Systems thinking is a method of analysis used in various sciences, in everyday life, and in administration. Its objective is to describe a phenomenon based on the relationships between its parts.
In this type of thinking, the phenomenon being addressed is considered a system and, therefore, is composed of smaller units or subsystems. When analyzing it, the goal is to determine how its components function in relation to the whole.
This approach differs from reductionism because it starts from an understanding of the whole and then analyzes the interaction of its parts. Reductionism, on the other hand, is a method in which the parts of an object of study are examined separately without considering how they relate to a larger unit.
Furthermore, systems thinking is applied in various fields to understand the causes and effects of events, find solutions to problems, and generate new connections between components to gain a more comprehensive understanding of an issue or reality.
- It may be useful to you: Open, closed and isolated systems
Principles of systems thinking
The principles of systems thinking guide the analysis of the object of study, that is, the system:
- A system is characterized by the connection of its parts. A system depends on how its units are arranged, behave, relate, and influence one another.
- The parts of the system cannot be analyzed separately. If parts are added or removed from the system, the functioning and characteristics of the whole cannot be understood.
- The system is studied as an organized structure. The structure of a system functions in a specific way, with all its parts connected; therefore, if one unit is modified, the whole is modified.
Examples of systems thinking
There are different activities, situations or entities that can be understood using systemic thinking:
- The organization of a company. Systems thinking can be used to analyze the organization of a company as a whole and to understand how its parts, for example, the different areas, interrelate. This method is very useful if a company is looking to improve productivity or solve a problem.
- Engine repair. Mechanics must use systems thinking to repair engines, because all the parts in these mechanisms must function properly for the system to perform well. Therefore, to repair them, it is necessary to consider how their units work together.
- The study of ecosystems. Ecosystems are environments in which different species interact with each other and with the environment. Therefore, their parts cannot be studied separately; instead, it is important to analyze how living beings and their environment relate to each other in order to understand the characteristics of the whole.
- Machine repair. A machine is an object that functions correctly when all its parts perform their functions efficiently. Therefore, if one of its components fails, the entire mechanism will also fail. To repair it, it is necessary to analyze the connections between its components.
- The strategies of a basketball team. A basketball team is a system characterized by how its individuals play together. Therefore, when designing strategies to win a game, it’s important to consider how the team members interact with each other, not how each individual plays individually.
- The development of an operating system. An operating system functions properly thanks to the connections between its components, for example, the interaction between hardware and software . Therefore, to develop this type of system, it is necessary to use systems thinking, since when designing a function, the interaction of all the units involved must be taken into account.
- Developing an investment plan. Before making an investment, it’s necessary to analyze the entire context using systems thinking, because different elements are interrelated in different ways. For example, one must consider how a country’s economic situation can influence the performance of all the world’s stock exchanges.
- The study of the food chain. The food chain is made up of different species that obtain the nutrients they need to survive from the previous link and subsequently generate food for another living being. Therefore, when analyzing this chain, it is necessary to use systems thinking, because what is important is not what the individual species produce, but the connection between them.
- Planning a construction. When planning a construction, it’s helpful to use systems thinking because you need to consider how all the materials work together, not just their properties.
- The organization of a factory. The organization of a factory can be analyzed using systems thinking, since in order to find solutions or improve performance, it is important to consider how the different stages of a production process interrelate.
