Many organizations are now turning to systems thinking, a holistic approach to analysis and problem-solving that focuses on the way that a system’s constituent parts interrelate and how systems work over time and within the context of larger systems.
However, training someone to use systems thinking in their day-to-day management requires focus, and it is something best done through broad experiences.
Even an ideal executive management team, comprised of individual systems thinkers, will struggle with systems thinking at first. The reason is because of the territorial nature of corporate structure. Each executive manager has responsibility for a specific set of functions or departments.
With systems thinking, executive managers need to shift their mental model from their department, where they have vested duties, to the larger system of the company.
While difficult at first, it is possible and the benefits are phenomenal. Organizations that use systems thinking understand how they and other complex systems really function. Systems thinking also changes behavior so that employees are working with these complex forces instead of against them in order to create a better product or idea.
A systems thinking approach also helps:
- Develop greater appreciation for the impact of strategies on others in the system.
- Be aware of the impacts of time delays and the need to balance short-term and long-term objectives and strategies.
- Anticipate unintended consequences of well-intentioned strategies.
To help visualize the interconnection of all departments and employees, systems thinking often leans on several different tools, including:
Behavior Over Time (BOT) Graph – This indicates the actions of one or more variables over a period of time.
Casual Loop Diagram (CLD) – Illustrates the relationship between system elements.
Management Flight Simulator – Uses an interactive program to simulate the effects of management decisions.
Simulation Model – Simulates the interaction of system elements over time.
The casual loop diagram is particularly useful. Loops are shorthand descriptions of what is perceived as current reality. Ideally, input from as many people as possible from many different departments should be involved when tracking down a problem or developing future projects or goals. Some of the most effective loops reveal connections or relationships between parts of an organization that may not have been noticed previously.
Systems Thinking Training
Tonex offers a 2-day course, Systems Thinking Training, which covers the theory, rational, tools, and techniques associated with systems thinking. The systems thinking training course concentrates on determining the interconnections between the various components of a system and manufacturing them into a coherent perspective of the whole.
Our systems thinking training course provides structures and tools, which help comprehending the relationship between the framework of a system and the behavior that the system presents. In particular, leaders can take advantage of systems thinking to thoroughly value, model and resolve complicated business issues.
Who Can Benefit?
- Business leaders
- Executives
- Strategic leaders
- Mid-level managers
- Senior managers
- Students
Why Choose Tonex?
–Presenting highly customized learning solutions is what we do. For over 30 years Tonex has worked with organizations in improving their understanding and capabilities in topics often with new development, design, optimization, regulations and compliances that, frankly, can be difficult to comprehend.
–Reasonably priced classes taught by the best trainers is the reason all kinds of organizations from Fortune 500 companies to government’s most important agencies return for updates in courses and hands-on workshops
–Ratings tabulated from student feedback post-course evaluations show an amazing 98 percent satisfaction score.
Contact us for more information, questions, comments.