Introduction to Systems Thinking

Topic-02

System Dynamics

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Professor Sang W. KIM, Ph.D. sierra@cbnu.ac.kr

Spring, 2015

1. What’s all about Systems

2. Three Foundations of Systems Thinking

3. Analytic Thinking vs. Systems Thinking

Contents

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The Essence of Systems

Three Key Words (GCI) Representing the Systems Definition :

A system is a complex whole (organism) which consists of components

(elements) interacting to achieve their common goal.

System is a collection of people and/or parts which interact with each other

to function as a whole

Goal: A system is ‘goal-oriented.’

• Critical is the establishment of shared value for the goal among the

components. (Ex: HAL)

Components: A system is ‘hierarchical.’

• Regarded as a holon which is something that is simultaneously a whole

and a part.

• Since a holon is embedded in larger wholes, it is influenced by and influences

these larger wholes. And since a holon also contains subsystems, or parts, it is

similarly influenced by and influences these parts.

1. What’s All about Systems

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Interactions: A system is ‘synergic’

• In the organizational context, a cohesive group is more than the sum of its

parts. Synergy is the ability of a group to outperform even its best individual

member.

• In a technical context, its meaning is a construct or collection of different

elements working together to produce results not obtainable by any of the

elements alone.

• The value added by the system as a whole, beyond that contributed

independently by the parts, is primarily created by the relationship among the

parts; that is, how they are interconnected.

• In essence, a system constitutes a set of interrelated components working

together with a common objective: fulfilling some designated need

1. What’s All about Systems

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• 緣起法(佛典-雜阿含經) 此有故彼有(이것이 있기 때문에 저것이 있고), 此起故彼起(이것이 생기기 때문에 저것이 생긴다). 此無故彼無(이것이 없기 때문에 저것이 없고), 此滅故彼滅(이것이 멸하기 때문에 저것이 멸한다).

※Every object in the world enables others to exist and determines each other.

1. What’s All about Systems

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1. What’s All about Systems

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Structural Dimension

• A system has a structure of Input-Process-Output.

• A system has a Feedback (positive or negative) structure.

• A system has a Hierarchical structure.

Functional Dimension

• A system is Goal-oriented. → Time delay

• A system is Self-controlled. → Entropy

• A system is Holistic. → Synergy

1. What’s All about Systems Key Features of a System

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2. Three Foundations of Systems Thinking

• A system is Goal-oriented. → Time-based Thinking

• A system is Self-controlled. → Feedback Thinking

• A system is Holistic. → Holistic Thinking

Time-based Thinking

Feedback Thinking

Holistic Thinking

Time-based Thinking

Paradox of Change : “A camel’s back is broken by the last grain of beans loaded on its back.”

To prevent the situation of‘Boiled Frog’ look at the world in view of differentiation (change

rate per time unit) instead of integration (accumulation over time).

Any policy decision which show a certain performance in the short term should be always

suspected. Be reminded that a policy, if believed good , could give birth to unexpected

consequences in the long run.

Keep it in mind that today’s cure (solution) could be tomorrow’s disease (problems).

Time-based Thinking : Always think over time.

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2. Three Foundations of Systems Thinking

朝三暮四

A system is of nothing but ‘probability’ not of certainty. Therefore, the system’s behavior always

varies even if the initial conditions are identical. (Think why.)

System Thinking focuses the structure of interactions (i.e., feedback) of system components rather

than the behavior itself of the system.

Chaotic structure of a system in particular will generate a big difference in behavior even with a slight

change.

Feedback Thinking : Feedback has to be checked in the process.

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Feedback Thinking 2. Three Foundations of Systems Thinking

A B 단선적 시각

A B

시스템 사고

思 行 習 果 心

心

思

行

習 果

R

단선적 사고

피드백 사고

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Feedback Thinking 2. Three Foundations of Systems Thinking

Local optimization of a system will sacrifice the entire system’s robustness.

It is just like a cancer to destroy other cells for its growth.

Analytic Thinking by itself is not sufficient to clearly understand the world under observation.

Holistic Thinking is necessary to accompany in order to come closer to the essence of the world

under observation.

Holistic Thinking : Look at the world as a whole, instead of its parts.

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2. Three Foundations of Systems Thinking Holistic Thinking

With a heap, nothing changes if you take away or add parts. On the other hand

with a system things definitely change if you take away or add parts.

If you cut a cow in half, you don’t get two cows.

In systems thinking the many interactions among the parts in a system give rise to

qualities or properties that you just can’t measure merely by adding up those parts.

진정한 학습은 Assimilation이 아니라

Accommodation 작용으로 달성되는 것이다.

- Jean Piaget

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3. Analytic vs. Systems Thinking