1. Systems Thinking
Why Pierce College should introduce students to this way of analyzing their world

2. Courses and Development Team
Phil 130 Introduction to Systems Thinking
Phil 131 Integrated Systems Thinking
Developed by:
Emily Kulbacki (Philosophy)
Kristin Brunnemer (English)
Laurie Shuster (Library)
Ron May (Biology)
Pete Kaslik (Math)

3. What is a System?
“A system is an interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that achieves something”
Examples:
Circulatory System
Educational System
Government
Environmental Systems

4. History
Systems Thinking was developed in the 1960s by the MIT System Dynamics group, which included Jay Forrester, the group’s founder.

5. A different Understanding
Systems Thinking can be summarized with a Sufi teaching story: You think that because you understand “one” that you must therefore understand “two” because one and one make two. But you forget that you must also understand “and”.

6. Reasons for Creating These Courses
Critical thinking is enhanced by systems thinking.
There is a distinct lack of systems thinking in the current political debates in this country.
The courses are 2 or 3 credits, which is needed at this school.

7. Qualitative Aspects of Systems Thinking
Characteristics of Systems
Resilience
Self-organization
Hierarchy

8. Qualitative Aspects of Systems Thinking
Why Systems Surprise Us
The world is non-linear but our models are normally linear
Limiting factors – no system can grow forever. Systems always have at least one factor that limits its growth. This factor can change over time.
Delays in systems
Bounded Rationality – people make reasonable decisions based on the information they have, but they don’t have perfect information, especially about more distant parts of the system.

9. Qualitative Aspects of Systems Thinking
System Traps and opportunities
Policy Resistance – Fixes that fail
Tragedy of the Commons
Drift to low performance
Escalation-Success to the successful
Shifting the Burden to the Intervenor

10. Qualitative Aspects of Systems Thinking
Leverage Points – Places to Intervene in a system

11. Quantitative Aspects
Version 2a Learning Systems Thinking from a student perspective

12. Quantitative Aspects
Version 2b Systems Thinking Endorsement from a program perspective