System Thinking: Navigating through Complexity

Managers need a comprehensive perspective to effectively deal with many complex situations. The conventional approach to solving complex problems is to break them into smaller problems, which are then solved one-by-one, but this process quickly becomes both cumbersome and ineffective. Systems thinking, a method that will help you learn to effectively address complex situations, focuses on the interrelationships and dynamics of a situation. Through discussions and hands-on exercises, this workshop helps you learn simple systems-oriented perspectives, tools and techniques that you can apply immediately in your organization.

Topics

• Introduction to systems thinking
  • The problems of linear thinking
  • Why unanticipated consequences are unanticipated
  • When is “systems thinking” helpful?
• Drawing maps of systems
  • Identifying outputs, features and relationships
  • Feedback and delays as managerial issues
• Diagnosing problems in systems
  • Using templates to diagnose organizational problems
  • Anticipating second order effects
• Using systems thinking in your organization, using real situations

Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending this program, participants will:

• Be able to represent complex situations more clearly
• Better anticipate the effects/consequences of their decisions
• Make better arguments for preferred courses of action

Who Should Attend

Managers who are interested in or responsible for solving complex problems for their organizations.