080303606 (SYSTEMATIC AND CREATIVE THINKING)

CHAPTER 3 : SYSTEMATIC THINKING

1 Associate Professor Dr.Prajuk Pratitas

Google Classroom Code: uwtrs7q
 SYSTEMATIC THINKING
 Systemic thinking is a powerful problem-solving
approach that includes a variety of tools and
methods.
 It’s a way to diagnose complex and cross-functional
issues in business operations and technical workflows,
systemic thinking focuses on the 'system' as a whole.
Applying the lessons of systemic thinking in your
professional and personal life can help solve recurring
and pervasive challenges.
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 SYSTEMATIC THINKING
 Systemic thinking, or systems thinking, is a comprehensive
analytical approach to understanding how different elements
interact within a system or structure.
 Commonly used for research and development purposes in
business, scientific, human resources, medical, economic and
environmental studies to find solutions.
 Systemic thinking involves studying all components and their
influence on each other together.

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 ADVANTAGES OF SYSTEMIC THINKING
1. Helps identify interconnectedness and also
studies how these elements interact with one another,
it’s environment, and to what result.
2. Doesn't limit to one hypothesis:
Most research and analytical processes begin with
a base assumption and try to identify the cause and
effects of problems. Systemic thinking isn't limited to
such conditions and recognizes that a simple solution or
reason is not always the answer.
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 ADVANTAGES OF SYSTEMIC THINKING
3. Improves the entire system:
Instead of improving the performance or
efficiency of one part of the system and leaving the rest
of the structures untouched, systemic thinking helps
improve and upgrade the system in its entirety. This is
possible because systemic thinking studies the
interrelation of elements and not their behavior in
isolation.

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 ADVANTAGES OF SYSTEMIC THINKING
4. Provides more freedom for testing:
Research methodologies and processes usually
have rigid step-by-step structures that provide little to
no room for improvisation. Systems thinking has
multiple entry points and interventions that may not
use conventional research methods and therefore offers
greater flexibility.

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 ADVANTAGES OF SYSTEMIC THINKING
5. Takes feedback into account:
Feedback is an essential part of systemic thinking tools
and approaches. By incorporating feedback at each stage,
systems thinking helps reduce the wastage of resources, limits
the margin of error and improves efficiency.
6. Supports different systems:
The fundamental approach is such that you can apply it
to any process, industry or domain. You can use the philosophy
and tools of systemic thinking at the company, department,
team or individual level.
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 HOW TO IMPLEMENT SYSTEMIC THINKING
1. Start by observing
Observe, learn and understand the system, its different
elements and stakeholders in the beginning. If you're aiming to
improve specific processes, look at different tools, software
and hardware systems, users and data points. To implement
systemic thinking, try to create a map of how these elements
operate in unison and establish the connections between
different subsystems. You can also verify historical data to
check if the diagram and observations of your system reflect
past behaviors.
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 HOW TO IMPLEMENT SYSTEMIC THINKING
2. Identify and analyze the problem
Determine the core issue that's causing the problem.
These issues are usually systemic and can be difficult to locate
instantly. An easier approach can be to identify smaller and
more manageable problems first and add more details. Since
the solution or source of the problem isn't likely to be a single
person or element, you can apply new perspectives. Create
new flowcharts and diagrams that follow the flow or command
of information and increase their complexity as you identify
and understand the problem.
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 HOW TO IMPLEMENT SYSTEMIC THINKING
3. Shortlist interventions
Devise a list of possible interventions that change
the interconnectedness of different elements or change
the speed of their interaction.
For example, consider changing hardware parts of
a system that's prone to lagging. Similarly, you can
decide that hiring a new person to reduce the team's
workload is the best way to improve efficiency.
Depending on the nature of the problem, create a list
of changes that are easy to implement and measure. 10
 HOW TO IMPLEMENT SYSTEMIC THINKING
4. Apply solutions
Start by applying the most obvious and likely
solutions. Make sure you don't make significant changes
simultaneously that make it challenging to locate the
source of the solution. Additionally, keep in mind the
disruptions and outages caused in the system while
you're changing the elements or reallocating their
purpose.

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 HOW TO IMPLEMENT SYSTEMIC THINKING
5. Gather feedback and evaluate results
Collecting feedback is an essential step in
systemic thinking to measure the impact of the change
from multiple sources and stakeholders. Conduct team
meetings to understand what changes have taken place
on the ground level. Be open to making changes and
accepting suggestions, or even failure.

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 HOW TO IMPLEMENT SYSTEMIC THINKING
6. Continue the improvement process
Once the changes are in place, audit the entire
system periodically to ensure that the elements
continue to function as expected. Remember, space
and time can also hamper the efficacy of systemic
elements and how they interact. Apply solutions that
consider future needs and don't hesitate to optimise
and improve the existing solution.

