Systems Thinking

Systems thinking involves the use of various techniques to study systems of many kinds.

It includes studying things in a holistic way, rather than purely reductionist techniques.

It aims to gain insights into the whole by understanding the linkages, interactions and processes between the elements that comprise the whole "system".

Systems thinking can help avoid the silo effect, where a lack of organizational communication can cause a change in one area of a system to adversely affect another area of the system.

Systems thinkers consider that:

- a "system" is a dynamic and complex whole, interacting as a structured functional unit

- information flows between the different elements that compose the system

- a system is a community situated within an environment

- information flows from and to the surrounding environment via semi-permeable membranes or boundaries

- systems are often composed of entities seeking equilibrium, but can exhibit oscillating, chaotic, or exponential growth/decay behavior

For further details see complex system

Why use systems thinking techniques

Systems thinkers are particularly interested in studying systems because changing a system frequently leads to counterintuitive system responses.

For example feedback loops may operate to either keep the organization in check or unbalance it.

Traditional decision making tends to involve linear cause and effect relationships.

By taking a systems approach, we can see the whole complex of bidirectional interrelationships.

Instead of analysing a problem in terms of an input and an output, for example, we look at the whole system of inputs, processes, outputs, feedback, and controls.

This larger picture will typically provide more useful results than traditional methods.

System thinking also helps us integrate the temporal dimension of any decision.

Instead of looking at discrete "snapshots" at points in time, a systems methodology will allow us to see change as a continuous process.

Systems Thinking is a worldview based on the perspective of the systems sciences, which seeks to understand interconnectedness, complexity and wholeness of components of systems in specific relationship to each other.

Systems thinking is not only constructivist, rather systems thinking embraces the values of reductionist science by understanding the parts, and the constructivist perspectives which seek to understand wholes, and more so, the understanding of the complex relationships that enable 'parts' to become 'wholes' as noted in the example below.

What is a system

A system is any set (group) of interdependent or temporally interacting parts.

Parts are generally systems themselves and are composed of other parts, just as systems are generally parts or components of other systems.

Systems thinking techniques may be used to study any kind of system -- natural, scientific, human, or conceptual.

Examples

Systems thinking often involves considering a "system" in different ways:

- Rather than trying to improve the braking system on a car by looking in great detail at the composition of the brake pads (reductionist), the boundary of the braking system may be extended to include not only the components of the car, but the driver, the road and the weather, and considering the interactions between them.

- Looking at something as a series of conceptual systems according to multiple viewpoints.

A supermarket could be considered as a "profit making system" from the perspective of management, an "employment system" from the perspective of the staff, and a "shopping system" -- or perhaps an "entertainment system" -- from the perspective of the customers.

As a result of such thinking, new insights may be gained into how the supermarket works, why it has problems, or how changes made to one such system may impact on the others.

Methodologies

Systems thinking uses a variety of techniques that may be divided into:

• Hard systems - involving simulations, often using computers and the techniques of operations research.

Useful for problems that can justifiably be quantified.

However it cannot easily take into account unquantifiable variables (opinions, culture, politics, etc), and may treat people as being passive, rather than having complex motivations.

• Soft systems - Used to tackle systems that cannot easily be quantified, especially those involving people interacting with each other or with "systems".

Useful for understanding motivations, viewpoints, and interactions but, naturally, it doesn't give quantified answers.

Soft systems is a field that the academic Peter Checkland has done much to develop.

• Evolutionary systems - the development of Evolutionary Systems Design by Bela H. Banathy integrates critical systems inquiry and soft systems methodologies to create a meta-methodology applicable to the design of complex social systems.

These systems, similar to dynamic systems, are understood as open, complex systems, but further accounts for their potential capacity to evolve over time.

Banathy uniquely integrated the multidisciplinary perspectives of systems research (including chaos, complexity, cybernetics, cultural anthropology, evolutionary theory, and others)

Applications

Systems thinking is increasingly being used to tackle a wide variety of subjects in fields such as management, computing, engineering and the environment.

