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The Systems Thinker #4
Learn To Think in Systems: Use System Archetypes to Understand, Manage, and Fix Complex Problems and Make Smarter Decisions
Would you like to have better solutions to your problems? Struggling to understand why things went wrong when you did everything right?
Learn to Think in Systems can help you with these problems.
Systems surround us and we might not even be aware of it. Your household is a system. The bakery on the corner is a system. Your class at school, your department at work, and your weekend soccer team made of wholehearted dads is a system too. You are a vital part of more complex systems like your country, the economy, or the world; learn about their changing nature, and find optimal solutions to problems related to them.
The world is more connected than ever thanks to innovations like telephone, television, computers, and internet. The way we sense reality changed significantly. Using conventional thinking to understand the world as it functions today is not enough. We need to know the elements of systems thinking to see beyond simple cause-effect connections. This book will help you to find strategic solutions to every complex, modern problem.
Learn To Think in Systems focuses on the nine fundamental system archetypes; our mental models related to them, and the step-by-step implication methods to fix them. Learn to use systems archetypes to solve your problems at work, in your business, in your relationship, and social connections.
See through the motivations and understand the drives of contemporary politics, economics, and education. Widen your perspective, think critically, analyze deeply, clear your vision, be more logical and rational just by applying systems thinking.
Think differently and get different results.
• Learn the language of systems thinking.
• Apply the best systems thinking ideas, models, and frameworks in your cognitive and decision-making process.
• Learn to understand, design, and find solutions to the main system problems called ‘archetypes.’
Complexity, organizational pathways, and networks gain more and more importance in our interconnected world. Learn To Think in Systems gives you real-life examples to make the adoption process of this type of thinking smooth.
Define your problems more accurately, find better, long-lasting solutions to your problems, learn to create strategic plans using systems diagrams, and understand your place and power over the world.
Learn to Think in Systems can help you with these problems.
Systems surround us and we might not even be aware of it. Your household is a system. The bakery on the corner is a system. Your class at school, your department at work, and your weekend soccer team made of wholehearted dads is a system too. You are a vital part of more complex systems like your country, the economy, or the world; learn about their changing nature, and find optimal solutions to problems related to them.
The world is more connected than ever thanks to innovations like telephone, television, computers, and internet. The way we sense reality changed significantly. Using conventional thinking to understand the world as it functions today is not enough. We need to know the elements of systems thinking to see beyond simple cause-effect connections. This book will help you to find strategic solutions to every complex, modern problem.
Learn To Think in Systems focuses on the nine fundamental system archetypes; our mental models related to them, and the step-by-step implication methods to fix them. Learn to use systems archetypes to solve your problems at work, in your business, in your relationship, and social connections.
See through the motivations and understand the drives of contemporary politics, economics, and education. Widen your perspective, think critically, analyze deeply, clear your vision, be more logical and rational just by applying systems thinking.
Think differently and get different results.
• Learn the language of systems thinking.
• Apply the best systems thinking ideas, models, and frameworks in your cognitive and decision-making process.
• Learn to understand, design, and find solutions to the main system problems called ‘archetypes.’
Complexity, organizational pathways, and networks gain more and more importance in our interconnected world. Learn To Think in Systems gives you real-life examples to make the adoption process of this type of thinking smooth.
Define your problems more accurately, find better, long-lasting solutions to your problems, learn to create strategic plans using systems diagrams, and understand your place and power over the world.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 21, 2019
597 people are currently reading
641 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 2, 2019
A good primer and introduction on the vocabulary of systems thinking, along with some of the theory. The examples are somewhat basic, but there are useful terms, such as:
"A system is something more than a collection of its parts. Systems thinking consists of three things: Elements (the actors in the system), interconnections (relationship of the actors with one another), and a purpose (sand on a beach is not a system, since there's no interconnection). Function is used when talking about a non-human system, and purpose for human systems."
"Systems thinkers can see both the forest and the trees; one eye on each."
A stock can be a bank balance, but also feelings or attitudes, they are not static. Flows are the actions that impact a system.
Systems thinking can combine quantitative variables with qualitative ones, such as morale and attitudes.
Two types of feedback loops: reinforcing and balancing. Reinforcing often referred to as vicious or virtuous. Balancing work to stabilize the stock at a given level (like a thermostat, they require a response mechanism, like a heater). Supply and demand at equilibrium is another example.
To illustrate how success can breed success I did appreciate the joke of a young man approaching Bill Gates to marry his daughter. Gates says, "Who are you? I will only marry my daughter to the CEO of BofA." "No problem," the young man replies. He goes to BofA, applies for the CEO position, the interviewer asks who he is: "I'm the future son-in-law of Bill Gates." Potential can be confused with or sold as achievement.
