2014|Student Guide
SYSTEMS THINKING
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SEAOHUN One Health Course - Student Guide
Module: Systems Thinking
This module provides students with the skills necessary to take a
systems thinking approach to emerging pandemic diseases. Key
outcomes of this module are the ability to:
 Use systems thinking to create maps of complex and
complicated systems that include human, animal, environment
and ecological components.
 Operate as part of a One Health team that uses systems maps
to integrate information from multiple disciplines and sectors,
to develop strategies to address One Health challenges, and to
anticipate and mitigate potential unintended consequences.
There are seven sessions in this module:
Time
Topic
30 Minutes
Introduction to Systems Thinking Module
60 Minutes
What is Systems Thinking?: The Learning Challenge
180 Minutes
What is Systems Thinking?: The Exploration
60 Minutes
What is Systems Thinking?: Sharing the Learning
90 Minutes
Wicked Problems: Finding Solutions to One Health Problems through Systems
Thinking
60 Minutes
Wicked One Health Problems: Sharing Solutions
60 Minutes
Learning Reflections and Evaluation
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Module: Systems Thinking
Module Competencies
Competency #1
Describe the elements of
complex problems and
systems thinking.
Competency #2
Create and use systems
mapping to deepen
understanding of One
Health problems.
Learning Objectives to Develop Competency
Understand core concepts of systems thinking and their application
in One Health interventions by:
 Accurately describing key systems concepts (e.g., complex,
complicated and adaptive systems).
 Understanding what is distinctive about systems thinking as
opposed to other forms of thinking (e.g., logical, causal,
etc.).
 Evaluating the advantages and implications of taking a
systems approach to understanding One Health problems.
Learning Objectives to Develop Competency
Create systems maps of One Health problems by:
 Identifying the essential elements of the One Health
problem.
 Identifying the interconnections among the elements with
humans, animals and the environment.

Competency #3
Partner with One Health
team members to develop
solutions to complex One
Health problems using
systems thinking and tools.
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Mapping the integration points where individual system
elements (e.g., social networks, organizations, government,
communities, ecosystems) interact.
Learning Objectives to Develop Competency
Contribute as a One Health team member to developing solutions
to One Health problems by:

Using concepts from “wicked” problem/“super wicked”
problem theory to better understand how to formulate and
approach One Health problems.

Integrating information and actions across disciplines and
sectors using systems thinking tools.

Identifying leverage points for maximum impact.

Determining and mitigating potential unintended
consequences of planned interventions.

Creating essential feedback and feed-forward loops.
SEAOHUN One Health Course - Student Guide
INTRODUCTION
Learning Objective:
Provide an overview of the module and learning objectives.
Inage Source: www.permanentculturenow.com
Notes
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Module: Systems Thinking
Notes:
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SEAOHUN One Health Course - Student Guide
WHAT IS SYSTEMS THINKING?
The Learning Challenge
Learning Objective:
Create a learning plan to learn about systems thinking.

Read “Systems Thinking- Key Concepts” (ICRA Learning Resources)
Reading
Assignment
Notes:
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Module: Systems Thinking
Creating a Learning Plan to Learn about Systems Thinking
Individual
Activity
Complete the table below:
Things we know about
systems thinking
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Things we do not know about
systems thinking
SEAOHUN One Health Course - Student Guide
Find two or three other students with whom you feel you can successfully learn
about systems thinking. As a team, take 25 minutes to create a plan to learn more
Small Group about systems thinking. Begin by discussing:
Task
 What do you need to know about systems thinking in order to use a systems
thinking approach in addressing One Health problems?
 In what order should you research the items identified in the previous
question?
 What are the primary resources that you will use?
 What will you do when you cannot find the information that you want?
 What will you do when you have questions?
 How will you know when you have enough information?
After considering these questions, complete the table on the following page.
Notes:
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Module: Systems Thinking
OUR PLAN TO LEARN ABOUT SYSTEMS THINKING
Things we know about systems thinking
Things we do not know
Plan for learning more
Two references to get you started in learning about systems thinking are the ICRA Learning Resources on “Systems Thinking Guidelines” and
“Systems Thinking Approaches.” These are included in the resource section at the end of this module.
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SEAOHUN One Health Course - Student Guide
Poster from http://wizzyschool.com/cosmiceducation/environsustainabilitycurriculum.php
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Module: Systems Thinking
Notes:
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SEAOHUN One Health Course - Student Guide
WHAT IS SYSTEMS THINKING?
The Exploration
Learning Objective:
Understand core concepts of systems thinking and their application in One
Health interventions by:
 Describing accurately key systems concepts (e.g., complex, complicated
and adaptive systems).
 Understanding what is distinctive about systems thinking as opposed
to other forms of thinking (e.g., logical, causal, etc.).
 Evaluating the advantages and implications of taking a systems
approach to understanding One Health problems.


