Let’s say you are new to systems thinking. You’ve been exposed to it in some way or other and got fascinated enough and want to learn more. The question you might be pondering is, ‘where to start’? Well, even many systems practitioners might not be aware of the learning and practice ecosystem that supports systems thinking.
Now, if this sounds too complicated, there is good news. I have attempted demystifying this space by deconstructing it and showing its distinct components and how they relate to each other and the larger domain that we refer to as systems thinking. This can help both, newcomers and even those who feel self-assured of their systems thinking capabilities.
This blog attempts to throw light on the following:
- Is systems thinking a system in itself?
- Does it comprise of only theoretical learning or does it extend to the experiential realm?
- Does systems thinking dwell only on external reality, as in the physical world, or does it extend to ‘internal reality’, as in our levels of awareness and emotional intelligence?
- Is it a product of occidental sciences only or does it incorporate Eastern wisdom as well?
- What qualities does one need to instil and what skills does one need to build to become an accomplished systems thinker?
- What is the best entry point for a newcomer or where should one place one’s next step if one is an existing systems thinking practitioner?
To answer these questions, I have developed a mind-map that provides better understanding of what systems thinking really involves.
About Systems Thinking
Systems thinking is the understanding that component parts of a system will act differently when isolated from the system’s environment or from other parts of the system. It is a method for diagnosing problems at a systemic level; it is multi-disciplinary in nature, addresses root causes and supports a long-term outlook. Since it is based on the principles of partnership and collaboration, it has the potential to remove bias, build consensus, and unify.
About the map
Figure 1 represents a level-1 map while subsequent images represent extracts from a level-3 map. [By level we mean the degree of drill down or detail starting with basic level-1] The map provides a birds-eye view of the myriad knowledge sets, skill sets and attributes that go into the building of systems proficiency.
The map is divided into three regions. One region concerns itself with systems thinking or theory that has as its focus external reality or the reality that is manifest in the physical, material world. Another region dwells on systems being that dwells on internal reality or that which exists within an individual while the third region deals with systems doing at the confluence of internal and external reality.
Each region has one or more locations. As you travel along this map you will move from one location to another. At each location, you can expand or collapse to reveal or hide components of that location. This map is simplified as it does not show the inter-connections between different locations. Instead, the arrows on this map show where the causal relationship between two attributes (locations) is the strongest. The arrows connect the location of a contributory factor to the location of an outcome or result.
The map has been developed in Plectica software and level-3 can also be viewed directly, here. On clicking the comment box [represented by a blue square] one can find a sample, illustrative list of contemporary authors who have written on this subject as well as programs that are offered along with links. Do note, to click on the links appearing in the images below, you will need to go directly to Plectica.
How to read this map
There is no, one-right way of reading this map but I recommend starting from the top, at Systems Science and Philosophy and moving clockwise till you get to the section on Systems Change and Transformational Leadership. From here, I recommend, continuing clockwise and going backwards to the location of Eastern Philosophy & Mysticism.
What the systems universe map conveys
The systems universe is unimaginably vast and the aim of this exercise is to condense reams of text describing the landscape in one annotated map.
Systems Science & Philosophy
The subject of systems science and philosophy [Figure 2] along with Eastern philosophy and mysticism [Figure 8] represent the pinnacle of this universe.
Systems Approaches to the Management of Complexity
Systems science has contributed to the development of myriad systems approaches [Figure 3 & Figure 3-A] over the last century. There are more than a dozen system approaches but the large range makes it difficult for the general practitioner, and particularly for beginners, to develop capabilities across different approaches.
DSRP systems approach
Developed by professors Derek & Laura Cabrera of Cornell University as a unified approach to systems thinking, DSRP [Figure 4 & Figure 4-A] can be seen as a one-size-fits-all approach. There is a debate in academia whether DSRP is a unified approach or not but regardless, its value lies in its simplicity and versatility without it being simplistic. DSRP brings to surface the role of mental models as in whose (which actors?) mental models need to be worked upon and what shifts need to be introduced.
Mental Models
Mental models are ideas, beliefs, concepts and facts that help us perceive the real world and describe reality. But rarely do these mirror the systems or problems under study. This mismatch is the root cause of wicked problems. Some systems scientists prefer to use the term ‘worldview’. These are essentially the same, the only difference being that a worldview typically connotes a macro view whereas mental model is used regardless of scale.
Systems Change & Transformational Leadership
Systems change [Figure 5] requires shifts in mental models as well as of system structures. Mental models drive or influence system structures while system structures are responsible for the system’s behaviour. Mental models are the point at which external and internal reality meet. They overlap between Systems Change and DSRP. While DSRP focuses on what mental models need to be changed, system change methods show us how mental models can be changed.
Emotional Intelligence (EI)
The term emotional intelligence was first coined in 1990 by researchers John Mayer and Peter Salovey, but the field of EI was pioneered and made widespread by Daniel Goleman. The manifestation of emotional intelligence (EI) [Figure 6] is called the emotional quotient (EQ). EI helps in inner capacity building which is the source of compassionate action in the world.
Meditation, Mindfulness, Contemplation, Prayer
When systems thinking is applied to the world of physical reality, the latter is perceived through one’s conscious mind. However, the conscious and subconscious mind only add up to five percent of our mental faculties while 95% of our mind works through the unconscious. A muddy, disturbed unconscious mind limits and affects our ability to perceive the real world. Meditation, mindfulness, contemplation and prayer all strengthen one’s EQ and meditation techniques like Vipassana help purify our unconscious mind.
Eastern Philosophy & Mysticism
While spirituality is universal, the mystics from the East focused overwhelmingly on self-observation resulting in parallels with quantum physicists’ approach to the study of matter.
Putting this map into action
There are three key things to note:
- To the question of where one should get started, there is no universal answer. The answer lies in whatever one is drawn to.
- The locations depicted on the map are not exactly watertight nor do they appear as one melting pot in reality. Distinctions have been made for the sake of ease of understanding.
- Similarly, to the question how far should one traverse is again up to the individual.
Summing it up all
A systems way of life goes beyond systems thinking. It must embrace doing but doing without being may not give us the results that we seek from our actions. This is after all the product of not just an intricate web of inner and external observations but also of practice-driven experience. Conventional systems thinkers rely solely on the conscious mind but to gain proficiency and uber clarity, one needs to work on the unconscious mind too. This is where Eastern wisdom becomes imperative.
So, can one possess all the attributes of a systems way of life? The answer lies in the trade-off between not missing the big-picture and getting into depth of any of the building blocks of this landscape. For just about everyone the need to traverse the whole ocean floor is not essential. But for those who wish to create a circumnavigation path, it may take years, even decades to make one’s way across the entire systems world. Travelling the path less-travelled requires being enormously patient. After all, Rome was not built in a day.
Shakti Saran is a systems thinker, writer, consultant, and the Founder of Shaktify, an initiative to power changemakers