WHAT IS SYSTEMS THINKING?
Systems Thinking is an approach towards problem-solving that involves understanding the relationships between components within a system. Recognizing how system components are interconnected reveals that problems often do not stem from a single root cause, but are part of a larger systemic issue.
Many of the world’s most pressing challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change are embedded within complex systems. And in order to tackle these issues, it is incredibly useful to understand the systems they operate in.
There are several ways to represent systems with diagrams.
Our system-mapping workshop will show you how to use two different system-mapping techniques that are perfect for beginners.
Let’s tackle a seemingly simple question using systems thinking:
How do you feed a growing population?
Increasing demand for food puts pressure on food production to intensify, but a surplus of food then leads to more population growth. It's a catch-22: the solution adds to the original problem. Now the question becomes – how can we address food security in a sustainable manner? click >
Agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation and water depletion worldwide, and produces more greenhouse gases than all transportation combined! Agriculture plays a huge role in climate change but it is also critical for human survival.
This system perpetuates a multitude of environmental problems that ultimately threaten food production. For instance, soil and water are critical for growing food, yet agriculture depletes these resources faster than they can be replenished.
Increasing demand for food puts pressure on food production to intensify, but a surplus of food then leads to more population growth. It's a catch-22: the solution adds to the original problem. Now the question becomes – how can we address food security in a sustainable manner? click >
System mapping often reveals the bigger picture and brings a new perspective to the issue. Current methods of food production are depleting the very resources that we depend on to grow food. This system is unsustainable and calls for us to innovate ways to support our needs within the capacity of the ecosystems that support us.
Research, technology, policy, and education have the potential to reshape this system in dramatic ways. For instance, scientists and farmers are inventing better farming practices that increase yields and promote carbon capture through soil. And smartphone apps have been developed to prevent edible food from being wasted while feeding those in need.
Can you think of new ways to build a more sustainable future?