SYSTEMS THINKING: CHARACTERISTICS APPLICATIONS AND EXAMPLES - PSYCHOLOGY - 2025

The systemic thinking is the ability to solve problems within a complex system. It is based on the multidisciplinary study of systems; entities formed by interrelated and interdependent parts that create something other than the simple sum of them.

Systems thinking appeared formally about five decades ago. It is based primarily on the work of the biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy. Currently, it is used both in science and in more applied fields, such as personal development or business management.

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The main characteristic of systems thinking is that, unlike the traditional scientific method, it does not attempt to isolate each variable of a situation and study it separately. Instead, he understands that each part of a set influences the others, so he tries to understand them as a whole.

The use of systems thinking can be very beneficial both for individuals who apply it in their own lives, and to improve the productivity of work groups, companies or projects. In this article we will talk about what are its most important principles, and how it can be applied in different situations.

characteristics

It is based on systems theory

Systems theory is the interdisciplinary study of entities formed by different interdependent parts, whether natural or man-made. Each of these entities is known as a "system," and they are generally described in terms of their limits, their purpose, or the way they function.

The systemic theory says that each of these entities is greater than the simple sum of its parts. This is due to effects such as synergy or emergent behavior.

As such, this discipline argues that it is impossible to understand how a system works without first understanding what its components are and how they are related to each other.

Because of this, the general purpose of systems theory is to discover what are the limits, dynamics, conditions, purpose and relationships that are hidden behind each of these entities.

It can be applied to practically any field, and is currently used in subjects as varied as philosophy, business management or science.

Systems thinking, based on this theory, is a form of reasoning that tries to understand the parts that make up a set and what is their relationship to each other. This type of analysis helps to find the underlying causes of a situation, then empowering a person to change it.

It goes from the particular to the general

Systems thinking uses a very specific procedure to analyze a set or a certain situation. At the beginning, the objective data that are available at all times, such as the observable results or the starting situation, are examined. Then, they try to find the underlying causes and extrapolate them to other areas.

Generally, the way we think is very different from this. Usually, when we have a specific problem, we look for the causes in the recent past and in the closest situations; And in trying to solve it, we focus on solutions that work in the short term and do not worry about the distant future.

On the contrary, systems thinking tries to find all the causes of a situation and all the elements that may have influenced it, no matter how far away they are in time and space.

Furthermore, the solutions he proposes can be extrapolated to other similar situations. On the other hand, they take into account both short-term effectiveness and potential risks in the distant future. This can only be done by fully understanding all the elements that influence a particular scenario.

Uses tools and techniques to help reflect differently

Systems thinking is a skill that most people don't have highly developed out of the box. To help make this process easier, systems theory theorists have created a large number of tools and procedures that can assist us in applying it.

These tools are based on the rules that govern systems thinking. Its main objective is to help us observe a situation from a different angle.

Thus, instead of focusing on the present and the specific scenario at hand, these techniques make it easier to find the components of a system.

The specific tools used by systems thinking vary depending on the scope of application. It is possible to find sets of techniques for business management, critical thinking or personal development. In fact, in recent years specialized training has emerged in each of these topics.

Allows you to act more effectively on a problem

The main benefit of systems thinking is that it allows us to fully understand the causes that have led to a certain situation.

In addition, it also helps us understand all the elements that are causing it to be maintained. These two characteristics are key when modifying a scenario that we do not like.

By fully understanding the causes of a situation and its components, it is possible to develop a solution that is effective in both the short and long term.

In this way, systems thinking, despite being complex to apply at times, produces great benefits in the areas in which it is applied.

Principles of systems thinking

As we have already seen, systems thinking is based on systems theory. Due to this, its fundamental principle is the construction of a universal model in which all the elements that make up a situation are studied, as well as their consequences.

From this principle, a four-step methodology is extracted that is applied in all areas in which systems thinking is applicable. The steps may vary slightly depending on the topic you are talking about, but their basic operation is always the same.

The four fundamental principles of systems thinking are the following: acquisition of a global vision, recognition of existing systems and their relationships, recognition of the elements that form them, and study of possible solutions and their effects in the short and long term.

Acquisition of a global vision

The first step necessary to apply systems thinking to a situation is to take perspective on it. Often times, the most immediate consequences of a scenario prevent us from seeing the whole.

