Systems Thinking: What, Why, When, Essay Example

Benefits of Systems Thinking and Walden PhD Students

“Systems thinking does not suppress or supplant perspectives; it adopts them and finds sense in their multiplicity and diversity, their surprise” (Boardman &Sauser, 2008, p. 2). A logical and well developed system provides a framework which interconnects the various mechanisms and variables which are applicable to the whole. Systems thinking provides an enhanced approach to new ideas, problem solving and other social systems by focusing on how the constituents of the network interacts in order to produce a certain behavior (Aronson, 1998).Although a systematic approach to thinking creates an explicit and enhanced way of dealing with complex issues, systems thinking cannot guarantee success.

According to Boardman and Sauser (2008), as the nation increase in diverse perspectives, religions, philosophies and alternative lifestyles, many of which represent a vast difference in traditional approaches, society must be prepare to address problems, challenges and decisions with a systematicmethodology of thought. As part of the academia process, from a secondary to a post secondary level, it is critical for teachers and professors to foster a 21^st century learning process which provides uninhibited schools of thought in an effort to prepare students for the current and future global and domestic challenges of the world.

“Colleges and universities provide something extremely important in the United States, something that is in a veryreal way the kernel of our civilization” (Kerrey, 2007). As America continues to face concerns over the economy and national security, higher learning institutions must focus on developing learners to become critical thinkers in addition to technologically advanced. By utilizing systems thinking, doctoral students at Waldon University are better prepared to cultivate the social, economical and cultural climate that will play a pivotal role in securing the nation’s future.

Improvements to the Systems Thinking Wiki

The information age, also known as the computer age has created the dissemination of information at an increased rate and has produced far more information than most technologically based venues can manage. Maintaining documentation systems such as Wikis has created enormous benefits to education, organizations and social networks. In addition to benefits, however, there are also challenges. The systems thinking Wiki is not immune to the continuous issues facing documentation systems. Systems Thinking Wiki can improve performance by monitoring and managing three specific areas:

Organization of Wiki Content

Searching through documentation systems can be mundane and inefficient. Developing a number of different methods to categorize and search for information should be an important part in the continuous development of systems thinking Wiki.

Integration of Interactive Tools

In order to effectively embrace the extensive amount of information on the systems thinking wiki, incorporating interactive tools such as webbing tools can assist students in organizing and summarizing information.

Participation and Collaboration

Blogs and discussion boards are critical parts in maintaining a Wiki site. Additionally, since systems thinking includes an expansive and collaborative approach to understanding social systems, integrating interactive tools such as social media can create an interactive approach to thinking, learning and dialoguing about concepts and philosophies.

Systems Thinking Comparison with Traditional Thinking

“Systems thinking is a deliberate attempt to think when thinking itself is put at risk by emotion, confusion and confrontation” (Boardman &Sauser, 2008, p. 2). The traditional thinking approach focuses on the separation of variables and mechanisms as a means to understand the various parts.To the contrary, systems thinking is the studying of how these parts interact in order to create certain behaviors versus analyzing each element separately.Traditional thinking approaches often compare systems and operations to the goals and objectives of the expected outcome. In the event of its failure, the traditional thinking approach determines that the overall goals and objectives were not met. By using a systems thinking approach, the assessment of the system may find that while the initial objectives were not met, there are certain aspects of the system that are successful. By analyzing the mechanisms that are successful and understanding how these factors worked together to create a profitable outcome, it is then possible to replicate these processes in other areas.

Traditional thinking analyzes problems as having a root cause. Systems thinking view problems and assessments from a holistic approach. An example could include the analysis of the successes and failures of the nation’s education system. In times past, educators and researchers determined student achievement based on test scores and grades. Although both these factors remain as critical points in determining a student’s academic development, school districts are now considering a variety of variables which can impact student learning such as (1) parental participation, (2) class size, (3) socioeconomics and (4) school choice. By avoiding the traditional approach of thinking in assessing problems at a lower level (i.e. test grades) or having one root cause, researchers and educators can implement a systems thinking approach by considering all the properties which can impact student learning.

Reference

Aronson, D. (1998). Overview of Systems Thinking. Retrieved August 8, 2011 from web: http://www.thinking.net/Systems_Thinking/OverviewSTarticle.pdf

Kerrey, B. (2007). Higher Education and National Security. Retrieved from web: august 8, 2011 from web: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ff0704s.pdf

Boardman, J. &Sauser, B. (2008). Systems Thinking: Coping with 21st Century Problems. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis Group