Determinism and analytical thinking break down a problem into tiny pieces, whereas non-determinism and systems thinking look at a problem’s bigger picture. Analytical thinkers say, “Mission accomplished. Now, let’s go home.” Systems thinkers say, “What were the results? Now, let’s make it even better.”

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A deeper look into Alcoa’s story reveals that not only was it a story of cooperation and transformation but also of exhibiting all four parts of Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge: the theory of knowledge as opportunities were identified and converted into nuggets of knowledge, variation to measure what they were learning, human psychology to un