Thinking in systems
atomic ideas to transform your problem solving process.
I recently ended up seeing an eye doctor with a really major problem - I was feeling sleepy the entire day (this often happens with me when I donât wear specs..weird but true đ)
No issues with my eye power, but the doctor gave me an eye drop and frankly, it did nothing.
I did some research to get to the real issue - realized that I should get B12 tested. Turned out that my B12 readings were really really low and thatâs why I was feeling tired and sleepy all the time.
Why am I boring you with this story? Well, many a times, we often try to solve a problem by taking it head-on vs. actually trying to understand the connectedness of the problem.
That is, linear thinking vs. systems thinking.
To solve bigger problems (personally + professionally), we need to do more of systems thinking than linear.
Whatâs systems thinking?
Systems thinking is the art and science of making reliable inferences about behavior by developing an increasingly deep understanding of underlying structure.
Presenting key atomic ideas from the book The Art of Thinking in Systems by Steven Schuster.
First: What Are Systems?
A system is anything that has interacting and interconnected parts.
The human body is an example of a system. It reacts to the environment and is composed of many interdependent parts such as the brain, digestive, and circulatory systems.
What is systems thinking?
"Systems thinking is being able to examine and analyze ourselves and the things around us with the express purpose of being able to improve upon them. It requires us to be more observant and aware of the things that impact us, in both big and small ways, and then be willing to take the necessary steps to change the obstacles in our path."
The Elements of System Thinking
Systems are made up of three parts: elements, interconnections, and a function or purpose.
Elements are the actors in the system.
Interconnections are the different relationships between the elements. In our example of the circulatory system, the relationship between the lungs and the heart is that the lungs supply oxygenated blood to the heart.
Function or purpose is what the system delivers. The circulatory system delivers oxygenated blood to the body. Thatâs its purpose or function.
How To Shift from Linear Thinking Patterns to System Thinking
The first step in shifting from linear thinking to system thinking is to ask if something is actually the problem or a symptom of something deeper.
Linear thinking focuses on solving a problem while system thinking digs deeper to see if systematic issues exist.
To determine if an issue is part of a larger problem:
Check the amount of time and energy devoted to solving it.
When people with power to solve the issue ignore it, and would rather spend their time complaining, chances are you are dealing with a symptom of a larger problem
If you have tried to solve the issue repeatedly but are not seeing results, or if it changes to a related issue, you have not uncovered the real problem yet
If there is an emotional barrier that stands between you and the solution it is a sign of systematic problems
When the problem that you are trying to solve is predictable or seems so, there is a high probability that it is a system of something more
If the problem is kept around by an organization, it is just a distraction from the real problem
When an organization is stressed out and always anxious, it suggests that it is only focusing on symptoms and not the real problems
If whenever you solve one problem another appears, itâs a sign of deeper issues that need to be addressed
Ten Enemies of System Thinking
Letâs fix it quick.
Put a band-aid on it.
Budgeting.
Responding right away.
Who cares? Being apathetic is a sign that the organization is not willing to engage in systematic thinking
We need more information.
When you are accused of overthinking, it shows that the other person is not willing to engage your point of view
Forgetting everything else.
Avoiding Conflict
Doing it in one's own way.
Understanding System Behaviour
System behavior can be understood in terms of stocks, flows, and feedback loops.
Stocks serve as the base of every system.
âStocks are sorts of snapshots in time, showing a current view of the changing flows in the system.â
They may be physical like money but they may also be feelings and attitudes. Stocks are not static. The changing nature of stocks keeps the system alive.
Flows are actions that impact the system. Examples of flows include deposits, sales, and inventories. Flows are what get in and out of the system.
For example:
In an organization, the hiring and retirement of employees is a flow in the system.
Feedback loops are mechanisms that work to control and create behavior.
âA feedback loop is created when changes in the level of a stock affect the inflows or outflows of that stock.â
Feedback loops keep the stock level at a certain range or allow it to increase or decrease.
A reinforcing loop strengthens existing connections within the system while a balancing loop maintains balance within system subunits.
Feedback Loops
Feedback loops keep the stock level at a certain range or allow it to increase or decrease.
A reinforcing loop strengthens existing connections within the system while a balancing loop maintains balance within system subunits.
Implementing System Thinking in Relationships
Human relationships can be thought of in terms of system thinking.
The four communications styles that end relationships:
Criticism. Criticism will leave your partner feeling attacked and rejected
Contempt. Communicating with contempt leaves the other person feeling unloved and unappreciated
Defensiveness. When we get defensive, the other party sees it as a dismissal of their concerns
Stonewalling. Stonewalling is shutting oneself from the other. It is a refusal to engage
By applying system thinking to relationship problems you will be able to take your power back and feel hopeful.
Thinking of our relationship as a system and stock means that both partners are feedback loops. We look for any changes that may have happened recently and analyze whether the system dynamics have changed.
I hope this was useful!
Happy systems thinking!
-ashish.
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