- Topics: [[Design]], [[Problem-solving]] - Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuvHvi84TFw --- ## Summary - Systems thinking is a philosophy that everything is connected, even though it may not always be obvious. - Problem solving with systems thinking requires you to see the invisible and make the connections. - Remember that a system is a collection of parts (including sub-systems) that are connected to accomplish a goal. - Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets. But it doesn't mean that it's the results that you want. - The trick is to understand the system you have and refine it to get the results you want. - Page Senge has written the 11 laws of systems thinking, which are perspectives that help with systems design. ## Notes ### What is systems thinking? - Systems thinking is a philosophy that **everything is connected**. - The systems and their connections aren't always obvious. - Therefore, systems thinking requires you to see the invisible. ### What is a system? - A system is defined as an organized **collection of parts** (including sub-systems) that are highly integrated to **accomplish an overall goal**. - There are many different kinds of systems - biological, economical, social, etc... - If one part of a system is changed, the nature of the overall system is changed as well. This is because all parts of the system are connected in some way. ### Connections - A system functions as a whole. Made up by the sum of it's parts. - Parts have relationships with each other. Otherwise, you wouldn't have a system. You would just have a collection of parts. - Nothing ever exists entirely alone - everything is in relation with everything. ### 11 laws of systems thinking (Peter Senge) - **Law 1.** Today's problems come from yesterday's solution. - Today's problems come from yesterday's solutions that were half measures at best. - **Law 2.** The harder you push, the harder the system pushes back. - **Law 3**. The easy way out usually leads back in. - Systems thinking is a disciplined approached to analyze problems more effectively before acting. - It allows you to identify and resolve the root issue rather than just the symptoms. - "Sometimes the easy or familiar solution is not only ineffective, it is addictive and dangerous. The long-term consequence of non systemic thinking is increased need of more and more of a solution." - Took the easy way out based on emotion vs. data. - **Law 4**. Faster is slower. - Every system has an optimal speed. When growth becomes excessive, the system tries to compensate by slowing down. This puts the system at risk. - Slow and steady is better than quick and careless. A quick fix usually equals a slow cure. - "We never have time to do it right but we always have time to do it over!" ### Systems approach - The critiques are the actual optimists. - **Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets. But how do you get the results you want?** - **Understand your system.** Compare it to other systems and benchmark against their best practices. - **Start small**. Take the low hanging fruit. Start simple. Stay focused. To sculpt a horse, take a piece of stone, and chip away everything that doesn't look like a horse. - Know your system. Chip away everything that isn't systems thinking. Eventually, you'll have the system you want. ## See also - [Reflecting on the 11 laws of the fifth discipline from Peter Senges](https://www.peterkang.com/reflecting-on-the-11-laws-of-the-fifth-discipline-from-peter-senges-the-fifth-discipline/)