You are a claims processor working for a large insurance company. You are good at what you do, but although you know where your…

According to recent findings in neuroscience, not only do sensory experiences and actions change the brain’s physical structure, but so does thinking. Concentrating on…

We hear a lot about complexity in the business world today — specifically, that increasing complexity is making it tougher than ever for companies…

People in Guatemala—smart people—were working harder, hiring brighter people, raising more money, doing better projects, and getting improved results. And yet, what they sought…

I frequently talk to groups of managers on the nature of systems thinking and its radical implications to management. In doing so, I use…

Jorge Valchez is an organizational development consultant at International Chocolate, Inc., a (fictional) confectionery company. A few years ago, he picked up a copy…

System thinking tools, such as causal loop diagrams, foster high-quality thinking, communication, and decision-making in teams. But plunging into the realm of complex, dynamic…

When something goes wrong in an organization, the first question that is often posed is, “Whose fault is it?” When there’s data missing in…

Peasants in southwest France have been selling smelly but delicious black truffles to restaurants for more than $600 a kilo (2.2 lb). Not surprisingly,…

When faced with a problem, how often do teams within your organization become polarized around proposed solutions that are opposites? For example, one group…