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 ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEMIC THINKING APPROACH
1. Identify:
1.1 What is a problems? Who caused those problems?
1.2 What are your goals for those problems solving?
1.3 What/where are those system boundaries?
1.4 How those system and its environment are interacting?
1.5 Root cause analysis: Recognizes and identifies that different
subsystems and parts of a large system don't always connect
linearly but that there's a web of interactions that influences
their behavior.
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 ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEMIC THINKING APPROACH
2. Synthesis:
When two or more parts of a system combine or
work together, they synthesize a new result. It's crucial
for systemic thinking to understand this process of
synthesis and analyze its complex and dynamic nature.

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 ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEMIC THINKING APPROACH
3. Emergence:
What emerges from the process of synthesis is of
equal importance as the outcome influences the entire
system. For example, in biology, this may study the
emergence of various life forms from different
biological elements and evolutionary backgrounds.

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 ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEMIC THINKING APPROACH
4. Feedback loops:
Feedback loops help examine and learn about
the flow of information between different parts of a
system. Broadly, two main types of feedback loops,
namely reinforcing and balancing, are prevalent.
5. Causality:
This involves understanding how one part of the
system is influencing the other. This helps understand
the connection, feedback and individuality of elements
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in greater detail.
 ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEMIC THINKING APPROACH
6. Mapping:
Systemic thinkers use systems mapping to divide
complex processes into simpler and easier-to-understand
visuals that help visualize the entire system and its
interconnectedness all at once. Different types of graphs,
charts and flow diagrams can create these maps.

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 TIPS ON USING SYSTEMIC THINKING THEORIES AND TOOLS
IN THE WORKPLACE
 You can utilize systemic thinking tools and
approaches to solve urgent, chronic, complex and
persistent problems in business processes. Here are
some tips to help you get started:
 Don't make assumptions: Don't begin the process by
making assumptions about the system or the problem,
and avoid assigning blame to a single element,
individual or subsystem.
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 TIPS ON USING SYSTEMIC THINKING THEORIES AND TOOLS
IN THE WORKPLACE
 Apply new perspectives: Examine all events, patterns
and structures before thinking of solutions. Perform
group exercises to consider new perspectives and
viewpoints.
Investigate thoroughly: Make sure to verify the same
information from multiple sources and inspect even
the most minute information thoroughly.

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 TIPS ON USING SYSTEMIC THINKING THEORIES AND TOOLS
IN THE WORKPLACE
 Don't focus on vanity or aesthetics: Don't spend a lot
of time or resources perfecting the visual display of
charts or ensuring the accuracy of the loop. Instead,
focus on whether tools reflect what you intend them
to.
Ask new questions: Think of new questions that
challenge underlying assumptions and notions.

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 TIPS ON USING SYSTEMIC THINKING THEORIES AND TOOLS
IN THE WORKPLACE
 Identify when discussions lose focus: When participating in a
group exercise or discussion, stay vigilant when the
conversation shifts its focus from the problem or solution.
 Create mental maps and loops: When viewing a problem or
process, start by creating a visual framework of the system.
 Apply different interventions: Identify different entry points,
interventions and structures that consider all elements and
their functioning. Don't be afraid to try unconventional
approaches if that's what your process suggests.
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 WHAT IS A SYSTEMS THINKER?
A systems thinker is someone who is able to look at a complex
system and consider its interconnectedness and interdependencies,
not just its isolated components.
 Effective systems thinkers usually have an open mind and think
holistically, rather than rely on a predictable formula or a linear
approach.
 who operate from a systems thinking perspective:

1. Are curious
2. Find root causes
3. Have an open mind
4. Are good listeners
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 WHAT IS A SYSTEMS THINKER?
 A systemic perspective, you will see thing as it
holistically. You recognize that all your many systems
are interdependent and come together in an
integrative way so that each part of your business
affects the whole.
 A systematic perspective, on the other hand, is about
having documented methods, processes or systems
that are repeatable and predictable so that your
business can and will produce the same desired result
each time, every time. 24
 WHAT IS A SYSTEMS THINKER?
Put simply, a systemic perspective focuses on
interrelatedness, while a systematic perspective
focuses on results. And by knowing the difference,
you can better see why you need both views to create
a business that functions well and that doesn’t
depend on you to make it function that way.

