Early Bird Registration for the CSTA October Session is now open.
Blog
Unleash the power systems thinking with our captivating blogs.
News & Press
Read the latest news and updates about Systems Thinking Alliance.
Glossary
Learn clear and concise explanations of essential system thinking terminologies.
Newsletter Archive
Access past editions of our insightful Systems Thinking newsletters here.
Training
Training Programs
Discover our Systems Thinking Training: Enhance skills with certification, micro-credentials, leadership programs, and learn why our approach stands out.
Certification
Overview
Pathway to expertise: Unveiling the system thinking certification journey.
MICRO CREDENTIALS
Modular Learning
Upskill and earn systems thinking micro-credentials incrementally to advance your career.
Training Calendar
Calendar
Ready to level up your experience and unlock new possibilities? Explore our public training calendar.
Business Solutions
Transform your business using systems thinking and let us guide you on this exciting journey.
Training Partner
Explore our training partner program for in-house rollout: develop, upskill, and empower your team through systems thinking.
Systems Leadership
Elevate your teams’s leadership skills – Discover our Systems Leadership training program.
Request a Private Class
Invest in your team’s growth and enhance problem-solving abilities that drive innovation.
Blog
Unleash the power systems thinking with our captivating blogs.
News & Press
Read the latest news and updates about Systems Thinking Alliance.
Glossary
Learn clear and concise explanations of essential system thinking terminologies.
Newsletter Archive
Access past editions of our insightful Systems Thinking newsletters here.
Brand and Guidelines
Discover how we enrich our brand through the implementation of inspiring design guidelines.
Digital Badge
Make a powerful impression and showcase your accomplishment on your favourite social media platforms.
About Alliance
Our mission is to help individuals and organizations make transformative changes by embracing systems thinking.
Contact Us
Need assistance or have a query? Reach out to us, we’re here to help!
Welcome to the Systems Thinking Glossary, your go-to resource for understanding essential terminology, vocabulary, definitions, and concepts in systems thinking. Whether you’re a novice eager to learn the basics or an experienced professional looking to deepen your knowledge, this glossary is here to support your journey. By exploring the interconnectedness and holistic approach inherent in systems thinking, our glossary helps you navigate complex systems and enhances your understanding of this transformative field.
Agency refers to the ability of an individual or organization to act independently and make decisions that affect themselves or others. It is the capacity to take action and have an impact on a situation or outcome. In social and cultural contexts, agency is often associated with autonomy, self-determination, and the ability to shape one’s own identity and actions.
Autopoiesis refers to the self-making process through which living systems create and recreate themselves, maintaining their own identity as distinct organisms or organizations. Coined by Maturana and Varela, the term combines “auto” meaning “self” and “poiesis” meaning “making,” emphasizing the autonomy and self-organizing nature of living systems. It highlights the unique property of living systems to continuously produce and sustain themselves, contributing to their ongoing existence and self-maintenance.
Behaviour refers to the actions or responses of a system or its parts over time, often influenced by internal and external factors. It is how elements within a system interact with each other and their environment, leading to observable patterns and outcomes. Understanding behaviour helps us understand how a system reacts and manages different situations.
A black box, in cybernetics, is a system viewed solely through its inputs and outputs, disregarding its internal workings. This approach simplifies understanding of complex systems, focusing on the relationships between inputs and outputs, without needing to comprehend every detail of internal processes.
A boundary separates a system from its environment. The borders of the system, determined by the observer(s), which define where control action can be taken: a particular area of responsibility to achieve system purposes.
Boundaries are critical in establishing the identity of the system. The decision on where to draw a system’s boundary largely depends on the purpose of the discussion or analysis at hand.
Bounded rationality refers to the limitations people face when making decisions. These limitations arise from the situation, their cognitive abilities, and the information available to them. As a result, people often rely on shortcuts and quick judgments instead of thoroughly analyzing all available options. Rather than seeking the perfect choice, they frequently settle for an option that meets their basic needs. The concept of bounded rationality acknowledges that individuals cannot always make perfectly rational decisions due to their cognitive constraints and the abundance of information in many situations.
Complexity refers to the condition of systems, objects, phenomena, or concepts that are challenging to understand, explain, or manage due to their intricate and interconnected nature. It involves multiple elements or factors that interact in unpredictable ways, often requiring significant information, time, or coordinated efforts to address.