I will continue to check out other books on this topic, as it is fascinating and mostly overlooked, especially in business.
"A system is something more than a collection of its parts. Systems thinking consists of three things: Elements (the actors in the system), interconnections (relationship of the actors with one another), and a purpose (sand on a beach is not a system, since there's no interconnection). Function is used when talking about a non-human system, and purpose for human systems."
"Systems thinkers can see both the forest and the trees; one eye on each."
A stock can be a bank balance, but also feelings or attitudes, they are not static. Flows are the actions that impact a system.
Systems thinking can combine quantitative variables with qualitative ones, such as morale and attitudes.
Two types of feedback loops: reinforcing and balancing. Reinforcing often referred to as vicious or virtuous. Balancing work to stabilize the stock at a given level (like a thermostat, they require a response mechanism, like a heater). Supply and demand at equilibrium is another example.
To illustrate how success can breed success I did appreciate the joke of a young man approaching Bill Gates to marry his daughter. Gates says, "Who are you? I will only marry my daughter to the CEO of BofA." "No problem," the young man replies. He goes to BofA, applies for the CEO position, the interviewer asks who he is: "I'm the future son-in-law of Bill Gates." Potential can be confused with or sold as achievement.
I will continue to check out other books on this topic, as it is fascinating and mostly overlooked, especially in business.
January 3, 2020
On the plus side, "Learn to Think in Systems" provides a decent overview of basic systems thinking concepts and adumbrates many system archetypes. Each archetype is accompanied by drawings and examples simplistic enough to be accessible to any reader. The book will serve as a useful introduction for those completely unaccustomed to the topic.
In spite of the endearing qualities listed above, the book demonstrates a complete lack of profundity. It is filled with utterly banal observations such as, "In case of needing new employees, we have to estimate precisely how many new employees are needed". Removing similar trivialities would reduce the book to little more than a pamphlet. As a last point of contention, the author presents a Pollyannaish approach to managing unfortunate system phenomena. One such example comes from chapter ten where readers are encouraged to: "Make well-rounded, clear goals and commit to wishing success for all parties."
In conclusion, it would be difficult to recommend this book. Those interested in the topic will be better served with "Thinking in Systems" by Donella H.
Meadows.
In spite of the endearing qualities listed above, the book demonstrates a complete lack of profundity. It is filled with utterly banal observations such as, "In case of needing new employees, we have to estimate precisely how many new employees are needed". Removing similar trivialities would reduce the book to little more than a pamphlet. As a last point of contention, the author presents a Pollyannaish approach to managing unfortunate system phenomena. One such example comes from chapter ten where readers are encouraged to: "Make well-rounded, clear goals and commit to wishing success for all parties."
In conclusion, it would be difficult to recommend this book. Those interested in the topic will be better served with "Thinking in Systems" by Donella H.
Meadows.
December 23, 2020
Learn to think in systems is an introduction to System Thinking. If you know nothing about the matter it may provide some benefit. But in this case I would rather recommend the book of Donella H. Meadows which is cited quite often and which I personally found more profound although there are also some weaknesses.
May 16, 2024
Good book for refreshing language and creating system flow charts.
Book focuses on understanding and applying the nine fundamental system archetypes to solve complex problems. Here are the key points:
- Systems surround us in various forms like households, businesses, organizations, and even larger systems like economies and countries. Understanding systems thinking is crucial to find optimal solutions to modern, complex problems.
- The book covers the nine fundamental system archetypes, which are recurring behavior patterns observed in systems. Examples include policy resistance, tragedy of the commons, drift to low performance, escalation, and addiction.
- It explains how to identify these archetypes in real-world situations and provides step-by-step methods to address them using systems thinking principles.
- By learning to recognize and apply these archetypes, readers can solve problems more effectively at work, in business, relationships, and social connections.
- The book aims to help readers widen their perspective, think critically, analyze deeply, and develop a more logical and rational approach to problem-solving through systems thinking.[3]
In essence, the book equips readers with a systems thinking mindset and the tools (system archetypes) to better understand, manage, and fix the underlying causes of complex, systemic problems for more effective decision-making.
Book focuses on understanding and applying the nine fundamental system archetypes to solve complex problems. Here are the key points:
- Systems surround us in various forms like households, businesses, organizations, and even larger systems like economies and countries. Understanding systems thinking is crucial to find optimal solutions to modern, complex problems.
- The book covers the nine fundamental system archetypes, which are recurring behavior patterns observed in systems. Examples include policy resistance, tragedy of the commons, drift to low performance, escalation, and addiction.
