Systems Thinking
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein
Too often, today’s problems are solved by utilizing easy and comfortable approaches to obtain simple solutions. In reality as many discover simplicity and common approaches are far from effective in dealing with complex, dynamic and diverse problems. Despite the initial apparent ease and comfort, focus tends to be on the elements of the problem, rather than the “bigger picture”; and typically there is no consideration of interactions, and the belief that there is one best solution. As more and more program failures escalate there is an increasing need to improve and create better results through systems thinking. Systems’ thinking is a discipline of seeing the “whole”, recognizing patterns and interrelationships, and learning how to innovate a more effective, efficient and creative system solution(s). This course will acquaint students to basic concepts of systems thinking. The primary emphasis will be the introduction of basic systems thinking fundamentals, i.e. defining a systems perspective about any situation or problem, solving problems with that perspective, describing and modeling a problem, and designing and improving upon system solutions.
Course Learning Objectives
After completing this course students will be able to:
Provide an overview of the history, research and perspectives into systems thinking
Understand and document system thinking objectives
Establish a basic understanding of systems thinking terminology, theories, processes, methods, language and tools.
Evaluate when it is appropriate to apply thinking methods, i.e. reductionist methods (ex. data collection, scientific method, etc.) as opposed to applying systems thinking methods (ex. ,Systems Engineering, Breakthrough Thinking/Smart Questions, etc.)
Describe and model solutions that will enable system thinking ex. (mind maps, feedback & causal loops, behavior over time diagrams, etc.)
Apply systems engineering and analysis techniques to various problems. (socio - technical, supply chain, value chain / lean, etc.)
Translate system thinking objectives into a problem statement that can be solved by traditional engineering disciplines (EE, ME, CE, CECS, ISE, Sciences etc.)
Grading:
Midterm 20%
Class Project 40%
Exercises 40%
Text Book: Rather than a traditional text book, a course reader will be assembled for this course. This will expose students to a variety of resource materials including course slides
Course Structure:
Lecture 1: Introduction: Definitions & Concepts
The Purpose
What is Thinking?
What is a System?
What is Systems Thinking?
Why Systems Thinking?
System Principles & Concepts (Reductionist vs Holistic)
Key Terminology
Lecture 2: A View from the Past to Present
General Systems Theory
System Science
Systems Approaches
Cybernetics
Exercise
Lecture 3: Dealing with Complexity
Hierarchy
Evolution
Description
Emergence
Adaptive Complex Systems
Exercise
Lecture 4: Process & Methods I
a. Hard, Soft, Evolutionary, and Complex Adaptive Systems
b. Methods (Hard: Systems Analysis, Systems Engineering, Operations Research; Soft: Soft Systems Methodology, Rigorous Soft Method, Breakthrough Thinking)
c. Exercise
5. Lecture 5: Process & Methods II
a. Systems Engineering & System Architecting
b. System Concept & Design
c. Exercise
6. Midterm
7. Case Study: Smart Questions Phase 1 & 2 Describing and Understanding the Problem
Translating system objectives and the future solution description into a problem statement
Solving the wrong problem perfectly
Guest Speaker: Center for Breakthrough Thinking
Creative / Brainstorming Tools: Lateral Thinking, Systems Thinking Diagrams (ex. Mind Maps)
Exercise (In Class)
8. Case Study: Smart Questions Phase 3 Future Solution
a. Smart Questions: Guest Speaker: Center for Breakthrough Thinking
b. Problem – Solving Tools: Kepner-Tregoe, Decision Analysis, Casual Analysis, TRIZ
c.. Exercise (In Class)
9. Case Study: Smart Questions Phase 4: Living Solution fro Today and Tomorrow
a. Smart Questions: Guest Speaker: Center for Breakthrough Thinking
b. Systems Thinking Tools (Feedback, Causal Loops, N2 charts, etc.),
c. Software Tools (ex. Stella, IThink, Vensum¸ Systemigram, etc. )
d. Exercise (In Class)
