Systems Thinking

The systems approach is a way of thinking about complex problems and a methodology for developing optimal solutions to those problems. It involves a special kind of thinking, often referred to as systems thinking, that makes use of a number of tools to gain powerful insights into the nature of a problem. In essence, it does this by examining the system in which a problem occurs, identifying the core parts of the system, and how they work together to manifest the attributes of the system. Thus, knowledge of a system is both a prerequisite and an ongoing requirement critical to systems methodology, which broadly involves the design, construction, implementation, and optimization of an effective solution to a problem. Such an approach is most appropriate for problems that are complex, meaning they involve multiple factors that interact together over time, in ways that can be challenging to predict. Examples include living systems, social systems, and most global problems. The following links hopefully will provide additional insight into systems thinking.
 
 General Info Organizations People and Misc Stuff
Systems Thinking Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology/Life PSU Systems Science PhD Program
Mental Model Musings MIT Systems Dynamics Group John Sterman
Whole Systems Santa Fe Institute Systems Thinking Software
Nonlinear Dynamics New England Complex Systems Institute System Thinking Newsletter
Systems Thinking Practice Systems Dynamic Society Peter Senge
Principia Cybernetica Web Institute for Systems Research Systems Thinking Press
Home Global Problems Systems Solutions