Understanding Systems Thinking: An Agenda for Applied Research in Industry

Abstract

Why systems thinking is valuable is relatively easy to explain.  However, in the authors’ work as university educators, teaching a student processes of enquiry that are themselves systemic is a difficult undertaking.  The capacity to view the world in systemic ways seems an innate characteristic that some individuals possess.  Might it be the case that being a systems thinker is dependent on holding a particular worldview?  Systems theorists have evolved tools and methodologies to help people do systems thinking.  Is being a user of systems methods the same as being a systems thinker? Are certain cognitive competencies, styles, or preferences required for people to make effective use of such tools and methodologies?