Systems Thinking Primer

Learning to see... A Systems Thinking Primer (in 3 parts) @patkua

I. Fundamentals

I. FundamentalsII. Archetypes

I. FundamentalsII. ArchetypesIII. In S/W Context

Part I... Fundamentals

What is a system?

Agent Set of agents Agent AgentAgent Agent Agent

Agent Set of agents Interconnected Agent AgentAgent Agent Agent

Agent Set of agents Agent Interconnected Agent In a dynamic state AgentAgent Agent Agent Agent

More than the sum of their parts

More than the sum of their parts A product of their interactions

Cause Effect (does not apply to full system)

Analysis

Analysis Synthesis

Systems Thinking

Correlation != Cause

Systems thinkers seekfeedback loops

Agent Agent Agent AgentAgent Agent Agent Agent

2 Types of Feedback Loops

2 Types of Feedback Loops Amplifying

2 Types of Feedback Loops Amplifying Dampening

2 Types of Feedback Loops Amplifying Dampening Self Reinforcing Negative Compounding Runaway Stabalising Positive Balancing SnowballingEscalating Self-maintaining

Mental Models

“The thinking it took to get us intothis mess is not the same thinking that is going to get us out of it.” Mental Models

Word association Word association Word associationWord association Word association Word associationWord association Word association Word association

Word association Word association Colour association WordWord association Word association Word associationWord association Word association Word association

Word association Word association Colour association WordWord association Furniture Word association Word associationWord association Word association Word association

Word association Word association Colour association WordWord association Furniture Word association Word association FlowerWord association Word association Word association

Word association Word association Colour association WordWord association Furniture Word association Word association FlowerWord association Word association Word association 60 seconds

Noise Generating

Fun GeneratingNoise Generating

Delays

Part II... Archetypes

A what?

Peter SengeAuthor of the Fifth Discipline

An Archetype Peter Senge Author of the Fifth Discipline

Balancing Loop

Desired State Current State “warm” “cold” Balancing Loop

GapDesired State Current State “warm” “cold” Balancing Loop

Action GapDesired State Current State “warm” “cold” Balancing Loop

Action GapDesired State Current State Balancing Loop

Exercise

Exercise Folding Stuff

Limits to Success Exercise Folding StuffReinforcing Loop

Thickness

Thickness Folding Rate

Thickness Folding RateReinforcing Loop

Stiffness Thickness Folding RateReinforcing Loop

Limits to Success Stiffness Thickness Folding RateReinforcing Loop

Tragedy of the Commons

Fixes that fail

CashFixes that fail

Loan CashFixes that fail

Loan Cash InterestFixes that fail

Part III... In S/W Context

Feedback LoopsAmplifying Dampening

Feedback Loops Amplifying DampeningGood design

Feedback Loops Amplifying DampeningGood design #Bugs

Feedback Loops Amplifying DampeningGood design #Bugs Delivering frequently

Feedback Loops Amplifying DampeningGood design #Bugs Delivering Poor usability frequently

Fixes that Fail

Long Build Breakages

Tragedy of the Commons

Cumulative PointsIterations

Cumulative Points Work longer hours Iterations

Cumulative Points Don’t write tests Work longer hours Iterations

Cumulative Points Copy and paste code Don’t write tests Work longer hours Iterations

Cumulative Points Copy and paste code Don’t write tests Work longer hours # Bugs Iterations

# CustomersCumulative Points Copy and paste code Don’t write tests Work longer hours # Bugs Iterations

# CustomersCumulative Points Limits to Success Copy and paste code Don’t write tests Work longer hours # Bugs Iterations

I. FundamentalsII. ArchetypesIII. In S/W Context

“There are no separate systems. The world is a continuum. Where to draw a boundary around asystem depends on the purpose of the discussion.” Donella H. Meadows Author of Thinking in Systems

Questions? @patkuaWe’re hiring! http://www.thoughtworks.com/current-opportunities

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Systems Thinking Primer

by Patrick Kua

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