Foundations

Systems Thinking is a theoretical framework and practical methodology for understanding how and why systems behave the way they do. This page is an index of foundational knowledge to help you learn systems thinking.

1. Definitions

• What is Systems Thinking?
• What is a System?
• A Systems Story
• Reinforcing Loop
• Balancing Loop

2. Natural Principles – learn the natural laws of social systems

• How Systems Create Their Own Behavior
• Seeing The Unseen
• The Knowledge Delusion
• The Fixed Shmoo Theory
• The Laws of Human Nature
• Unintended Consequences
• Skin In the Game
• Fragile, Resilient, or Antifragile
• Learning Biases
• Open Systems & Their Environments
• The Map Is Not The Territory

3. Archetypes – learn about the recurring behavioral patterns found in all systems

• Introduction to Archetypes
• Addiction
• Eroding Goals
• Escalation
• Limits to Growth
• Policy Resistance
• Seeking the Wrong Goal
• Exponential Success
• Tragedy of the Commons

4. Modeling – learn systems modeling

• How to read causal loop diagrams
  • Causal Loop Quiz
• Operational Thinking
• What is modeling?
• Think like a modeler
  • Skill #1: Define
  • Skill #2: Expand
  • Skill #3: Aggregate
• Growth Curves: exponential growth & decay, oscillation, and overshoot & collapse