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 WHAT IS A SYSTEMS THINKER?
 Systems Thinking is the thinking about how things interact with one
another and get the insight of the whole.
 Systems thinking is about patterns and relationships to describe how
things interact and gain insight into why systems behave the way they
do. Systematic Thinking is how to think methodically. Systemic
Thinking is a simple technique for finding systemic focus.
 Systems Thinking refers to various system approaches - to different
perspectives or interpretations of reality. If you're considering
something in its totality along with its characteristics as well as its
interaction with its environment and considering its parts along with
the interactions between the parts then you are doing Systems
Thinking or thinking systemically if you prefer. 26
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Retrieved from: https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/system
 SYSTEM THEORY APPROACH

Input Process Output

COMPONENTS OF A GENERAL SYSTEM

Feed Back

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 SYSTEMS THINKING IN BUSINESS
 The systems thinking in business approach examines how parts
interrelate and combine into complex business networks. Rather than
isolating issues, it focuses attention on critical interconnections.
 How do workflows, teams, and departments relate? How do choices
propagate through integrated systems?
 Instead of linear cause and effect, systems thinking recognizes circular
causality, feedback loops, and unintended consequences.
 Though new situations may emerge from parts interacting, the system
itself evolves purposefully through shared information.
 By mapping financial capital flows, supply chains, and client
engagement processes leaders gain an oriented perspective for
organizational learning and adaptation. 30
 SYSTEMS THINKING IN BUSINESS
 Systems thinking requires crossing departmental silos to formulate
coherent solutions scaling up and down integrated operations.
 With holistic understanding, adjustments targeted at leverage points
gracefully ripple through organizations.
 For example, information system upgrades may simultaneously
increase manufacturing flexibility, enable innovative data analytics,
and improve customer experience.
 The synergistic result multiplies the effect of isolated changes. While
complex, systems thinking cultivates the insight and organizational
alignment needed to drive systemic transformation.

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 SYSTEMS THINKING IN BUSINESS
Interconnections between system components create complex adaptive systems:
 Businesses comprise networks of multidirectional relationships connecting vision,
personnel, resources, and activities across departments. More than isolated silos,
organizations operate as ecosystems where the vitality of each element depends
on the health of supporting and competing units.
 Understanding these dynamic interdependencies helps leaders design integrated,
resilient organizations.
 Adaptivity means systems self-organize as new situations emerge from parts
interacting. Leaders provide overriding vision while granting autonomy for context-
specific decisions at points of application.
 This distributed capability allows complex adaptive systems to dynamically
optimize performance amidst uncertainty.

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 SYSTEMS THINKING IN ORGANIZATIONS
 Systems thinking methodologies build stakeholder alignment, inform leadership
decisions, and smooth transformation efforts.
 Collaborative modeling fosters mutual understanding while visual maps empower
leaders to consider multidimensional impacts and interdependencies.
 Understanding enterprise adaptivity facilitates change initiatives by coordinating
responses across integrated units.
 Systems thinking fosters participation revealing diverse perceptions and mental
models. Collaborative modeling sessions synthesize knowledge, surface hidden
connections critical for constructive solutions, and prevent narrow assumptions
from incorrectly bounding complex contexts.
 Multidisciplinary participation keeps decision-making grounded in operational
realities while increasing buy-in.

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 SYSTEMS THINKING IN ORGANIZATIONS
 Systems thinking enables leadership to take a holistic perspective .
 Systems thinking allows leaders to consider the whole beyond departmental
divisions: How do functions interrelate? Where might silos misalign with
organizational strategy?
 Holistic understanding, targeting operational optimization over narrow metrics,
balances quality, efficiency, and sustainability.
 Supports change management and adaptation: Systems thinking is particularly
valuable when adapting organizations to pressing environmental shifts or
reimagining competitive positioning.
 Change initiatives flounder without concurrently updating interdependent yet
isolated components.
 Modeling exercises guide multifaceted transitions coordinating structures, skills,
and culture within the systemic context – increasing success rates.
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 SYSTEMS THINKING IN ORGANIZATIONS
Applying Systems Thinking in Business for Innovation and Sustainability:
 Business environments reward adaptation and punish fragility.

 Systems thinking offers leaders tools for designing resilient,

regenerative organizations amidst uncertainty and scarce resources.
 Taking a big-picture perspective reveals inefficiencies and barriers to
innovation across fragmented functions.
 Understanding enterprises as ecosystems highlights multidirectional
stakeholder interdependencies.
 A little change goes a long way when backed by integral systems
wisdom, applications of systems thinking compounding growth
through circular economics and distributed innovation while securing
competitive futures. 35
 SYSTEMS THINKING IN ORGANIZATIONS

Retrieved from: 36
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360806130/figure/download/fig1/AS:1159183395225601@1653382266968/Causal-
loop-diagram-based-on-systems-thinking-of-balancing-and-reinforcing-loops.png 04 August 2024