Systems Thinking: Coping with 21st Century Problems illustrated edition

Addressing seemingly intractable systems problems in our society, this book focuses on the inherent opportunities and difficulties of a systems approach. It highlights the use of systemigrams and system of systems and contains examples from a range of domains, including technology development, engineering, and business management.

Linking concepts and software tools to examples from technology, business management, and socio-political systems, "Systems Thinking" explores new ways of thinking about systems. The book steers readers through modern systems problems and identifies present opportunities, placing particular emphasis on systems complexity. It features a wide range of case studies and results from collaborative projects that combine patterns of thinking from various disciplines and domains. This essential text offers detailed treatment of systems, making use of original research by the authors, and includes an extensive number of exercises to test learning of system concepts.

Foreword		ix
Acknowledgments		xi
The Story So Far		xvii
Chapter 1 Perspectives		1
1.1 If You Leave Me Now		1
1.2 Areas of Perspective		3
1.2.1 Or		3
1.2.2 And		5
1.2.3 Not		7
1.2.4 Paradox		9
1.3 Perspectives on Google		10
1.4 Returning to Iraq		14
1.5 Time to Think		16
Endotes		18
Chapter 2 Concepts		19
2.1 Just a Thought		19
2.2 What's the Big Idea?		21
2.2.1 E Pluribus Unum		21
2.2.2 The Sameness of Systems		22
2.3 The Conceptagon		23
2.3.1 Boundary, Interior, Exterior		23
2.3.2 Wholes, Parts, Relationships		24
2.3.3 Inputs, Outputs, Transformations		25
2.3.4 Structure, Function, Process		26
2.3.5 Emergence, Hierarchy, Openness		30
2.3.6 Variety, Parsimony, Harmony		35
2.3.7 Command, Control, Communications		36
2.4 Time to Think		40
Endnotes		42
Chapter 3 Engineering		45
3.1 Pressed into Action		45
3.2 The Way We Were		47
3.2.1 Life Cycles		48
3.2.2 Passing Through		50
3.2.3 Eggs Is Eggs		52
3.2.4 See What I Mean		53
3.2.5 Spoiled for Choice		55
3.2.6 Modeling and Simulation		55
3.2.7 The Long Haul		58
3.3 Quite Another Story		61
3.4 Time to Think		63
Endnotes		64
Chapter 4 Dynamics		65
4.1 Thinks Can Only Get Better		65
4.1.1 A Systems Language		65
4.1.2 Servers and Clients		66
4.1.3 Archetypes		69
4.2 Time to Think		75
Endnotes		78
Chapter 5 Soft		79
5.1 Breakfast @ Tiffs 'n Ease		79
5.2 Softly, as I Lead You		80
5.2.1 What Seems to Be the Problem?		81
5.2.2 Getting to the Root of the Problem		84
5.2.3 Ideally, This Is What We See		86
5.2.4 It's Good to Talk		89
5.2.5 The Long UMA finding_ Road Map		91
5.3 Time to Think		91
Endnotes		94
Chapter 6 Systemigrams		95
6.1 Into Great Issues		95
6.2 Evolution		99
6.3 From Prose to Picture		100
6.4 Going off the Rails		102
6.5 Normal Service Will Never Be Resumed		107
6.6 Postlude		111
6.7 Time to Think		113
Endnotes		115
Chapter 7 Togetherness		117
7.1 Common Causes		117
7.2 An Intelligent Community?		118
7.2.1 The Way It Is		118
7.2.2 The Way It Must Be, OK?		120
7.2.3 Making Sense of Togetherness: 1		122
7.3 The Madder of All Wars		124
7.3.1 Future Capabilities		124
7.3.2 A New Constellation		126
7.3.3 Making Sense of Togetherness: 2		130
7.4 Principles for Togetherness		132
7.4.1 Coexistence		132
7.4.2 Cooperation		134
7.4.3 Coeducation		135
7.5 Time to Think		136
Endnotes		141
Chapter 8 Of		143
8.1 Social Networks		144
8.2 Order Forms		146
8.3 Technology Networks		147
8.4 Less Auto, More Mobile		149
8.5 The Price and Prize of Togetherness		151
8.6 The System of Systems Debate		154
8.7 Essential Characteristics		155
8.7.1 Autonomy		157
8.7.2 Belonging		157
8.7.3 Connectivity		158
8.7.4 Diversity		159
8.7.5 Emergence		160
8.8 Back to Biology		161
8.9 Time to Think		163
Endnotes		166
Chapter 9 Paradox		169
9.1 Make My Joy Complete		169
9.2 The World of Both		170
9.3 System Paradoxes		172
9.3.1 Boundary		172
9.3.2 Control		174
9.3.3 Diversity		178
9.4 Bothersome Bovines		181
9.5 Time to Think		182
Endnotes		184
Chapter 10 Complex		187
10.1 Life's Rich Tapestry		187
10.2 Sides of Bacon		190
10.3 A Weakness Stronger Than Strength		192
10.4 Ready, Fire, Aim		193
10.5 Snowballs and Seesaws		197
10.6 Significant Others		203
10.7 Postlude		204
10.8 Time to Think		205
Endnotes		207
Index		209