Systems Thinking

What is systems thinking?

Systems thinking is an approach of looking at the world in a way that everything is connected and a change made in one part of the system causes an effect throughout the entire system. This concept includes identifying the components in a system, how they interact with each other and how they are influenced by the external environment. 

Simply, Systems thinking is a tool to understand complex problems, identify possible solutions and making smart decisions.

Why System Thinking ?

 

System thinking is essential to understand complex problems and find suitable and appropriate solutions. This helps to have a bigger picture of the situation when finding solutions.

There are three types of problems. They are,

1. Simple problems
2. Complicated problems 
3. Complex problems

Complicated problems are the problems that are easy to define, can be broken down in to parts, outcome is possible to be predicted.

Complex problems cannot be defined, cannot be broken down into parts, cannot be predicted and can only be addressed. Solvability of a complex problem depends on the external environment. Wicked problems are also a part of the complex problems.

How to solve problems?

Before solving a problem critically, we have to have a clear cut understanding about the cause- effect relationship which describe the reason to happen something. This is also called fishbone theory.

When dealing with the complexity linear thinking would be a barrier, external opinions are valuable and information aggregation is essential.

Focusing and following the above facts will bring our lives to a better state through critical thinking and smart decision making.