Post on 17-Aug-2015
SYSTEMS THINKING FOR EVERYONE
Credit: Magic Eye
DO
YOU
SEE
WH
AT I S
EE?
Credit: Magic Eye
“Focus as though you are looking through the
image into the distance…
very slowly move the image away from your face...the hidden image will magically appear…
good luck!”
“everything is deeply
intertwingled”
Ted Nelson (1974)
Credit: Laemeur
Credit: Magic Eye
WHAT IS A SYSTEMS THINKER?
- Sees the whole picture- Changes perspectives to see new leverage points in complex systems- Looks for interdependencies- Considers how mental models create our futures- Pays attention to and gives voice to the long-term- “Goes wide” (uses peripheral vision) to see complex cause and effect
relationships- Finds where unanticipated consequences emerge- Focuses on structure, not on blame- Holds the tension of paradox and controversy without trying to resolve it
quickly- Makes systems visible through maps and models- Watches for win/lose mindsets, knowing they usually make matters worse
in situations of high interdependence- Sees oneself as part of, not outside of, the system
The System Thinking Playbook
4STEPS TO
SYSTEMS THINKING WIZARDRY
1.PRIME THE BRAIN
Credit: Spartwolf117
1. PRIME THE BRAIN
WE ARE IRRATIONAL
1. PRIME THE BRAIN
Credit: Dave Smith, Centre for Mathematical Biology
PLAY GAMES
1. PRIME THE BRAIN
Credit: Joel Avery, Noun Project
DIV
ER
GEN
T T
HIN
KIN
G
5 WHYs
1. PRIME THE BRAIN
Credit: Gustav Salomonsson
1. PRIME THE BRAIN
RO
LE P
LAY
2. EMBRACE COMPLEXITY
DIS
CO
VER
MO
RE
Credit: Caters News Agency
2. EMBRACE COMPLEXITY
WORSE BEFORE BETTER
Credit: NBC News
2. EMBRACE COMPLEXITY
3. CO-CREATE
A.K.A. BE GENEROUS; SHARE THE POWER
HO
W M
IGH
T W
E...?
3. CO-CREATE
DESIGN SPRINT
How might we…create an intuitive and supportive enrollment experience that aligns with student and institutional goals?
3. CO-CREATE
Monday - Understand
Tuesday - Diverge
Wednesday - Decide
Thursday - Prototype
Friday - Test
UN
DER
STA
ND
3. CO-CREATE
UN
DER
STA
ND
3. CO-CREATE
Alex Laurel
DIVERGE
3. CO-CREATE
DIVERGE
3. CO-CREATE
3. CO-CREATE
DECIDE
PR
OTO
TYPE
3. CO-CREATE
Credit: Keir Serrie
3. CO-CREATE
TEST
4. BUILD TRUST
4. BUILD TRUST
Credits: Jan-Kanty Pawelski, Alina Alvarez, NounProject
1.PRIME THE BRAIN
2.EMBRACE COMPLEXITY
3.CO-CREATE
4.BUILD TRUST
PER
SPEC
TIV
E
Credit: Octavio Ocampo, WikiArt
RESOURCES
The Systems Thinking Playbook, Sweeney/Meadows
Role-playing the Interaction, Stephen Anderson
Just Enough Research, Erika Hall
Co-designing resources, Service Design Tools
The Secret Phrase Top Innovators Use, HBR
Design Sprint Resources, Google Ventures