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…

Systems thinking can be thought of as a language for communicating about complexity and interdependencies (see “Systems Thinking as a Language,” Viewpoint, April 1991). To…

Attempting to bring about organizational change through the internal transformation of individuals is difficult, yet it may be the most effective way. The belief…

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,…

Organizations today suffer from a severe disability when it comes to solving problems. In virtually every organization, regardless of mission and function, people are…

Many leaders feel starved for time. Working under the assumption that longer hours lead to improved productivity, they drive themselves and others to increase…

The most successful organizations understand that the purpose of any business is to create value for customers, employees, and investors, and that the interests…

Why are attempts to transform organizations usually painful and so often unsuccessful? Why is it that, even when leaders recognize the value of the…

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

In writing and teaching people about systems thinking, my colleagues and I at I see systems often refer to “mental models.” For some people,…