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The Winning Solution

Systems Thinking: How to recognise and avoid potential problems in complex situations

There is no question that the revolutionary changes we face in today's global world is creating tremendous shifts in our lives, our institutions and our organisations.

While these changes bring benefits to our lives, they also bring chaos and problems into our society.

To solve these problems, many of us use analytical thinking. We break down the problems into their smallest elements and attempt to solve each one separately. But this does not give long-term solutions as the elements are interlinked. Changing one will affect another.

By shifting to systems thinking, we move away from seeing single or isolated elements, structures, functions and events, to seeing the processes in which they inter-relate with one another. It is through this process of thinking that will help us find more effective and longer-term solutions to our complex problems.

From an early age, we are taught to break apart problems in order to make complex tasks and subjects easier to deal with. But this creates a bigger problem. We lose the ability to see the consequences of our actions and we lose a sense of connection to a larger whole.
Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline

Benefits

At the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

  • Understand the characteristics of systems
  • Draw causal and loops that will help you analyse system flows
  • Manage your business using systems thinking archetypes
  • Foresee possible unintended consequences
  • Improve your organisation's objectives and functions using systems thinking tools
  • Recognise and avoid problems in complex situations

Who should attend

This workshop is designed for business managers, executives, problem solvers, school principals and heads of department interested in using systems thinking tools for problem solving and improving their businesses.

What you will cover in this two-day workshop:

Systems Theory and Systems Thinking

  • What is a System
  • Characteristics of Systems

Systems Thinking Tools

  • Causal Loops
  • Systems Thinking Archetypes
  • How to use Archetypes to spot potential problems

Recogising and Avoiding Potential Problems

  • How to set goals and objectives
  • Develop appropriate Vision and Mission statements
  • How to use feedback information, performance indicators and benchmarks to predict potential problems
  • Why short-term solutions usually fail in the long-term
  • Why many information technology projects fail to deliver
  • Potential pitfalls in project planning and strategic planning

Registration

If you like to attend the Systems Thinking workshop, please fill in the form below and we will email you the Registration Form and workshop details:

Public workshop      In-house workshop
   

We do not share email addresses or telephone numbers and will only use the above information to contact you.