Systems Thinking

Traditional decision-making focuses on selecting the most logical and sensible alternative that will have the desired, short-term effect for a particular issue.  Decision-makers consider various alternatives and compare the strengths and weaknesses of each.  Oftentimes, the decision-maker does not consider their decision in a larger context or “system”.  As a result, decisions may lead to unintended consequences, often over the longer term. 

Systems-oriented thinking, in contrast, focuses on how the decision elements under consideration interact with all parts of the system.  Analyzing these interrelationships can generate strikingly different conclusions than those generated by traditional forms of analysis.  This is especially true when the system is dynamic and complex.

For an example demonstrating the difference between traditional and systems-oriented thinking, see a Systems Thinking Example (Appendix B)