Systems thinking involves the use of various techniques to study systems of many kinds. It includes studying things in a holistic way, rather than purely reductionist techniques. It aims to gain insights into the whole by understanding the linkages, interactions and processes between the elements that comprise the whole "system". Systems thinking can help avoid the silo effect, where a lack of organizational communication can cause a change in one area of a system to adversely affect another area of the system. Systems thinkers consider that: - a "system" is a dynamic and complex whole, interacting as a structured functional unit - information flows between the different elements that compose the system - a system is a community situated within an environment - information flows from and to the surrounding environment via semi-permeable membranes or boundaries - systems are often composed of entities seeking equilibrium, but can exhibit oscillating, chaotic, or exponential growth/decay behavior For further details see complex system Why use systems thinking techniques Systems thinkers are particularly interested in studying systems because changing a system frequently leads to counterintuitive system responses. For example feedback loops may operate to either keep the organization in check or unbalance it. Traditional decision making tends to involve linear cause and effect relationships. By taking a systems approach, we can see the whole complex of bidirectional interrelationships. Instead of analysing a problem in terms of an input and an output, for example, we look at the whole system of inputs, processes, outputs, feedback, and controls. This larger picture will typically provide more useful results than traditional methods. System thinking also helps us integrate the temporal dimension of any decision. Instead of looking at discrete "snapshots" at points in time, a systems methodology will allow us to see change as a continuous process. Systems Thinking is a worldview based on the perspective of the systems sciences, which seeks to understand interconnectedness, complexity and wholeness of components of systems in specific relationship to each other. Systems thinking is not only constructivist, rather systems thinking embraces the values of reductionist science by understanding the parts, and the constructivist perspectives which seek to understand wholes, and more so, the understanding of the complex relationships that enable 'parts' to become 'wholes' as noted in the example below. What is a system A system is any set (group) of interdependent or temporally interacting parts. Parts are generally systems themselves and are composed of other parts, just as systems are generally parts or components of other systems. Systems thinking techniques may be used to study any kind of system -- natural, scientific, human, or conceptual. Examples Systems thinking often involves considering a "system" in different ways: - Rather than trying to improve the braking system on a car by looking in great detail at the composition of the brake pads (reductionist), the boundary of the braking system may be extended to include not only the components of the car, but the driver, the road and the weather, and considering the interactions between them. - Looking at something as a series of conceptual systems according to multiple viewpoints. A supermarket could be considered as a "profit making system" from the perspective of management, an "employment system" from the perspective of the staff, and a "shopping system" -- or perhaps an "entertainment system" -- from the perspective of the customers. As a result of such thinking, new insights may be gained into how the supermarket works, why it has problems, or how changes made to one such system may impact on the others. Methodologies Systems thinking uses a variety of techniques that may be divided into: • Hard systems - involving simulations, often using computers and the techniques of operations research. Useful for problems that can justifiably be quantified. However it cannot easily take into account unquantifiable variables (opinions, culture, politics, etc), and may treat people as being passive, rather than having complex motivations. • Soft systems - Used to tackle systems that cannot easily be quantified, especially those involving people interacting with each other or with "systems". Useful for understanding motivations, viewpoints, and interactions but, naturally, it doesn't give quantified answers. Soft systems is a field that the academic Peter Checkland has done much to develop. • Evolutionary systems - the development of Evolutionary Systems Design by Bela H. Banathy integrates critical systems inquiry and soft systems methodologies to create a meta-methodology applicable to the design of complex social systems. These systems, similar to dynamic systems, are understood as open, complex systems, but further accounts for their potential capacity to evolve over time. Banathy uniquely integrated the multidisciplinary perspectives of systems research (including chaos, complexity, cybernetics, cultural anthropology, evolutionary theory, and others) Applications Systems thinking is increasingly being used to tackle a wide variety of subjects in fields such as management, computing, engineering and the environment. °	TESTO PARALLELO INCASELLATO Scopri come è facile capire l'inglese se c'è a fianco la traduzione parallela incasellata!
	Systems thinking involves the use of various techniques to study systems of many kinds.	Il pensiero sistemico riguarda l'uso di varie tecniche per studiare sistemi di molti tipi.
