What Is a System? And What Is System Thinking? Donella Meadows, the pioneer of systems thinking and author of Thinking in Systems: A Primer, defines a system
What Is a System? And What Is System Thinking?
Donella Meadows, the pioneer of systems thinking and author of Thinking in Systems: A Primer, defines a system as “an interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that achieves something. If you look at that definition closely for a minute, you can see that a system must consist of three kinds of things: elements, interconnections, and a function or purpose” (2008, p. 11). In this Discussion, you will identify systems within an organization and define what systems thinking means to you.
To prepare for this Discussion:
· Consider an organization with which you are familiar. This can be a current or former employer. Then, using Meadows’s definition of a system, think about the various systems that make up this organization and the multiple elements within these systems.
· After identifying some examples of systems within an organization, consider how you would define systems thinking.
Post an analysis of the use of systems thinking within an organization. In your analysis, do the following:
· Provide a brief description of your selected organization.
· Identify two examples of systems within the organization, including an explanation of the elements, interconnections, and purpose of each. (Remember: To be an actual system, all three features must be present.)
· Provide a one-sentence definition for systems thinking. (Note: The intent is for you to provide a definition of what it means to you, not a formal definition.)
Refer to the Week 1 Discussion Rubric for specific grading elements and criteria. Your instructor will use this grading rubric to assess your work.
Important Note About Discussion Rubrics: In the peer-to-peer engagement section of the Discussion, the focus of your posts and responses should be to promote quality interaction with your colleagues and Instructor, to further the dialogue on the particular topic, to deepen your mutual understanding of concepts, and to draw out new ideas. Although you are encouraged to provide support for ideas you bring in from other sources, which is appropriate for discourse within a master’s-level classroom, emphasis is placed on the quality of the engagement as noted in the Discussion rubrics, with 40% of your score based on your level of engagement in the ongoing conversation with your colleagues.
What is System Thinking?
In the following resources, you will explore what systems thinking is and how this type of thinking (reasoning) allows for a holistic view of a situation under study. Before you begin, it is important to define a system. A system, as defined by systems thinking pioneer Donella Meadows (2008, 11), is an “interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that achieves something.” From this simple definition you can begin to define systems thinking as the ability to see the whole—considering the interconnectivity and interactions of the elements that make up the whole system—as opposed to seeing only the individual parts. As you explore these resources, consider how this type of thinking both resonates with and differs from your current thinking.
· Goodman, M. (n.d.). Systems thinking: What, why, when, where, and how? Links to an external site. The Systems Thinker. https://thesystemsthinker.com/systems-thinking-what-why-when-where-and-how/
· Judge, W. Q. (2011). OCC dimension 5: Systems thinking . In M. Carter (Ed.), Building organizational capacity for change: The leader’s new mandate (pp. 65–75). Business Expert Press.
· Meadows, D. (2001). Dancing with systemsLinks to an external site. . Whole Earth, 106, 58–63.
· Senge, P. M. (2006). Give me a lever long enough . . . and single-handed I can move the world. In The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization (pp. 3–16). Doubleday.
· Senge, P. M. (2006). The laws of the fifth discipline. In The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization (pp. 57–67). Doubleday.
· Valerdi, R. (2017, November). A systems thinking habit: Pareto improvementLinks to an external site. . ISE: Industrial and Systems Engineering at Work, 49(11), 26.
· Wile, K. (2014, August 5). Peter Senge introduction to systems thinking Links to an external site. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXdzKBWDraM
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