Systems Theory

Description

Systems thinkers are able to see themselves and their environment as a set of interconnected systems and not a bunch of disconnected activities. The systems thinker applies this knowledge to derive needs and wants from the environment and their activities and goals through stable, self-sustaining systems of their own design. Realizing that waste from one process could be input to another, the systems thinker closes these loops to their advantage. An effective systems thinker no longer sees money as a proxy for standard of living. To them, spending money is mainly used to resolve friction and indicates poor systems design.

Reading material

• An introduction to General Systems Thinking
• Thinking in Systems
• The Systems Bible
• Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability
• The Fifth Discipline
• Images of Organization

Forum threads:

• Systems!- Level 6 towards 7
• Systems Thinking
• How to explain WL6+ systems?