	It includes studying things in a holistic way, rather than purely reductionist techniques.	Comprende lo studio delle cose secondo un approccio olistico, piuttosto che limitarsi a tecniche puramente riduzioniste.
	It aims to gain insights into the whole by understanding the linkages, interactions and processes between the elements that comprise the whole "system".	Mira a riuscire a capire a fondo il "tutto" attraverso la comprensione delle connessioni, delle interazioni e dei processi esistenti tra gli elementi che comprendono l'intero "sistema".
	Systems thinking can help avoid the silo effect, where a lack of organizational communication can cause a change in one area of a system to adversely affect another area of the system.	Il pensiero sistemico può aiutare ad evitare l'effetto silo, in cui una mancanza di comunicazione organizzativa può provocare un cambiamento in un'area del sistema che influenza negativamente un'altra area dello stesso.
	Systems thinkers consider that:	I pensatori sistemici ritengono che:
	- a "system" is a dynamic and complex whole, interacting as a structured functional unit	- un "sistema" è un tutto complesso e dinamico, che interagisce come un'unità funzionale strutturata
	- information flows between the different elements that compose the system	- l'informazione scorre tra i diversi elementi che compongono il sistema
	- a system is a community situated within an environment	- un sistema è una comunità situata all'interno di un ambiente
	- information flows from and to the surrounding environment via semi-permeable membranes or boundaries	- l'informazione viaggia verso e dall'ambiente circostante attraverso membrane o confini semipermeabili
	- systems are often composed of entities seeking equilibrium, but can exhibit oscillating, chaotic, or exponential growth/decay behavior	- i sistemi sono spesso composti da entità che cercano l'equilibrio, ma possono presentare un comportamento oscillatorio, caotico, oppure crescita/decadimento esponenziale
	For further details see complex system	Per maggiori dettagli vedere: sistemi complessi
	Why use systems thinking techniques	Perché utilizzare le tecniche del pensiero sistemico
	Systems thinkers are particularly interested in studying systems because changing a system frequently leads to counterintuitive system responses.	I pensatori sistemici sono particolarmente interessati allo studio dei sistemi perché cambiamenti in un sistema conducono spesso a risposte dello stesso sistema che vanno contro le attese del nostro intuito.
	For example feedback loops may operate to either keep the organization in check or unbalance it.	Per esempio i circuiti di retroazione possono operare sia nel senso di tenere sotto controllo l'organizzazione, sia nel senso di sbilanciarla.
	Traditional decision making tends to involve linear cause and effect relationships.	Il processo decisionale tradizionale tende a coinvolgere relazioni di causa-effetto lineari.
	By taking a systems approach, we can see the whole complex of bidirectional interrelationships.	Attraverso l'approccio sistemico, possiamo vedere l'intero complesso di interrelazioni bidirezionali.
	Instead of analysing a problem in terms of an input and an output, for example, we look at the whole system of inputs, processes, outputs, feedback, and controls.	Invece di analizzare un problema in termini di dati in entrata e risultati, per esempio, guardiamo all'intero sistema di dati in entrata, processi, risultati, retroazione, e controlli.
	This larger picture will typically provide more useful results than traditional methods.	Questa immagine più ampia normalmente ci fornirà risultati più utili rispetto ai metodi tradizionali.
	System thinking also helps us integrate the temporal dimension of any decision.	Il pensiero sistemico ci aiuta anche ad incorporare la dimensione temporale di qualsiasi decisione.
	Instead of looking at discrete "snapshots" at points in time, a systems methodology will allow us to see change as a continuous process.	Invece di osservare "istantanee" separate in certi istanti di tempo, una metodologia sistemica ci consentirà di vedere il cambiamento come un processo continuo.
	Systems Thinking is a worldview based on the perspective of the systems sciences, which seeks to understand interconnectedness, complexity and wholeness of components of systems in specific relationship to each other.	Il pensiero sistemico è una visione del mondo basata sulla prospettiva delle scienze sistemiche, che cerca di capire le interconnessioni, la complessità e l'interezza delle componenti dei sistemi in relazioni specifiche tra loro.
	Systems thinking is not only constructivist, rather systems thinking embraces the values of reductionist science by understanding the parts, and the constructivist perspectives which seek to understand wholes, and more so, the understanding of the complex relationships that enable 'parts' to become 'wholes' as noted in the example below.	Il pensiero sistemico non è solamente costruttivista, piuttosto comprende i valori della scienza riduzionista attraverso la comprensione delle parti, e la prospettiva costruttivista che cerca di capire il tutto, ed inoltre, la comprensione delle relazioni complesse che permettono alle "parti" di diventare "tutto" come si nota nell'esempio che segue.
	What is a system	Cos'è un sistema
	A system is any set (group) of interdependent or temporally interacting parts.	Un sistema è un qualsiasi insieme (gruppo) di parti che interagiscono interdipendentemente o temporalmente.
	Parts are generally systems themselves and are composed of other parts, just as systems are generally parts or components of other systems.	Le parti generalmente sono esse stesse sistemi e sono composte di altre parti, proprio come i sistemi sono generalmente parti o componenti di altri sistemi.