10. Systems Implementation
Systems Architecting and Evolutionary Development
Spiral vs incremental implementation
Timely system implementation
Incremental Commitment Model
Planning system design and technical implementation
Prioritize system capability phasing
Technology Roadmapping
Managing systems
Exercise
11. The Solution & Applications I
a. Application 1: Socio-Technical System
b. Application 2: Leadership/ Learning Process
c. Exercise
12. The Solution & Applications II
a. Application 3: Value Chain / Lean
b. Application: 4: Global Warming
c. Exercise
13. Research Needs Regarding Future Systems Thinking and Next Steps
14. Class Project Presentations
15. Class Project Presentations (Cont.)
Bibliography
Russell L. Ackoff (1999) Ackoff's Best NY: Wiley
Virginia Anderson and Lauren Johnson (1997) Systems Thinking Basics: From Concepts to Causal Loops (Pegasus)
Robert Axelrod and Michael D. Cohen ( ) Harnessing Complexity
Bela H. Banathy (1996) Designing Social Systems in a Changing World NY: Plenum
Bela H. Banathy (2000) The Guided Evolution of Society NY: Plenum/Kluwer Academic
Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1968) General System theory: Foundations, Development, Applications, George Braziller New York
Peter Checkland (1981) Systems Thinking, Systems Practice. (Wiley)
Peter Checkland Jim Scholes (1990) Soft Systems Methodology in Action. (Wiley) ISBN 0-471-92768-6
Peter Checkland Jim Sue Holwell (1998) Information, Systems and Information Systems. (Wiley) ISBN 0-471-95820-4
John Gall (1978) Systemantics Pocket Books
Jamshid Gharajedaghi Systems (2005) Thinking, Second Edition: Managing Chaos and Complexity: A Platform for Designing Business Architecture (Butterworth-Heinemann)
Charles L. Hutchins (1996) Systemic Thinking: Solving Complex Problems CO:PDS ISBN 1-888017-51-1
Michael C. Jackson ( ) Systems Thinking; Creative Holism for Managers
Bradford Keeney(1983) Aesthetics of Change Guilford Press
Daniel H. Kim Introduction to Systems Thinking (Pegasus Communications Inc.)
Daniel H. Kim (1995) "Systems Thinking Tools: A User's Reference Guide" Part of the Toolbox Reprint Series. (Pegasus Communications Inc.)
Draper Kauffman ( ) System One and System Two
M. Davidson, Uncommon sense: The life and thought of Ludwig von Bertalanffy, Father of General Systems Theory (J. P. Tarcher, Inc)
Gerald Nadler, Shozo Hibino (1999) Creative Solution Finding: The Triumph of Breakthrough Thinking over Conventional Problem Solving Prima Publishing
Gerald Nadler, William Chandon ((2004) Smart Questions: Learn to Ask The Right Questions For Powerful Results John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Joseph O'Connor, Ian McDermott (1997) The Art of Systems Thinking: Revolutionary Techniques to Transform Your Business and Your Life HarperCollins.
Tom Ritchey (2002) General Morphological Analysis: A General Method for Non-Quantified Modelling
Mitchell Resnick ( ) Turtles, Termites and Traffic Jams
Peter M. Senge (1990) The Fifth Discipline - The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization (Currency Doubleday).
Senge, Kleiner, Roberts, Ross and Smith The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook
Sherwood, D., Seeing the Forest for the Trees: A Manager’s Guide to Applying Systems Thinking, Nicholas Brealey Publishing, London, 2002
Lars Skyttner (2006) General Systems Theory: Problems, Perspective, Practice (World Scientific Publishing Company) ISBN 9-812-56467-5
Gerald M. Weinberg (1975) An Introduction to General Systems Thinking (1975 ed., Wiley-Interscience) (2001 ed. Dorset House).
Brian Wilson (Systems) (1984) Systems: Concepts, Methodologies and Applications. (Wiley) ISBN 0-471-92716-3
Brian Wilson (Systems) (2001) Soft Systems Methodology: Conceptual Model Building and its Contribution. (Wiley) ISBN 0-471-89489-3
Heidi Leoti Davidz, Enabling Systems Thinking To Accelerate The Development Of Senior Systems Engineers, Doctor Of Philosophy In Engineering Systemsat The Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, February 2006
Midgley, G., Systems Thinking, Volume IV, Critical Systems Thinking and Systemic Perspectives on Ethics, Power and Pluralism, Sage Publications, 2003
Hitchins, D.K., Advanced Systems Thinking, Engineering, Management, Artech House, Boston, 2003
Flood. R.L., Carson, E.R., Dealing with Complexity: An Introduction to the Theory and Application of Systems Science, Plenum Press, N.Y., 1990
Skyttner, L., General Systems Theory: Ideas & Applications, Chapter 11: The Future of Systems Theory, World Scientific, N.J., 2001
(6030154) 5 N240(E)(M31)H NATIONAL CERTIFICATE COMPUTERISED FINANCIAL SYSTEMS N4
0 HELSINKI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS ANALYSIS LABORATORY RESEARCH
017 SOUTHWEST ALUMINUM SYSTEMS CHANDLER ARIZONA PHONE 8005444044 SPECIFICATIONS
Tags: problems by, complex problems, thinking, solve, systems, using, problems