Therefore, before starting with the analysis of it, it is necessary to ask ourselves what it is that we are overlooking at first glance.

To do this, there are a series of tools that help us examine the possible underlying causes of a situation, as well as all the elements that may be influencing it.

In this way, you gain a new perspective and you can begin to analyze the scenario more effectively.

Recognition of existing systems and their relationships

Once we have been able to remove ourselves from the most immediate consequences of the situation we are studying, the next step is to find all the systems that are part of it.

This can include both human systems (work groups, family relationships…) and inanimate or even intangible elements.

Thus, for example, in a labor problem, one of the systems involved is the company itself, and the groups of its workers; but so are, for example, its computer system, the beliefs of the people who belong to the company, or the financial situation of the company.

Finding all the systems involved in a situation and understanding how they influence each other is essential before you start looking for concrete solutions to a problem.

Recognition of the elements that make them up

The next step after identifying all the systems that influence a situation is to find the elements that make up each of them. In addition, as in the previous point, it is necessary to understand how they influence each other, as well as the synergies and emergent properties that they cause.

For example, in a company problem it is not enough to identify that the group of company employees is one of the systems that influence the situation. It is necessary to take the analysis a step further and try to understand the positions of each of them.

This makes systems thinking quite difficult to apply. However, it also allows the solutions that are applied to be much more effective in improving the situation of each of the participants.

Study of possible solutions and their effects

Finally, once both the systems that influence a situation and the elements that make up each of them have been identified, the final step is the one in charge of finding a solution to the problem posed at the beginning of the analysis. Thanks to the previous steps, it is much easier to find a satisfactory alternative for all parties.

However, in this step it is not useful to adopt the first idea that arises after the analysis. To avoid future problems, it is necessary to identify both the short and long-term effects of each of the proposed solutions. This is the only way to choose the one that will be most effective for all parties involved.

Applications

Systems thinking can be used in practically any field, since most of the situations in which we are involved are complex and have different elements that influence them. However, there are several issues where the benefits of this methodology are greater than normal.

The first of these is the business world. Creating and developing a business, or solving the problems that arise in it, requires a great capacity for analysis and the ability to find all the factors that influence a situation. Therefore, systems thinking is increasingly applied in business management.

On the other hand, the field of psychology (especially applied) also benefits greatly from systems thinking. The human mind is one of the most complex systems in the world, and each psychological phenomenon is caused by multiple interrelated causes.

Finally, in the world of personal development there has also been an increase in the use of strategies related to systems thinking. To improve the situation in which a person finds herself, it is often necessary to resort to a deep analysis of the causes and solutions related to it.

Example

One of the classic examples of the problems that arise from not applying systems thinking is the case of People's Express, a low-cost airline that was very popular in the 1980s.

During this period, air travel was becoming increasingly popular; and this company was one of the companies that made the most money.

The growth of People's Express was mainly due to its low cost. The prices of the tickets were much lower than those of other similar companies, due to the way in which they paid their employees. Instead of doing it entirely in cash, workers received part of their compensation in the form of company shares.

This strategy worked very well for a few years, as the company's shares kept growing due to the popularity of air travel. However, what the managers were unable to foresee was that this system could not work in the long term.

Thus, a few years later, the company's shares stagnated, and therefore the company's employees began to receive less and less compensation.

As a result, their services deteriorated, and the company quickly suffered a great decline. In 1987, with hardly any value, it was acquired by Continental Airlines.

If People's Express managers had used systems thinking, they would have realized that employee satisfaction, and therefore the services they provided, were closely related to continued growth in the company's stock.

Therefore, his strategy could not work forever; and the lack of vision of the leaders of the company ended up causing the failure of the same.

References

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2. "What is systems thinking and why do you need it" in: Facile Things. Retrieved on: January 25, 2019 from Facile Things: facilethings.com.
3. "Meaning of systemic thinking" in: Meanings. Retrieved on: January 25, 2019 from Meanings: meanings.com.
4. "Systemic thinking" in: Ecured. Retrieved on: January 25, 2019 from Ecured: ecured.cu.
5. "Systems theory" in: Wikipedia. Retrieved on: January 25, 2019 from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org.