# Systems Thinking Made Simple  ## Metadata - Author: [[Derek Cabrera and Laura Cabrera]] - Full Title: Systems Thinking Made Simple - Category: #books ## Highlights - Gerald Midgley, a systems thinking expert and notable historian on the subject, edited a four-volume set of 97 different methods of and approaches to systems thinking. Charles Francois compiled an encyclopedia with 3,800 entries of systems thinking concepts, theories, methods, and frameworks. Eric Schwarz created a network diagram with 648 nodes (and thousands of connections), each representing a famous systems thinker, theory, or method of systems thinking. ([Location 8740](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07G83X44R&location=8740)) - Distinctions are at the root of the following words: compare, contrast, define, differentiate, name, label, is, is not, identity, recognize, identify, exist, existential, other, boundary, select, equals, does not equal, similar, different, same, opposite, us/them, thing, unit, not-thing, something, nothing, element, and the prefix a- (as in amoral). ([Location 20536](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07G83X44R&location=20536)) - To construct or deconstruct meaning is to organize different ideas into part-whole configurations. ([Location 20972](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07G83X44R&location=20972)) - Part-whole systems lie at the root of a number of terms that you will be familiar with: chunking, grouping, sorting, organizing, part-whole, categorizing, hierarchies, tree mapping, sets, clusters, together, apart, piece, combine, amalgamate, codify, systematize, taxonomy, classify, total sum, entirety, break down, take apart, deconstruct, collection, collective, assemble. ([Location 20973](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07G83X44R&location=20973)) - Relationships are at the root of many concepts: connect, interconnection, interaction, link, cause, effect, affect, rank, between, among, feedback, couple, associate, and join; most words with the prefixes inter-, intra-, extra-, such as interdisciplinary, intramural; most words with the the prefix co- as in correlate or cooperate or communicate; and types of relationships such as linear, nonlinear, causal, feedback, and mathematical operators such as +, -,/, x. ([Location 21410](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07G83X44R&location=21410)) - Perspectives lie at the root of: viewpoint, see, look, standpoint, framework, angle, interpretation, frame of reference, outlook, aspect, approach, frame of mind, empathy, compassion, negotiation, scale, mindset, stance, paradigm, worldview, bias, dispute, context, stereotypes, prosocial and emotional intelligence, compassion, negotiation, dispute resolution; and all pronouns such as he, she, it, I, me, my, her, him, us, and them. ([Location 21847](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07G83X44R&location=21847)) ## New highlights added June 25, 2023 at 9:14 PM - Vision (V): a concise future state or goal; • Mission (M): simple repeatable rules that lead to the vision; • Capacity (C): a system of systems that are laser-focused on doing the mission;2 and • Learning (L): incremental improvements to capacity, mission, and vision based on better shared mental models. ([Location 80829](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07G83X44R&location=80829)) - Culture is comprised of shared mental models. The more mental models people share and the more deeply they share them, the more robust the organizational culture. ([Location 83888](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07G83X44R&location=83888)) - The traditional model can be summarized as: plan, command, control, and utilize. ([Location 84326](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07G83X44R&location=84326)) - For example, such a boss is at the top of the hierarchy because she has more influence, more knowledge, knows more people, has her hands in more processes, and is a part of more initiatives. She’s more knowledgeable because she is, and has been, more connected. ([Location 85198](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07G83X44R&location=85198)) - Differentiates leaders vs. managers: clearly distinguishes leadership (vision/culture/learning) and management functions (mission and capacity); ([Location 90441](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07G83X44R&location=90441)) - "wicked problems result from the mismatch between the way the real world works and the way we think it works." ([Location 91751](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B07G83X44R&location=91751))