What are systems thinking? Its uses and the reason people neglect it

You may have heard the name of systems thinking and seen various articles on the Internet about this topic. But unfortunately, many of these articles have presented a complicated and incomprehensible explanation of this type of thinking. For this reason, despite reading these articles, many people do not fully understand the concept of systemic thinking and its application.

This way of thinking is looking at the world and its phenomena. This view is not only used in the macro management of the country or big businesses and can be helpful for anyone, including parents, managers, various organizations and their members, etc. With simple and understandable language, we will explain the uses and reasons why people neglect it.

What is the system?

Suppose you have experience in a group activity, teamwork, corporate jobs, or activities in the field of education. In that case, one of the main weaknesses is the weakness in system thinking. Unfortunately, many people are not familiar with the concept of this type of thinking and its applications.

There are different definitions of systems thinking. First, we briefly define the system to describe this type of thinking. The system, like systemic thinking, has several definitions.

Some of these definitions consider the system as a set of components that operate regularly with the unit. The system is a set of related components created to achieve a specific goal and the type and manner of communication between them. A system has the following characteristics:

• It consists of various components.
• Behavior can be defined for it. By removing any of the components of the system, the overall conduct of the system changes.
• It has a definite border.
• It is purposeful.
• It is divided into two groups, open and closed.

What are systems thinking?

Now that you are familiar with the definition of the system let’s define systems thinking. Now that we want to explain this thinking, it is good to introduce you to “Russell L. Ackoff.”

Russell Ackoff is one of the well-known people in this view. Russell Ackoff’s relationship with systems thinking is similar to Newton’s relationship with gravity. Everyone knew about gravity, but Newton theorized it. The same is true of this type of thinking.

Many people knew about it, and this point of view was raised for years in ethics and literature and different cultures, but Russell Acuff created a scientific framework for it.

Systemic thinking is a way of looking at the universe and its phenomena. This way of thinking provides a practical methodology for socio-cultural systems in an environment without disorder and complexity. In this type of thinking, only components and details are not paid attention to; Rather, the interaction between the components is also examined.

This type of thinking is a cognitive process based on analysis, analysis, and synthesis to understand a subject in its surrounding environment fully. This view examines the totality and integrity of the system and, in this way, passes from the surface to the depth and from the part to the whole.

This way of thinking analyzes issues with complex problems, issues that are largely dependent on the past and multiple factors, and issues rooted in ineffective coordination of the elements involved. Some of the problems and challenges we are dealing with today have occurred due to actions taken in the past to correct or resolve them. Fixing such issues is very difficult.

In such cases, the importance of systemic thinking becomes clear. One of the essential advantages of this type of thinking is empowering people to effectively face such problems and expanding their thinking to a level that leads to obtaining desirable results, even in difficult and complex situations. This type of thinking is suitable for facing the most complex issues and problems.

The broad picture resulting from systemic thinking provides the necessary knowledge to create long-term solutions. Systemic thinking is also used in the organization. Some processes that cause the company’s success in the short term may themselves become a factor for aggravating issues and problems that are getting worse day by day.

By using this way of thinking and having a general view of the processes and influencing factors in the systems governing the activities of the companies, it is possible to find the root of the problems and explain the necessary strategies to solve them.

What is the use of systems thinking?

The perspective of systems thinking is different from the perspective of traditional analysis. Traditional analysis methods focused on separating the system into study able components. On the other hand, systems thinking focuses on how the subject of study interacts with other system components.

This means that instead of studying the smaller components of the system separately, systems thinking expands its perspective to consider more interactions.

This is why the results obtained from this way of thinking are entirely different from the results obtained from traditional analysis methods, Especially when the problem under study is complex, and many feedbacks from internal or external elements affect it.

The characteristics of systems thinking have made it possible to solve the most challenging problems more effectively. In the following, we discuss the areas where this way of thinking has been able to prove its value:

• Complex issues have many actors and require a big-picture view of the issue.
• Recurring issues or issues that worsen over time with corrective action.
• Issues that an action affects or is affected by its overall environment, both the natural environment and the competitive environment.
• Problems that do not have clear solutions.

To whom is the perspective of systems thinking applicable?

As we mentioned in the introduction, systems thinking can be helpful and practical for everyone. For example, organizations need this way of thinking to strengthen the holistic view within themselves.

This way of thinking helps parents use it when raising their children and help them better understand the complex world in front of them. This thinking also allows managers to reduce errors in policy-making, decision-making, and analysis.

If you are a member of an organization, you can also benefit from this point of view. This perspective will help you better understand the challenges and problems of the organization and convey your desires and concerns more clearly to your superiors.

As a member of society, you can take a deeper look at the events around you by taking advantage of this point of view and distancing yourself from partial and superficial analyses. We conclude that all people can benefit from the benefits of systems thinking.

What is the cause of people’s neglect of systemic thinking?

As you can see, the systems thinking perspective has many advantages. However, some obstacles and factors make us move away from this thinking. As we mentioned, systemic thinking is holistic thinking. At the same time, if we only rely on particularism, we will no longer be able to understand the patterns governing the phenomenon and system.

Focusing on events, especially sudden events, makes people unable to understand the pattern of long-term changes hidden behind the events. For this reason, negativity and blaming environmental conditions are intensified, and people think that a factor outside the system has caused problems, While all the causes of issues and concerns are inside the system.

Despite the many benefits of systems thinking, in many cases, people are reluctant to adopt it. This is due to several reasons: First, people are naturally unwilling to deconstruct and prefer to remain in their past mental structures. Second, the primary nature of this type of thinking is to pay attention to relationships and interactions.

What is necessary for systemic thinking is to use the mind more than the eyes (as a means of seeing) because with the sights and seeing, one can only see an object or matter, but with the help of the mind, the power of observation and understanding Relationships are provided.

Therefore, people who choose the system thinking method must have observation based on understanding, which requires more effort. For this reason, people avoid systemic thinking.

Unfortunately, today human knowledge has been formed based on segmentary reason, which has taken away the ability to understand many issues people. In this situation, systemic thinking can open a new way for humans.