Praise for John’s Work Warren Bennis, distinguished professor emeritus at University of Sothern California: “John is a wise elder who shines with wisdom.” Senior Training Officer (Trinidad): “John wowed the audience…” Ethos Institute Annual Conference delegate (Brazil): “John enlightened the audience....one of the most remarkable moments of the four days. Stanford Professor Emeritus Michael Ray: “John Renesch is a beacon lighting the path of the new paradigm in business.” Head of Sustainable Investment Group, AIG (Switzerland): “...refreshing, daring and thoughtful, full of positive energy that can move the mountains.”

Recognizing and Curing Systems Dysfunction: How Organizations Behave and Misbehave A workshop with global futurist John Renesch 2007 © John Renesch

We can’t solve problems with the same consciousness with which we created them

“No great improvements on the lot of mankind are possible, until a great change takes place in the fundamental constitution of their modes of thought.” - John Stuart Mill ( )

Existing mode of thought = linear thinking The “great change” = systems thinking

Old thinking vs new thinking Newtonian (cause- effect/linear) thinking Mechanistic Man dominates Nature To be “real” – five senses Seemingly random evolution Parts-to-whole Quantum (systemic thinking) Holistic Co-existing with Nature Expanded senses (fields, intuition) Conscious evolution (by choice) Whole-to-parts

Systems thinking is a holistic approach to analysis that focuses on the way that a system's constituent parts interrelate and how systems work over time and within the context of larger systems. … this approach contrasts with traditional analysis, which studies systems by breaking them down into their separate elements. SearchCIO.com

The promise of systems thinking Systems thinking is a set of principles and tools that helps us make sense of chronic, complex problems, including a better understanding of not only what is happening, but also why. Bringing a systems thinking lens to your change effort can increase its impact because: Individuals become more aware of how they contribute to their problems and are thus more motivated to change Diverse stakeholders recognize their interdependence, increasing their desire to collaborate People learn to focus limited resources on high-leverage interventions It fosters a learning environment Syllabus from Cornell training course

“Of all the creatures of earth, only human beings can change their patterns. Man alone is the architect of his destiny…Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” - William James ( )

"Organizations are simply systems created by people; they are there to serve us, not the other way around.“ - John Renesch

Interested in hosting the systems thinking workshop with John Renesch? futurist and author Getting to the Better Future Call or (website) Photo by Forbes magazine (Brazil) (booksite) (blog) © John Renesch