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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…
Ishmael: Cultural Dialogue
“TEACHER seeks pupil. Must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person.” Thus begins Ishmael, a compelling exploration of our shared assumptions…
A Journey Through Organizational Change
In the 1970s and 1980s, Digital Equipment Corporation was a successful, thriving computer manufacturer, second only to industry giant IBM. The company’s networking business,…
When to Simulate
Systems thinking offers an array of tools — from systems archetypes to computer models — for improving the quality of decision making. Knowing which…
An Infrastructure for Organizational Transformation at Shell Oil
One of the most valuable insights I ever received on transforming organizations came from my study of physics. My early studies of classical physics…
Guidelines for Designing Systemic Interventions
The phones were ringing off the hook and the fax machine was humming 24 hours a day. The entire staff of the specialty goods…
Decision-Making: The Empowerment Challenge
Imagine that you work for a company that has created a powerful and compelling shared vision. Furthermore, you and your colleagues have established a…
From Causal Loop Diagrams to Computer Models — Part II
Last month we outlined a process for turning a causal loop diagram into an accumulator and flow diagram, using the example of staffing decisions.
Thinking Systemically About Strategy
During the mid-1980s, a large high-technology company launched a project to begin thinking more systemically about strategy. “COPEX” (a fictional name) designed, manufactured, sold,…
Building a Core Competence in Community
I recently worked with a group in a high-tech computer company that once had a very alive sense of community. The people felt more…