- It explains how to identify these archetypes in real-world situations and provides step-by-step methods to address them using systems thinking principles.
- By learning to recognize and apply these archetypes, readers can solve problems more effectively at work, in business, relationships, and social connections.
- The book aims to help readers widen their perspective, think critically, analyze deeply, and develop a more logical and rational approach to problem-solving through systems thinking.[3]
In essence, the book equips readers with a systems thinking mindset and the tools (system archetypes) to better understand, manage, and fix the underlying causes of complex, systemic problems for more effective decision-making.
August 28, 2019
A simple primer
I picked this up somewhat randomly as someone interested in systems thinking. It’s focus is on using “system diagrams” like what I first saw in Peter Senge’s Fifth Discipline. Essentially this is a primer. And the various archetypes are a nice way or picturing various system dynamics.
Unfortunately the writing and editing is poor. Diagrams don’t reflect what is in the text. Words are misspelled. I assume there are other primers that might be better reads, like some of the source material.
I picked this up somewhat randomly as someone interested in systems thinking. It’s focus is on using “system diagrams” like what I first saw in Peter Senge’s Fifth Discipline. Essentially this is a primer. And the various archetypes are a nice way or picturing various system dynamics.
Unfortunately the writing and editing is poor. Diagrams don’t reflect what is in the text. Words are misspelled. I assume there are other primers that might be better reads, like some of the source material.
February 5, 2019
I didn't expect much from this but I was still somewhat disappointed. At least it's short. Really could have used a polish for clarity, and the examples are not always illuminating. Further, the possible "solutions" to each systems archetype were weak and too generic for any use. I should have just re-read Donella Meadows' "Thinking in Systems".
April 15, 2019
This book offers a very high level intro to system thinking and its vocabulary, however if you want to go deeper there might be other books better suited for that purpose.
It’s a short read and gives you actionable information like a set of archetypes (mental models) that you can start applying in your day to day life.
It’s a short read and gives you actionable information like a set of archetypes (mental models) that you can start applying in your day to day life.
April 19, 2019
Good Primer for a Novice
As part of my full-time job, I teach data analysis and problem solving, and I found a lot of valuable information in this book. In several examples, I found well-worded ways to describe considerations my students should be thinking about, but often struggle with.
As part of my full-time job, I teach data analysis and problem solving, and I found a lot of valuable information in this book. In several examples, I found well-worded ways to describe considerations my students should be thinking about, but often struggle with.
July 14, 2019
This book does a good job of introducing the basics of systems thinking along with several common systems archetypes (patterns of behavior). It is easy to follow because it is written in plain language and it pictures many examples from the real world. These are not always the most illustrating, but in general, I found this to be a good introduction to thinking in systems.
July 21, 2019
Valuable
The only thing I wish it had that it currently does not is a tip for APA citation. I plan to use it as a reference repeatedly, after I figure out how to reference kindle only books.
The only thing I wish it had that it currently does not is a tip for APA citation. I plan to use it as a reference repeatedly, after I figure out how to reference kindle only books.
April 3, 2021
Synnart of archetypes for thinking in systems. I didn’t realize this was part of a series I’ll definitely check out more.
It’s critical that we understand the interrelated aspects of the problems we solve.
It’s critical that we understand the interrelated aspects of the problems we solve.
January 29, 2024
Fair
A decent book for business types trying to translate complexity into business terms. If you’re already skilled in systems mapping and understanding complex adaptive systems, then this is too basic for you.
A decent book for business types trying to translate complexity into business terms. If you’re already skilled in systems mapping and understanding complex adaptive systems, then this is too basic for you.
February 28, 2019
Briefly...
Good sources, well written, but overly simple except for neophytes in Systems Theory. A good start with many helpful references.
Good sources, well written, but overly simple except for neophytes in Systems Theory. A good start with many helpful references.
April 17, 2019
Interesting
A brief but valuable look at relationships, personal and business, and how they fall into 9 basic energetic patterns. Overall well done.
A brief but valuable look at relationships, personal and business, and how they fall into 9 basic energetic patterns. Overall well done.
May 11, 2020
This book is very technical. It worth the read.
April 24, 2021
A good overview
This book isn’t comprehensive enough to be
a complete introduction to Systems Thinking, but it was an enjoyable read and worth the time.
This book isn’t comprehensive enough to be
a complete introduction to Systems Thinking, but it was an enjoyable read and worth the time.
March 20, 2023
This felt overly simplistic, and not as interesting as the other systems thinking books I’ve read. A basic view on systems thinking with a highly operational lens. Meh
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews