consumption?
CAUSES:
EFFECTS:
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Create causal loop diagrams (CLDs):
-- do not have to be circular
-- can simply show flow from causes
to events, and then to effects
-- may be several layers deep (root
causes, ultimate effects)
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Increasing fast food consumption
Eat more
fast
foods
Need
quick
meals
Tight
schedule,
little time
to cook
Do less
cooking,
more free
time
Fill
schedule
with
activities
Positive and
negative
feedback
cycles
and their effects
Where are
potential
leverage points
to alter trends?
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Unclassified document from the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – 12/2009
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BOTGs describe
WHAT happens in a
system
(observed patterns)
CLDs explain WHY
(BEWARE: CLDs are always a
simplified representation of
reality!)
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What is the thinking that perpetuates these systemic structures?
(4) Transform mental models.
-- this step does not always occur
--many blocks, pressures
-- does not have to happen, for
systems thinking to be valuable
-- creation of cognitive dissonance is
valuable
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Systems thinking:
-- tools can be applied to any event or
phenomenon.
-- Identifies the underlying causes and
ultimate effects of trends
-- allows students to make connections
among isolated phenomena
-- can alter mental models
-- empowers perspective, identifies
leverage points for change in systems
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Habits
of a Systems Thinker:
Handout to discuss and
take home.
Also available,with many
other resources, at:
www.watersfoundation.org
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