What does systems thinking mean to me? How do I think about it?
Our Changes to the System
When I think of a solution to a problem, I try to take into account the entire system the solution will live in. I try to imagine what impact the solution will have on other parts/people of the system:
- Will it help them?
- Will it hinder them?
- Will it move their cheese when that isn’t necessary?
- Will it force them to change something, just for the sake of change, or is it a change they truly care about?
- Can I make the change in a way that allows opting in?
- Is that desirable?
- Is opt-out more desirable?
- Am I about to design a system that will force itself on others, or will it be friendly and invite their participation?
The System’s Changes to Us
We are affected by the system we work in, while we are trying to apply our solutions. Our behavior is driven by the system’s influence over us.
- If something pushes back on us, how hard will we push back?
- Do we think, “Oh, that’s just the way it is.”?
- Do we think, “I don’t like the way it is.”?