Category: Articles

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Shifting the Burden Revisited: Turtles All the Way Down

There is an old story about a student who asked his master, “Teacher, what holds up the world?” The teacher paused for a moment…

Clarifying Variables: Actual, Perceived, and Desired

One of the primary benefits of modeling with systems tools—whether causal loops or computer simulations—is the intense discussion it can generate around important variables…

ABC: Initiating Large-Scale Change at Chrysler

When Chrysler adopted activity-based costing (ABC) in 1991, the decision rep; resented more than a simple accounting change. The shift to ABC challenged many…

Cultivating Tomorrow’s Leaders: Should You Teach, Coach, or Mentor?

You need good people in your department to make your organization shine. Capable deputies allow you to stretch to new goals, and a thriving…

Cause and Effect

Everything you do creates a consequence in your life. What you do may also create consequences in the lives of others. And the actions…

Eye of the Needle: A Communication Tool

How often have you left a conversation feeling dissatisfied with how it went, how you conducted yourself, and what the final outcome was? Were…

Managing with Accumulators and Flows

A common principle of systems thinking is that “there is no away.” Every material thing we make and use must come from somewhere and…

Facilitating Constructive Meetings

Have you ever dared to count the amount of time you spend in meetings every month? Staff meetings, supervision, board meetings, work groups, strategic…

Removing Barriers to Success at Caterpillar

In most enterprises, it isn’t enough to achieve success; the key challenge is to sustain it. At this year’s Pegasus Conference, keynote speaker Cristiano…

Resolving to Stop Re-Solving

Have you resolved to make any changes in 2010? According to RichardWiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire, most of us won’t achieve…