systems and complexity

Systems thinking requires a shift in mindset, away from linear to circular. The fundamental principle of this shift is that everything is interconnected. We talk about interconnectedness not in a spiritual way, but in a biological sciences way.

“...dividing the cow in half does not give you two smaller cows. You may end up with a lot of hamburger, but the essential nature of “cow” — a living system capable, among other things, of turning grass into milk — then would be lost. This is what we mean when we say a system functions as a “whole”. Its behavior depends on its entire structure and ... See more

To keep you focused on the big picture, Peter Senge and Otto Scharmer describe problems as embodying three types of complexity:

• Dynamic Complexity. Where cause and effect are distant in time and space. When it is high, you need to take a systems approach that deals with all the interdependencies. When it is low, you can do a piece by piece approach

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“Organizations imply that change in a society revolves around them and their program, rather than around a range of interrelated contextual factors, of which their program is part.”

arrangements where more people lead and follow, trust and reciprocity are fundamental values and thriving is linked to connection.