Seeing the Forest for the Trees: A Manager's Guide to Applying Systems Thinking

by Dennis Sherwood

Systems thinking can help you tame the complexity of real-world problems by providing a structured way of balancing a broad, overall view with the selection of the right level of detail, truly allowing you to "see the forest for the trees".

Only by taking a broad view can we avoid the twin dangers of a silo mentality-in which a fix 'here' simply shifts the problem to 'there'-and organisational myopia-in which a fix 'now' gives rise to a much bigger problem to fix 'then'.

Seeing the Forest for the Trees will give you all the tools and techniques you need, with many practical examples as diverse as managing a busy back office, negotiating an outsourcing deal and formulating business strategy.

Genres: Business, Management, Nonfiction, Leadership

228 pages, Paperback

First published July 11, 2002

Reviews

[S J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good for causal diagrams but not much else

85% of this book is causal diagrams but very little on seeing the wood from the trees of taking business context and making improvements through systems thinking

[Geert Hofman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introductory book into systems thinking.

[Vincent Musolino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally a well-written book on Systems Thinking! After Senge and Haines, both disappointments, a short(er), concise, clear set of practical instructions about how to draw diagrams and start thinking about dynamics modelling.

[Ben Royal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different approach to used of causal loop diagrams with a definite organizational development approach. A interesting read if a little lengthy. A good contract to Donella Meadows' last book.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to understand intro to systems thinking aimed at managers.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good intro to systems thinking. Some of the examples feel out of date. Eg the same book written today could take lots of examples of positive reinforcing loops from Facebook. Excellent and useful bibliography.