This document provides an introduction to systems thinking by using examples of different types of systems like a bike, aircraft, and organization. It explains that a system is made up of elements that interact with each other and their environment in a coherently organized way. The document uses a bike transportation system as a detailed example to illustrate how systems thinking examines relationships and purposes rather than just elements. It shows how defining the system boundary and exploring different models can provide insights and help improve coherence. The goal is to help the reader develop a systems perspective to understand complex situations.

1. 1
Systems Thinking:
A Different Way of Looking at the
World
Sally Bean
(sally@sallybean.com)
This deck is a modified work in progress… an adaptation of a ‘lightning talk’ that I
gave at the Intersection conference in April 2012. It attempts to convey the essence
of Systems Thinking to the uninitiated.

2. ‘Systems’ are apparently everywhere
© Sally Bean 2022 2
Pond?
(ecosystem)
Bike?
Health
System?
Computer
System?
Central
Nervous
System?
Aircraft?

3. Other
systems
3
But what exactly is a system?
Outputs
(A system does
something)
Inputs
Feedback
loops
Relationships
Coherently
Organised
Elements
Environment
Boundary
Other
systems

4. 4
Systems Thinkers use systems ideas to explore
hidden or less obvious insights
Observer
Other
systems
Outputs
Inputs
Feedback
loops
Relationships
Coherently
Organised
Elements
Environment
Boundary
Other
systems

5. 5
Systems Thinking in human situations is
often viewed as a process of enquiry that
can be blended with other approaches
Real-world
Situation of
concern
Thinking
about real-world
Situation
Explore
situation
Build Models
to expose
different
perspectives
Compare
models with
reality and
refine
Develop &
Evaluate
Interventions
Consider ‘soft’
issues

6. 6
Types of System: Concorde can be
perceived in different ways
◼ Concorde: a designed Physical Aircraft
System with clearly defined
characteristics
Shape
Technical Specification
Operating Characteristics
◼ The Concorde Project: a Human Activity
System with possible purposes:
◼ To build an aircraft to transport
people safely at supersonic speed
◼ To celebrate technical and
engineering achievement
◼ To persuade the French to let the
Brits join the EU
Engineering View System Thinking View

7. Before we look at an organisation, consider
something a lot simpler, which we don’t often think
about, such as a bike.
7
Brakes
Seat
Wheels
Pedals
Frame
Handlebars
Chain
Without a rider, a bike doesn’t do anything. Unless it’s acting as a source of
parts for another bike or is a work of art. So it isn’t a system – it’s a product.

8. A system thinker sees a bike as part of a socio-
technical personal transport system
8
A system to transport
me and small items
safely over short
distances by riding a
suitably equipped
bicycle,
in order to save time,
become fitter and
avoid traffic
congestion
Lock
Pump (part of
Maintenance
System)
Trouser
Clips
Carrier
Basket
Rider
System Owner
As this is a simple system with
one owner, it’s relatively easy to
declare a purpose for it, though
it takes a few iterations to get it
right, as we shall see….

9. Structural Model of System and Environment as
perceived by Sally
9
Bike
Rider
Suitable
Clothing
Bike
Thieves
Weather
Police
Public Bike
Storage
Motion
System
‘Cargo’
System
Road
Network
Riding
Experience
Maintenance
System
Journey
Cargo
Route
Systems thinking looks outside the
‘system of interest’ to see the
wider systems that it may be part
of or relate to.
Security
System
Systems thinkers actually pay more attention to the
linkages between elements than to the elements
themselves. But this would be too complicated for a
lightning talk

10. This leads to a slightly more constrained system
definition
10
A system to transport me
and small items over
journeys of short distances
along safe roads,
By riding a suitably
equipped bicycle, in
moderate weather, to
places where the bike can
be secured,
in order to save time,
become fitter and avoid
traffic congestion

11. Activity model of system and the information
sources required to support activities
11
Decide
whether to
take bike
Prepare for
journey
Travel to next
destination
Park & Secure
Bike
Retrieve
Bike
Travel Home
Put Bike Away
Do
activities
Weather
forecast
Parking
Spots
Routes
Bike
Carrying
Capacity
Purpose of
journey, Bike
Carrying Capacity,
Availability of
storage
Requirement to go somewhere/get something
Requirement satisfied

12. Exploring different models of the system and fitting
them to the purpose yields insights and improves
coherence
12
PURPOSE
DO….BY….IN
ORDER TO…..
Bike
Rider
Bike Security
Weathe
rproof
Clothin
g
Bike
Thiev
es
Weat
her
Police
Loc
k
Prote
ctive
Marki
ng
Parkin
g
Locati
ons
Mo
tio
n
Sy
ste
m
Sto
rag
e
Sy
ste
m
Deci
de
whet
her
to
take
bike
Prep
are
for
jour
ney
Trav
el to
next
desti
nati
on
Park
&
Secu
re
Bike Retri
eve
Bike
Trave
l
Hom
e Put
Bike
Away
Do
activi
ties
We
ath
er
fore
cas
t
Par
kin
g
Spo
ts
Rou
te
Bik
e
Car
ryin
g
Cap
acit
y
Bik
e
Car
ryin
g
Cap
acit
y
This approach (basically Soft Systems) looks at
meaning, purpose and information needs.
Other approaches look at different facets of an
organization.
The VSM looks at balancing variety,and at control.
Systems Dynamics looks at stocks, flows and
feedback loops.

13. Emergence: Why does my car have a flat battery?
13
Increasing use of
the bike reduced
use of the car!

14. Benefits of Systems Thinking in Organisations
14
Individual
Mental Models
More consistent (but not identical)
Mental Models
• Focus on connections and multiple purposes as well as objects
• See patterns
• Understand people’s worldviews and fundamental beliefs
• Understand constraints and emergent possibilities