A “Complex Adaptive System” is a collection of diverse, interconnected entities that adapt and interact with each other, leading to emergent behaviours and patterns. These systems are characterized by their ability to evolve and self-organize in response to changes in their environment.
Dynamics and Loops refer to the shift from linear cause-and-effect relationships to circular, interconnected ones. This concept emphasizes the importance of feedback loops—where elements within a system influence each other reciprocally. Dynamic loops consider how different components affect one another simultaneously and over time, impacting stability and progression.
Emergent properties refer to characteristics of a system that are not just the result of the behaviour of its individual parts. These properties arise from the interactions among the parts, which could not be predicted or explained solely by looking at the parts in isolation. Emergent properties are the product of these interactions, not a sum of the actions of the parts .
In systems thinking, the term “environment” refers to the external context or surroundings in which a system exists and interacts. It comprises all the elements that surround and may impact or be impacted by the system.
The environment and the system are interconnected through feedback loops, relationships, and exchanges of matter, energy, and information.
See also: Boundary
Evolution refers to the continuous and dynamic process of change and development within a system over time. This process encompasses the adaptation and transformation of a system in response to both internal and external influences, leading to shifts in its structure, behaviour, and overall characteristics. Unlike Newtonian mechanics, which is a science focused on forces and trajectories, evolutionary thinking necessitates a new science of complexity as it involves thinking in terms of change, growth, and development.
A function refers to the distinct purpose, role, or action that a component or subsystem carries out within a larger system. It is how a part contributes to the overall behavior and purpose of the entire system. In essence, a function is what a particular element does to help the whole system achieve its objectives.
Groupthink, a term coined by social psychologist Irving Janis, is a phenomenon that occurs when the desire for harmony within a group leads to poor decision-making.
Systems are generally complex wholes made up of smaller subsystems. This nesting of systems within other systems is what is implied by hierarchy.
Homeostasis is the self-regulating process that enables living organisms to maintain a state of dynamic balance. It ensures stability in the organism’s internal conditions, despite changes in external environments.
Holism is an approach that emphasizes viewing systems as whole entities rather than merely a collection of separate parts. This perspective sees the parts in relation to the entire system, allowing for the understanding of emergence and emergent properties. Russel Ackoff refers to this concept as ‘synthetic thinking’ or ‘Synthesis,’ which focuses on “seeing the whole rather than parts.”
A holon is something that is simultaneously a whole and a part.
The term ‘isomorphism’ conveys the notion of ‘sameness’. It aims to emphasize that there exist formal resemblances and correspondence among various kinds of systems.
Journey mapping is a tool used to visualize the process that a customer goes through in order to accomplish a goal within the system. It helps in understanding the user’s experiences and how the system can be improved to better meet their needs.
Juxtaposition refers to the act of placing two or more elements close together or side-by-side to highlight their differences or similarities. It’s a way of examining relationships and interactions within a system by comparing and contrasting different parts of it.
Knowledge Management is the process of capturing, distributing, and effectively using knowledge within an organization. It involves strategies and practices for identifying, creating, representing, and redistributing information. The goal is to ensure the right knowledge is available to the right people at the right time, enhancing learning, decision making, and organizational efficiency.
Leverage points refer to specific areas within a system where individuals or organizations can focus their efforts in order to achieve the greatest return in relation to their objectives. These points typically offer the highest potential for impact, and can be strategically targeted to achieve desired outcomes. By identifying and targeting leverage points, individuals and organizations can optimize their efforts and resources to achieve maximum results.
Join our Systems Thinking certification to unlock innovative solutions for complex challenges.
A mental model is an individual’s thought process or cognitive representation of how something in the world works. It’s essentially our internal ‘map’ of reality, created through personal experiences, perceptions, and understandings.
The term “mess,” coined by Russell Ackoff, refers to a complex system of interconnected problems that cannot be addressed in isolation. It emphasizes that attempting to solve individual problems within a mess without considering their interconnections would lead to ineffective solutions and potential unintended consequences.
Metaphors are powerful tools that help to form our thinking and effectively convey complex ideas. They provide unique perspectives and influence our actions, allowing us to create new realities and broaden our understanding of the world.