Read “Systems Diagrams Guidelines” (ICRA Learning Resources)
Read “Systems Thinking: Approaches” (ICRA Learning Resources)
Pre-work
Creating a Systems Thinking Map
Create a poster using systems mapping techniques to:
 Define systems thinking.
 Summarize key systems thinking concepts.
Small Group
 Explain the distinctive elements of systems thinking as opposed to other forms
Activity
of thinking.
 Demonstrate how to create a systems map.
 Evaluate the advantages and implications of taking a systems approach to
understanding One Health problems.
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Module: Systems Thinking
Examples of Systems Maps
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SEAOHUN One Health Course - Student Guide
SYSTEMS THINKING
Space to plan your systems thinking poster about systems thinking.
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Module: Systems Thinking
Notes:
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SEAOHUN One Health Course - Student Guide
WHAT IS SYSTEMS THINKING?
Sharing the Learning
Learning Objective:
Understand core concepts of systems thinking and their application in One
Health interventions by:
 Describing accurately key systems concepts (e.g., complex,
complicated, and adaptive systems, etc.).
 Understanding what is distinctive about systems thinking as opposed
to other forms of thinking (e.g., logical, causal, etc.).
 Evaluating the advantages and implications of taking a systems
approach to understanding One Health problems.
New Learning
What did other groups have in their posters about systems thinking that you want to add
to yours?
Large Group
Exercise
Notes:
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Module: Systems Thinking
SYSTEMS THINKING
Sketch or write notes here on the final class poster about systems thinking.
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SEAOHUN One Health Course - Student Guide
WICKED PROBLEMS:
Finding Solutions to One Health Problems Through Systems Thinking
Learning Objective:
Create systems maps of One Health problems by:
 Identifying the essential elements of the One Health problem.
 Identifying the interconnections among the elements with humans,
animals and the environment.
 Mapping the integration points where individual system elements (e.g.,
social networks, organizations, government, communities, ecosystems)
interact.
Contribute as a One Health team member to developing solutions to One Health
problems by:
 Using concepts from “wicked” problem/“super wicked” problem theory
to better understand how to formulate and approach One Health
problems.
 Integrating information and actions across disciplines and sectors using
systems thinking tools.
 Identifying leverage points for maximum impact.
 Determining and mitigating potential unintended consequences of
planned interventions.
Creating essential feedback and feed-forward loops.
Wicked Problems
Lecture
A wicked problem is a social or cultural problem that is difficult or impossible to solve for
as many as four reasons: incomplete or contradictory knowledge, the number of people and
opinions involved, the large economic burden, and the interconnected nature of these
problems with other problems.
Notes:
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Module: Systems Thinking
Three One Health Challenges - Solve Using Systems Thinking
Small Group
Activity
Challenge #1
There is an outbreak of influenza-like illness among
people and animals in a small town in Thailand.
Challenge #2
Fifty (50) chickens die before the TET holiday in one
village in Vietnam.
Challenge #3
Three individuals come to a health station showing
signs and symptoms of dengue fever in a small town
in Indonesia.
Challenge Directions:
Use systems thinking to explore the challenge you selected, answering the following
questions:






Who? Who has the disease? Who else does the disease impact? Who should be
on a One Health team?
Where? Where was the first case discovered? Where has it spread?
When? When was the first case discovered? How quickly is it spreading?
How? How is the disease transmitted? How serious is it? How can the disease be
managed and controlled?
What? What are the implications for human, animal and ecological health?
Why? Why did the outbreak occur?
Then propose solutions to the challenge.
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SEAOHUN One Health Course - Student Guide
Create a poster and be prepared to present your ideas to the class.
Space to plan your poster.
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Module: Systems Thinking
Notes:
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SEAOHUN One Health Course - Student Guide
LEARNING REFLECTIONS AND EVALUATION
Learning Objective:


Reflect on your learning in the Systems Thinking Module.
Provide feedback on what were the strengths of the module and areas
that the module could be improved.
Evaluate/
Create
How would you rate your level of the following
Systems Thinking Module competencies:
Apply
Individual
Learning
Assessment
Understand
Self-Evaluation
Describe the elements of complex problems and systems
thinking.
Create and use systems mapping to deepen understanding of One
Health problems.
Partner with One Health team members to develop solutions to
complex One Health problems using systems thinking and tools.
Write down two or three things that you learned from the session. Think about:
 What did you learn in this module that was new to you?
 Have the lessons in this module led you to change any previously held beliefs?
 What are you still unsure about? Do you have any questions that still need to be answered?
 What was interesting to you/what would you like to study in more detail?
 Are there new behaviors that you will try based on this class?
 What topics from the class will you share with others?
Notes:
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Module: Systems Thinking
Sharing the Learning
Small Group
Dsicussion
Notes:
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In a small group, share:
 Your key learnings from the module.
 How you will apply the concepts, knowledge, skills you gained from the module.
SEAOHUN One Health Course - Student Guide
RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS
Referenced in this Module
Horst, W.J. Rittel, and Melvin M. Webber, “Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning,” Policy Sciences 4,
(1973), (pp. 155-169). Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01405730.
International Centre for Development Oriented Research in Agriculture. (n.d). Systems Diagrams
Guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.icra-edu.org/objects/anglolearn/Systems_DiagramsGuidelines1.pdf.
International Centre for Development Oriented Research in Agriculture. (n.d), Systems ThinkingApproaches. Retrieved from http://www.icra-edu.org/objects/anglolearn/Systems_ThinkingApproaches.pdf.
International Centre for Development Oriented Research in Agriculture. (n.d). Systems Thinking Key
Concepts. Retrieved from http://www.icra-edu.org/objects/anglolearn/Systems_ThinkingKey_Concepts1.pdf.
Additional Resources
The Open University. Various courses and modules on Systems Thinking and Practice. www.open.ac.uk.
Senge, Peter M. (2006). The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization. New York:
Doubleday Business.
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