Sytems Thinking

Understand problems within their systems

Systems thinking can be defined as a group of strategies to help you solve complex real-world problems.
A system is defined as "An organization or assemblage of things connected, associated, or interdependent, so as to form a complex unity; a whole composed of parts in orderly arrangement according to some scheme or plan."
Systems thinking can also be defined as holistic problem-solving. Holistic problem-solving looks at the whole situation--the system that surrounds a problem.
Study problems within the "systems" that surround them.
Tinkering with a problem without looking at the system surrounding it will likely prove ineffective, or even do more harm than good.

A "systems thinker" tackles a problem by first building a concept map of a problem like "Should there be logging in the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois?"
Complex problems like the Shawnee case have many interconnected components: biodiversity, recreational needs, and economic effects on families and towns. (See the Concept map for the Shawnee problem.)
Complex problems are multidimensional .
Systems thinking uses concept maps to help you see the big picture. Concept maps help you visualize complex problems.
Build a concept map to understand a complex problem.
Without visualizing the problem within its system, we aren't really understanding the problem in all its dimensions.
If we miss key dimensions of a problem, we're not practicing "good science." If good science hasn't been applied, there is a poor basis for effective policy-making.
Understand the whole problem to get the best chance at solving it.

Humans are born with sophisticated powers of mind. These abilities are often unappreciated and under-developed, but humans have them: visual thinking, creative thinking, numerical thinking, linguistic, kinaesthetic, and critical thinking.
On the other hand, we know that different people have different strengths of thinking. Compare the mind of an artist and the mind of a scientist
Some people may be intuitive and flexible, other may be logical and rigid. The creative thinker may be better at brainstorming, the critical thinker as an evaluator of creative possibilities.
Often groups don't make effective use of their diverse powers of mind. A group may have both intuitive and logical "thinkers" for example but not realize it.
Systems thinking emphasizes efficient group problem-solving. Diversity of learning and thinking styles is made to be a strength rather than a weakness in systems thinking.
Recognize and utilize your groups' diverse powers of mind!

In Systems Thinking, it is important to generate solutions that are innovative but realistic. If we propose unrealistic solutions, we are being "ivory-tower theorists."
To strive for realistic solutions, systems thinking emphasizes the use of "reality checks" to evaluate creative ideas for their potential to be implemented.

You have a powerful mind with many powers.
Use them!
Harness the different strengths of your group members.
Be innovative but realistic
Use systems thinking strategies to generate and evaluate solutions to problems in the food, human, and environmental systems.
Follow the Systems Thinking Steps listed below!

Visualize the problem with a concept map.

Generate alternative solutions.

Evaluate alternative solutions for completeness and feasibility.

Three Step Method adapted from the problem-solving theories of John Dewey and Peter Checkland