Modelling is a process that involves creating an abstract and simplified representation of a system. By examining the system’s components and their relationships, we can gain valuable insights and uncover hidden patterns that drive emergent behaviours. Systems thinking seeks to understand problems in the world around us by modelling them as systems.
Nested systems are a hierarchical configuration of systems, characterized by smaller systems (subsystem) being embedded within larger ones. In this arrangement, each smaller system forms part of a larger one, which in turn, may be incorporated into an even bigger system. This structure results in a nested or tiered organization, with systems arranged across various levels.
Organized complexity involves challenges with multiple interrelated factors forming an organic whole. For example, developing a brand involves crafting a brand identity, establishing positioning, creating loyalty programs, and developing communication strategies. These intricate interconnections require approaches that navigate the complex web of relationships, beyond simple calculations or traditional statistical methods. Systems thinking is most effective in situations characterized by organized complexity.
See Also: Organized Simplicity, Unorganized Complexity
Organized simplicity includes situations with straightforward problems characterized by a limited number of components interacting in uncomplicated, predictable ways.
For example, determining the total cost of groceries when each item has a fixed price or calculating the interest earned on a savings account with a constant interest rate fits into this category. These situations are easily addressed using mathematical solutions due to their inherent predictability and simplicity
See Also: Unorganized Complexity, Organized Complexity
A pattern is a recurring solution that addresses a specific problem within a particular context, linking the problem, solution, and context together.
It serves as a tool to externalize and share tacit knowledge, facilitating the transmission of practical solutions across various domains such as modelling, architecture, and design.
Recognized for their repetitive structures, patterns help in identifying and solving complex problems by providing a structured framework for understanding and actionable insights.
See Also: Archetypes
Pragmatism is a philosophical movement that originated in the United States during the late 19th century, spearheaded by thinkers such as Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, and John Dewey. This approach places emphasis on action, practicality, and interaction with the external world. Pragmatists believe that knowledge is not static or absolute, but rather, it evolves and adapts through human actions and interactions. They view truth as something that is sought after through scientific inquiry and experimentation and not pre-determined or universal. In pragmatism, reality is not a fixed entity but is constantly being shaped and reshaped through actions. It is a philosophy deeply rooted in research and experimentation, justifying beliefs through their practical applications and outcomes.
A quasi-experiment is a research design that resembles a traditional experiment but lacks one key aspect: random assignment. In a quasi-experiment, the researcher doesn’t control group assignment due to practical or ethical limitations. Despite this, it still allows for manipulation of variables and observation of effects, making it a useful tool in fields where full experimental control isn’t feasible.
Radical constructivism emphasizes the active role of individuals or groups in constructing their own understanding of the world. It argues that knowledge is not an objective reality but is created and shaped by individuals through their subjective experiences, perceptions, and mental processes.
Reductionism is an approach that seeks to understand complex systems by breaking them down into simpler components or elements and analyzing them in isolation.
Reflexivity is the conscious practice of self-examination, where one actively questions their own attitudes, thought processes, values, assumptions, prejudices, and habitual actions
In systems thinking, the focus is on relationships rather than the individual elements within a system. These connections—whether causal, correlational, feedback loops, direct, or indirect—are what define and shape the elements they link. By studying how these parts interact and relate to each other, we gain a clearer understanding of complex systems.
Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is an approach for addressing complex and problematic situations. It involves an action-oriented process of inquiry, where users learn about the situation and take steps to improve it. This process employs purposeful action models as intellectual tools to facilitate discussion and exploration of the situation for potential improvements.
In systems thinking, structure refers to the arrangement of parts within a system, the relationships among them and the rules, laws, procedures, and policies that govern those interactions.
The structure determines how information flows, how decisions are made and how actions are taken within a system.
Understanding the structure is crucial for effective system management and intervention.
System Dynamics was established and developed by Professor Jay Forrester of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the mid-1950s. It is a methodology and modelling technique used to outline, comprehend, and discuss complex issues and problems. The foundation of this method lies in the acknowledgment of the structure of any system to understand the nonlinear behaviour of complex systems over time.
The term “system of interest” refers to identifying a system that a person or group has a particular interest or investment in within a given situation.
A System of Systems Methodology (SOSM) is a meta-methodological framework that aims to match various systems methodologies with their most suitable application contexts. It serves as a guide for choosing and applying the appropriate system methodologies, depending on the specific nature of the problem at hand. In essence, SOSM enhances decision-making by ensuring the right methodologies are used in the right situations.
