Category: Articles
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Minnesota Takes the Long View of Its Solid Waste System
In January 2000, Minnesota’s Office of Environmental Assistance (MN OEA) began to investigate creative solutions to the state’s growing problems with solid waste disposal.
Systems Archetypes As Structural Pattern Templates
Imagine you were suddenly struck with a strange illness that affected your vision. While you were still able to “see” everything around you, somehow…
The Common Flaw of All Problem-Solving Models
We suspect that every reader of this newsletter has been steeped in articles and classes on a myriad of problem-solving techniques. We have all…
Fixes that Fail: Why Faster is Slower
Mqost of us are familiar with the paradox that asks, “Why is it that we don’t have the time to do things right in…
Systems Archetypes as Dynamic Theories
Most people are familiar with the Sufi tale of the four blind men, each of whom is attempting (unsuccessfully) to describe what an elephant…
Selecting Variable Names for Causal Loop Diagrams
When first beginning to draw a causal loop diagram, don’t spend a lot of time up front trying to select the “perfect” variable name.
Six Steps to Thinking Systemically
Bijou Bottling Company is a fictitous beverage bottler with an all too real problem: chronic late shipments. Its customers—major chain retailers—are looking for orders…
A Lifetime of Systems Thinking
When one reaches 80, one is considered to be ripe and ready for picking. Picking usually consists of the pickers asking the pickee to…
Causal Loop Construction: The Basics
Systems thinking has been described as a language for talking about the complex, interdependent issues managers face every day. Within that framework, causal loop…
The “Thinking” in Systems Thinking: Honing Your Skills
Why is it so challenging to develop systems thinking ability? It’s because thinking systemically involves a rather large number of different skills—seven, at least—that…