Subject: Definition of System Thinking

Posted by Jack Harich on 11/16/2007
In Reply To:Definition of System Thinking Posted by Roy Greenhalgh on 11/16/2007

Message:

Roy,

You mentioned that structural thinking "has connotations of 'snap shot':
it takes a view of a moment in time unlike systems thinking that actively uses behaviour OVER time .. a continuum."

Now there's an interesting angle. I hadn't thought of that.

I guess the connotations would depend on your internalized definition of structural. On:
http://www.thwink.org/sustain/glossary/StructuralThinking.htm
I was careful to define structural thinking as:

"Structural thinking sees the world as a complex structure composed of nodes, relationships, and interacting feedback loops. Once the structure is modeled, simulated and understood the fundamental behavior of the system becomes plainly obvious, making the system’s response to solution efforts predictable."

So I apologize that "structural thinking" may evoke the wrong connotations. Perhaps we need a more expressive language? :-)

To me, the word "structural" gets to the heart of the usefulness of system dynamics modeling. Capturing structure allows us to peel away the cobwebs covering the true structure of the problems we are trying so hard to fathom, see that structure, and then use our knowledge of it (and a handy computer for the grunt work of simulation) to solve the problem, or at least make a modest advance.

We don't need thinking about systems. We need thinking about structure.

Muchas gracias,

Jack Harich

Follow Ups:

Definition of System Thinking - Prof. Dr. Niall Palfreyman 11/20/2007 
Definition of System Thinking - Alice Squires 11/16/2007 
Definition of System Thinking - Jack Harich 11/16/2007