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
Class Project
Exercises
20%
40%
40%
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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:
1. Lecture 1: Introduction: Definitions & Concepts
a. The Purpose
b. What is Thinking?
c. What is a System?
d. What is Systems Thinking?
e. Why Systems Thinking?
f. System Principles & Concepts (Reductionist vs Holistic)
g. Key Terminology
2. Lecture 2: A View from the Past to Present
a. General Systems Theory
b. System Science
c. Systems Approaches
d. Cybernetics
e. Exercise
3. Lecture 3: Dealing with Complexity
a. Hierarchy
b. Evolution
c. Description
d. Emergence
e. Adaptive Complex Systems
f. Exercise
4. 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
a. Translating system objectives and the future solution description into a problem
statement
b. Solving the wrong problem perfectly
c. Guest Speaker: Center for Breakthrough Thinking
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d. Creative / Brainstorming Tools: Lateral Thinking, Systems Thinking Diagrams
(ex. Mind Maps)
e. 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
a. Systems Architecting and Evolutionary Development
i. Spiral vs incremental implementation
ii. Timely system implementation
iii. Incremental Commitment Model
b. Planning system design and technical implementation
i. Prioritize system capability phasing
ii. Technology Roadmapping
c. Managing systems
d. 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
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1. Russell L. Ackoff (1999) Ackoff's Best NY: Wiley
2. Virginia Anderson and Lauren Johnson (1997) Systems Thinking Basics: From
Concepts to Causal Loops (Pegasus)
3. Robert Axelrod and Michael D. Cohen ( ) Harnessing Complexity
4. Bela H. Banathy (1996) Designing Social Systems in a Changing World NY: Plenum
5. Bela H. Banathy (2000) The Guided Evolution of Society NY: Plenum/Kluwer
Academic
6. Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1968) General System theory: Foundations, Development,
Applications, George Braziller New York
7. Peter Checkland (1981) Systems Thinking, Systems Practice. (Wiley)
8. Peter Checkland Jim Scholes (1990) Soft Systems Methodology in Action. (Wiley)
ISBN 0-471-92768-6
9. Peter Checkland Jim Sue Holwell (1998) Information, Systems and Information
Systems. (Wiley) ISBN 0-471-95820-4
10. John Gall (1978) Systemantics Pocket Books
11. Jamshid Gharajedaghi Systems (2005) Thinking, Second Edition: Managing Chaos
and Complexity: A Platform for Designing Business Architecture (ButterworthHeinemann)
12. Charles L. Hutchins (1996) Systemic Thinking: Solving Complex Problems CO:PDS
ISBN 1-888017-51-1
13. Michael C. Jackson ( ) Systems Thinking; Creative Holism for Managers
14. Bradford Keeney(1983) Aesthetics of Change Guilford Press
15. Daniel H. Kim Introduction to Systems Thinking (Pegasus Communications Inc.)
16. Daniel H. Kim (1995) "Systems Thinking Tools: A User's Reference Guide" Part of
the Toolbox Reprint Series. (Pegasus Communications Inc.)
17. Draper Kauffman ( ) System One and System Two
18. M. Davidson, Uncommon sense: The life and thought of Ludwig von Bertalanffy,
Father of General Systems Theory (J. P. Tarcher, Inc)
19. Gerald Nadler, Shozo Hibino (1999) Creative Solution Finding: The Triumph of
Breakthrough Thinking over Conventional Problem Solving Prima Publishing
20. Gerald Nadler, William Chandon ((2004) Smart Questions: Learn to Ask The Right
Questions For Powerful Results John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
21. Joseph O'Connor, Ian McDermott (1997) The Art of Systems Thinking: Revolutionary
Techniques to Transform Your Business and Your Life HarperCollins.
22. Tom Ritchey (2002) General Morphological Analysis: A General Method for NonQuantified Modelling
23. Mitchell Resnick ( ) Turtles, Termites and Traffic Jams
24. Peter M. Senge (1990) The Fifth Discipline - The Art & Practice of The Learning
Organization (Currency Doubleday).
25. Senge, Kleiner, Roberts, Ross and Smith The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook
26. Sherwood, D., Seeing the Forest for the Trees: A Manager’s Guide to Applying
Systems Thinking, Nicholas Brealey Publishing, London, 2002
27. Lars Skyttner (2006) General Systems Theory: Problems, Perspective, Practice
(World Scientific Publishing Company) ISBN 9-812-56467-5
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28. Gerald M. Weinberg (1975) An Introduction to General Systems Thinking (1975 ed.,
Wiley-Interscience) (2001 ed. Dorset House).
29. Brian Wilson (Systems) (1984) Systems: Concepts, Methodologies and Applications.
(Wiley) ISBN 0-471-92716-3
30. Brian Wilson (Systems) (2001) Soft Systems Methodology: Conceptual Model
Building and its Contribution. (Wiley) ISBN 0-471-89489-3
31. 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
32. Midgley, G., Systems Thinking, Volume IV, Critical Systems Thinking and Systemic
Perspectives on Ethics, Power and Pluralism, Sage Publications, 2003
33. Hitchins, D.K., Advanced Systems Thinking, Engineering, Management, Artech
House, Boston, 2003
34. Flood. R.L., Carson, E.R., Dealing with Complexity: An Introduction to the Theory
and Application of Systems Science, Plenum Press, N.Y., 1990
35. Skyttner, L., General Systems Theory: Ideas & Applications, Chapter 11: The Future
of Systems Theory, World Scientific, N.J., 2001
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