10 Examples of Systems Thinking

The systemic thinking It is a method of analysis that is used in different sciences, in everyday life and in administration and whose objective is to describe a phenomenon based on the relationship between its parts.

In this type of thinking, the phenomenon addressed is considered a system and, therefore, is made up of smaller units or subsystems and, by analyzing it, seeks to determine how its components function in relation to the everything.

This thought differs from reductionism, because it starts from an understanding of the whole and then analyzes the interaction of its parts. In contrast, reductionism is a method in which the parts of an object of study are examined separately without considering how they are related to a larger unit.

In addition, systems thinking is applied in various fields to understand the causes and effects of events, find solutions to problems and generate new connections between the parties to understand more comprehensively an issue or the reality.

Principles of systems thinking

The principles of systemic thinking guide the analysis of the object of study, that is, of the system:

Systems Thinking Examples

There are different activities, situations or entities, which can be understood using systems thinking:

1. The organization of a company. Systems thinking can be used to analyze the organization of a company as a whole and to account for how its parts, for example, the different areas, interrelate. This method is very useful if a company is looking to improve productivity or solve a problem.
2. repair of an engine. Mechanics must use systems thinking to fix engines, because in these mechanisms all the parts must work correctly for the system to perform well. Therefore, to repair them, it is necessary to take into account how their units work together.
3. The study of ecosystems. Ecosystems are environments in which different species interact with each other and with space. Therefore, its parts cannot be studied separately, but it is convenient to analyze how living beings and the environment are related to understand the characteristics of the whole.
4. repairing a machine. A machine is an object that performs correctly when all its parts perform their function effectively. Therefore, if one of its components fails, so will the entire mechanism. To repair it, it is necessary to analyze the connections between its components.
5. The strategies of a basketball team. A basketball team is a system characterized by how its individuals play together. For this reason, when designing strategies to win a game, it is convenient to take into account how the members of the team interrelate and not how each one plays separately.
6. The development of an operating system. An operating system works properly thanks to the connection between its parts, for example, the interaction between the hardware and the software. Therefore, to develop this type of systems, it is necessary to use systemic thinking, since that when designing a function, one must take into account how all the units interact involved.
7. The preparation of an investment plan. Before making an investment, it is necessary to analyze the entire context using systems thinking, because there are different elements that are related in different ways. For example, it must be taken into account how the economic situation of a country can influence the actions of all the stock markets in the world.
8. The study of the food chain. The food chain is made up of different species that obtain the nutrients necessary to live from the previous link and that subsequently generate food for another living being. Therefore, when this chain is analyzed, it is necessary to use systemic thinking, because what is important is not what the species produce separately, but the connection between them.
9. planning a construction. When planning a construction, it is convenient to use systems thinking, because you have to take into account how all the materials work together and not just their properties.
10. The organization of a factory. The organization of a factory can be analyzed using systems thinking, since in order to find solutions or improve performance, it is convenient to take into account how the different stages of a process are interrelated productive.

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