Systematic thinking is an analytical approach that scrutinizes individual parts of a system using linear cause-effect mechanisms to understand the whole. It employs step-by-step analysis, evaluation, and repetition, focusing on basic building blocks. This method assumes systems are concrete entities, disregards perspective, and believes the system can be reconstructed post-analysis.
Systemic thinking is a holistic approach that emphasizes the interconnectedness of a system’s parts, recognizing their context and interactions within the whole. It acknowledges multiple perspectives and nonlinear patterns, focusing on organizational principles and processes. Systemic thinking asserts that systems are nested, forming interconnected networks, and that dissecting a system destroys its overall properties.
Systems engineering is a discipline that focuses on designing, analyzing, and managing complex systems throughout their life cycle. It involves a holistic approach that considers all aspects of a system, including its components, functions, requirements, and interactions. Systems engineering aims to ensure that the system meets the desired objectives, functions efficiently, and satisfies stakeholder needs. It involves activities such as system specification, design, integration, verification, validation, and maintenance, with a focus on achieving optimal performance, reliability, and safety.
Alexander Bogdanov coined the term “tektology” or “the science of structures” from the Greek word “tekton” which means “builder.” Tektology was the initial effort in the history of science to systematically formulate the principles of organization present in both living and non-living systems.
Uncertainty is a state of unpredictability or lack of certainty about future events, outcomes, or situations due to incomplete, ambiguous, or misunderstood information. This condition makes accurate prediction or decision-making challenging. Uncertainties, which can arise from various factors like unobservability, environmental volatility, rapidly evolving threats, unclear needs, fluctuating resource demand, changing market conditions, and budget shortfalls, lead to risks. These risks are managed through mitigation measures that influence or shape the outcomes.
Unorganized complexity involves problems with numerous parts acting unpredictably, making individual behaviour difficult to predict.
For example, traffic flow dynamics, influenced by various factors like driver decisions and road conditions, can be understood through statistical models that consider the collective behaviour of many drivers and vehicles. These situations are managed using statistics and probability due to their inherent unpredictability.
See Also: Organized Simplicity, Organized Complexity
In cybernetics, variety is the main way to measure the complexity of a system. It refers to the number of possible states a system can have and is essential for making choices and regulating the subject.
Viable System Model (VSM) outlines essential organizational characteristics required for a system to adapt to unexpected environmental changes. VSM is applicable to organizations of all sizes, explaining how systems can efficiently self-organize and withstand internal and external changes.
VUCA is an acronym representing Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. It’s a term used to describe the multifaceted and challenging environment that organizations navigate today. The concept, which originated in the military, has been widely adopted in business and leadership contexts. In a VUCA world, elements interact in complex ways–these elements can be physical and material, socially constituted (like cultures and power structures), or personal (like beliefs, values, fears, and emotions).
Wicked Problem is a term coined by Rittel and Webber in 1973 to describe complex issues that are challenging both to define and solve. These problems are typically multifaceted, ambiguous, and steeped in moral, political, and professional implications. They are often dependent on stakeholders’ perspectives, leading to differing views on their nature and potential solutions.
Unique characteristics of wicked problems include their lack of definitive formulation and clear stopping rules. Their solutions aren’t objectively right or wrong but are subjectively evaluated as good or bad. These problems don’t have an immediate or ultimate test of a solution’s efficacy and offer no finite set of potential resolutions. Each wicked problem is essentially unique, often interconnected with other issues, interpretable in various ways, and leaves decision-makers accountable for the outcomes. Thus, addressing a wicked problem requires nuanced understanding and innovative approaches.
A worldview, the German word Weltanschauung, is a encompassing set of beliefs, values, and attitudes that shape an individual’s or group’s understanding of the world around them. It forms the lens through which they interpret their experiences, influences their thoughts, decisions, and actions, and provides a framework for understanding the interconnectedness of life, society, and the universe.
A Zero-Sum Game is a situation where any gain by one part of the system results in an equal loss by another part of the system. In other words, the sum of all gains and losses is zero. This concept is often used in game theory and economic systems.
Date modified: 2024-05-21
About
🍪 Our website uses cookies
Our website use cookies. By continuing, we assume your permission to deploy cookies as detailed in our Privacy Policy.