	Systems thinking techniques may be used to study any kind of system -- natural, scientific, human, or conceptual.	Le tecniche del pensiero sistemico possono essere utilizzate per studiare qualsiasi tipo di sistema naturale, scientifico, umano, o concettuale.
	Examples	Esempi
	Systems thinking often involves considering a "system" in different ways:	Il pensiero sistemico spesso ha bisogno di considerare un "sistema" in diversi modi:
	- Rather than trying to improve the braking system on a car by looking in great detail at the composition of the brake pads (reductionist), the boundary of the braking system may be extended to include not only the components of the car, but the driver, the road and the weather, and considering the interactions between them.	- piuttosto che cercare di migliorare il sistema frenante di un'auto osservando nei minimi dettagli la composizione delle pastiglie dei freni (riduzionista), il confine del sistema frenante può essere esteso fino ad includere non solo le componenti dell'auto, ma anche l'autista, la strada e le condizioni atmosferiche, e considerando le interazioni fra essi.
	- Looking at something as a series of conceptual systems according to multiple viewpoints.	- osservare qualcosa come una serie di sistemi concettuali secondo punti di vista molteplici.
	A supermarket could be considered as a "profit making system" from the perspective of management, an "employment system" from the perspective of the staff, and a "shopping system" -- or perhaps an "entertainment system" -- from the perspective of the customers.	Un supermercato potrebbe essere considerato come un "sistema generatore di profitto" dal punto di vista della gestione, un "sistema di lavoratori" dal punto di vista dello staff, ed un "sistema per lo shopping", o forse un "sistema d'intrattenimento", dal punto di vista dei clienti.
	As a result of such thinking, new insights may be gained into how the supermarket works, why it has problems, or how changes made to one such system may impact on the others.	Come risultato di questo modo di pensare, si possono ottenere nuove indicazioni su come funziona un supermercato, sul perché ci siano dei problemi, o su come i cambiamenti apportati su uno di questi sistemi possano avere un impatto anche sui rimanenti.
	Methodologies	Metodologie
	Systems thinking uses a variety of techniques that may be divided into:	Il pensiero sistemico utilizza un'ampia gamma di tecniche che si possono suddividere in:
	• Hard systems - involving simulations, often using computers and the techniques of operations research.	• Hard systems - comprendenti simulazioni, spesso con l'utilizzo di computer e di tecniche di ricerca operativa.
	Useful for problems that can justifiably be quantified.	Sono utili per problemi che possono essere legittimamente quantificati.
	However it cannot easily take into account unquantifiable variables (opinions, culture, politics, etc), and may treat people as being passive, rather than having complex motivations.	Tuttavia queste tecniche non possono facilmente prendere in considerazione variabili non quantificabili (opinioni, aspetti culturali, politici, ecc.), e possono trattare le persone come variabili passive, trascurando le loro motivazioni complesse.
	• Soft systems - Used to tackle systems that cannot easily be quantified, especially those involving people interacting with each other or with "systems".	• Soft systems - utilizzate per affrontare sistemi che non possono essere facilmente quantificati, specialmente quelli che coinvolgono persone che interagiscono fra loro o con "sistemi".
	Useful for understanding motivations, viewpoints, and interactions but, naturally, it doesn't give quantified answers.	Sono utili per capire motivazioni, punti di vista, ed interazioni ma, naturalmente, non forniscono risposte misurabili.
	Soft systems is a field that the academic Peter Checkland has done much to develop.	Il prof. Peter Checkland ha fatto molto per sviluppare il campo delle tecniche soft per lo studio dei sistemi.
	• Evolutionary systems - the development of Evolutionary Systems Design by Bela H. Banathy integrates critical systems inquiry and soft systems methodologies to create a meta-methodology applicable to the design of complex social systems.	• Evolutionary systems - lo sviluppo dell'Evolutionary Systems Design da parte di Bela H. Banathy integra la critical systems inquiry e le metodologie soft per creare una meta-metodologia applicabile alla progettazione di sistemi sociali complessi.
	These systems, similar to dynamic systems, are understood as open, complex systems, but further accounts for their potential capacity to evolve over time.	Questi sistemi, simili ai sistemi dinamici, vengono interpretati come aperti e complessi, ma in più si tiene conto della loro capacità di evolvere nel tempo.
	Banathy uniquely integrated the multidisciplinary perspectives of systems research (including chaos, complexity, cybernetics, cultural anthropology, evolutionary theory, and others)	Banathy in una maniera unica integra le prospettive multidisciplinari della ricerca sui sistemi (includendo teoria del caos, complessità, cibernetica antropologia culturale, teoria evoluzionista, ed altre).
	Applications	Applicazioni
	Systems thinking is increasingly being used to tackle a wide variety of subjects in fields such as management, computing, engineering and the environment.	Il pensiero sistemico viene sempre più utilizzato per affrontare un'ampia varietà di argomenti in settori come il management, l'informatica, l'ingegneria e l'ambiente.