Systems Thinking, Systems Practice

What is Systems Thinking?
Systems Thinking (ST) is a way of exploring and sharing our thoughts on what drives performance in a system.

What is a system?
A system is a collection of parts which inter-relate to function as a whole. Systems come in all sizes. I am a system. My family is a system. I am part of larger systems such as the business I work for, my local community, my country, the world.

How does Systems Thinking help us?
ST provides us with a simple language for capturing the components and relationships in a system within a diagram. These diagrams enable us to share and challenge our understanding of the way the system works. Ultimately thinking must be linked to a change in behaviour if we are to see an improvement in performance.

The Dynamic Performance Management (DPM) cycle is a means of linking systems thinking to ongoing improvement of results. The DPM cycle has four components: Observing, Thinking, Choosing and Acting.

Acting, Choosing, ThinkIng, ObserviNg = ACTION…