This blog is on the following article about system thinkinghttps://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2017/10/30/amplify-your-leadership-effectiveness-apply-systems-thinking/#756b0aaf265e. According to this article, it is a way to look at different areas of a business as interconnected, within socio, economic, geopolitical and technical. All these interacting with one another in counterintuitive and interesting ways, hence system thinking is about seeing the world from this kind of meta prospect stepping and viewing larger systems which composed functioning of governments, environments and economies of whole world (Gehlert, Ressler and Baylon 2013).
It is learning about how systems function recognising that specific principles and laws are available which govern systems. These could be learned and studied through analysis, observing and integrating several stuff in aggregate way and learning traps which befall us as we try to alter and manipulate systems. Dr. Albrecht (2017) states in the article that ‘The most powerful outcome of systems thinking is the sustained improvement of output in both efficiency and effectiveness. This therefore assumes that if a business was to implement systems thinking they would be guaranteed to become more efficient and effective. Hartmann and Halecker, (2013) agree with this stating ‘systems thinking offers leaders in management a systematic way of thinking for increased understanding and more effective work’.
Dr. Albrecht (2017) states ‘the best reason for engaging in systems thinking is that it correlates to improved performance’. This is really important as by engaging in system thinking, it will be easier it implement new ideas and changes where otherwise without this it would be difficult to change a system. Studying system thinking is for making positive meaningful impact in businesses. Changing some features of a system is to have some kind of specific impact (Ison and Shelley 2016). Dr. Albrecht (2017) also states ‘It is paramount to be able to evaluate the interrelations of systems, comprehend the forces that are at work on the business and subsequently choose changes that result in improved production both in the near-term and in the long-term.’ This shows that it is crucial for businesses to know what effect or influences their system. Depending on these influences the correct change to the system can be taken and implemented.
According to Dr. Albrecht (2017) ‘the larger the business, the more complex the interactions,’ when it comes to systems thinking. This means that managers and leaders of different departments or section within large businesses must ensure their sub system is fully functional in order to ensure the overall system is effective. Alternativelt Dr. Albrecht (2017) here could be highlighting the difficulty management and business leaders face when managing complex systems.
When the systems are to be changed and manipulated, one of the most important things is that complex system behaves in ways that were not expected and it might create results that are opposing of what was intended. This is really important to learn from for managers according to Dr. Albrecht (2017) and therefore It is important for managers to learn about some systems.
Dr. Albrecht (2017) describes systems thinking as a set of interconnected things, as these systems could be thought of as elements, there are often times physical things and then the relationships are interconnections between these elements. These relationships are usually much less tangible, hence it is harder in dealing with them as they seem sort of abstract and the relationships are much more essential than the elements themselves (Sedarati and Baktash 2017). Systems behave in very complex ways and increase in complexity the more elements and connections are created. The system has a purpose of serving a function and is very important to understand about the function and what the function is about with respect to the system.
References
Albrecht, D. (2017). Amplify Your Leadership Effectiveness: Apply Systems Thinking. [online] Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2017/10/30/amplify-your-leadership-effectiveness-apply-systems-thinking/#756b0aaf265e [Accessed 19 Nov. 2019].
Gehlert, K.M., Ressler, T. and Baylon, D., 2013. Global challenges demand global education of systems thinking. Human Systems Management, 32(2), pp.79-94.
Ison, R. and Shelley, M., 2016. Governing in the Anthropocene: contributions from systems thinking in practice?. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 33(5), pp.589-594.
Sedarati, P. and Baktash, A., 2017. Adoption of smart glasses in smart tourism destination: A system thinking approach.
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