The document discusses systems thinking and defines a system as an interconnected set of elements that work together to achieve an overall function. It notes that the elements of a system are easier to identify than their interconnections. Interconnections can be physical or informational, such as students choosing classes based on reviews. The purpose of a system is also difficult to identify and must be deduced from its behavior rather than stated goals. The document uses an example of dividing a cow in half to illustrate that the essential nature and function of a living system is lost when its interconnected structure is disrupted.

1. Thinking in Systems
Created by Pablo Martin with material from Thinking in Systems by Donella H. Meadows

2. Thinking in Systems
“Leyla Acaroglu: Paper beats plastic? How to rethink
environmental folklore”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L4B-
Vpvx1A&feature=youtu.be

3. What is a system?
It is an interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in
a way that achieves something (i.e. has a function)
You are looking at a system if…
1. It has different parts
2. The parts affect each other
3. Together they produce a unique effect
4. This effect is persistent
Thinking in Systems

4. Thinking in Systems

5. The elements of a system are easier to identify than their interconnections.
For example:
1. Students
2. Professors
3. Administrators
Interconnections can be physical or informational
1. Water in a tree
2. Students moving toward a degree
3. Students use RateMyProfessor to decide what classes to take
4. Governments study storm water run-off before creating regulations
Thinking in Systems

6. The interconnections of a system are easier to identify than the
function or purpose of a system.
“Purposes must be deduced from behavior, not stated goals.”
 What is the stated purpose of a capitalist economic system?
 How does a a capitalist economic system behave?
Thinking in Systems

7. Thinking in Systems
“Climate Bathtub Model of Earth's Carbon Cycle”:
https://scied.ucar.edu/climate-bathtub-model-animations

8. Thinking in Systems

9. Thinking in Systems
Kauffman’s Cow
“…dividing the cow in half does not give you two smaller cows. You may
end up with a lot of hamburger, but the essential nature of ‘cow’ — a
living system capable, among other things, of turning grass into milk —
then would be lost. This is what we mean when we say a system
functions as a ‘whole.’ Its behavior depends on its entire structure and
not just on adding up the behavior of its different pieces.” — Kauffman,
1980, p2