This document introduces systems thinking as a way to address "wicked problems", which are complex issues with uncertain consequences, multiple goals and stakeholders, and no obvious solutions. It describes four key systems thinking skills: exploring boundaries, appreciating perspectives, understanding relationships, and thinking in terms of systems. The document concludes by stating it will provide examples of methods that apply these skills and discuss projects in the UK and New Zealand that have used systems thinking approaches.

1. AN INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEMS THINKING FOR TACKLING WICKED
PROBLEMS
Systems thinking can support decision makers and their stakeholders (in the business,
government and community sectors) when they seek to address ‘wicked problems’. Wicked
problems are intransigent issues characterised by:
• Complex and uncertain interactions, with consequences that cannot easily be
predicted;
• Multiple goals (e.g. economic, social and environmental) in tension;
• Multiple scales (e.g., local, regional, national and global);
• Multiple agencies, organisations, groups and communities involved or affected;
• Multiple perspectives on defining both the problem and potential solutions;
• Conflict, power relations and vested interests making change difficult; and/or
• Scepticism due to unintended consequences from previous attempted solutions.
At the present time, governments, businesses and NGOs are facing more wicked problems
than ever before, which makes systems thinking increasingly relevant to our future. This
seminar will describe four interrelated systems thinking skills:
1. Exploring boundaries – defining the inclusion or exclusion of stakeholders and the
issues that concern them.
2. Appreciating multiple perspectives – how and why stakeholders frame issues in
different ways.
3. Understanding relationships – networks of interconnections within and across
systems.
4. Thinking in terms of systems – organised wholes with properties that cannot be
anticipated by analysing any one part of the system in isolation.
Different methods help with the practical application of these systems thinking skills. The
seminar will give examples of these methods, and will describe their application in a range of
projects from the UK and New Zealand.