TWO TYPES OF THINKING

There are two types of thinking, we have traditional thinking and system thinking:

• In TRADITIONAL THINKING - it focuses on the individual pieces (it means that it places more
emphasis or focused on what is being studied)
• For SYSTEM THINKING - focuses on how things interact with other elements (it means that it
seeks to understand the interrelationships that exist between the various elements that make up
the system)

To visualize the two types of thinking, we provide a diagram for all too easy to understand. In traditional
thinking, there are two circles, as shown in the image, which means that the first circle is only focused on
the second circle. It focuses on individual pieces, according to the definition of traditional thinking. There
are many circles in system thinking, which means the first circle is connected and has a relationship to the
other circles. It focuses on the interaction of the first circle with the other elements or circles.6p5t v

ORIGIN OF THE SYSTEM THINKING

- The term "Systems Thinking" first appeared in 1956, when Professor Jay W. Forrester established the
Systems Dynamic Group at MIT's Sloan School of Management.

- It utilizes computer simulations and different graphs and diagrams to illustrate and predict system
behavior. Some of the popular graphics used in the analysis include the causal loop diagram, the
behavior over time graph, the management flight simulator, and the simulation model.
 • System is composed of interrelated elements (The system is made up of parts that are connected
to one another. When it comes to the management of organizations, many people believe that
systems thinking is an effective approach because it can see how various complex entities interact
and influence one another, as well as how they comprise the whole system.)
• Cause & effect among the components (A chain of causation and effect among the components.
Systems thinkers consider how their actions in any component can affect the system, in addition
to understanding how various components interact with and affect each other. In short, their
actions have a cause and effect.)
• The components may work together (It's possible that all the components will operate in tandem.
For example, when business leaders think in terms of systems, they don't just tell the system what
to do and try to control it and people who think in terms of systems know how important it is to
connect the personal goals of employees with the business goals of the company. So, they use a
style of management that focuses on recognizing and rewarding employees for their individual
accomplishments. They also try to keep employees informed about the company's main goals and
how each employee's work is important to reaching those goals.)

ICEBERG MODEL OF SYSTEM THINKING - The iceberg model of systems thinking is a way to figure out
where a problem comes from. Not just reacting to an event or what can be seen but going beyond what
can be seen and figuring out what made the problem happen in the first place. Using a four-step model
helps you get to the root of the problem and find a better solution.

In this model of system thinking,

we have four levels: Event, Pattern,
Structure, and Mental Model.

- For Event Level, it answers the

question “What is happening?”
- For Pattern Level, it answers the
question “What has been happening
over time?”
- For Structure Level, it answers
the question “What is influencing the
repeating behavior?”
- For Mental Model, it answers
the question “What beliefs stimulate
the behavior?”
To truly understand, let’s make an example: So, this is an example of Iceberg model of system thinking.

1. The Event Level - In this level, this is what’s visible and what truly occurred. And, in most cases,
the only thing apparent is if we don't put in the effort to figure out what created a certain problem.
Using the above example, the occurrence is a person overeating.
2. The Pattern Level - We can find repetitions if we look closely. Overeating is not a one-time
occurrence; it occurs on a regular basis. In other words, this is a pattern or trend.
3. The Structure Level - We proceed further down the iceberg, asking questions such as, "What is
causing the pattern to exist?" This is rarely a straightforward response. This behavior is caused by
a variety of factors.

Physical: Easy access to bad food. For example, your refrigerator is full of sweets. Or there
aren’t health stores around your neighborhood.
Environment: Here we can have different things: Stressful work; Your home is not
prepared for exercises; Your closest friends and family members love to have a rich
dinner.
Rituals: Our deeply integrated habits. For instance, every time you’re bored, you eat. Or
you tend to cook (or buy) unhealthy food.

4. The Mental Model Level - Finally, mental models. Motivating beliefs, values, and ideals. That's
why things happen. Or, in the case we're describing, a guy overeats because he grew up in a
stressful atmosphere and now goes to food when stressed. Food is a buddy. A "calming"
emotional partner. These notions are usually strongly ingrained. We don't know if they're there.
We'll never overcome our recklessness unless we expose it.
- Our beliefs drive our behaviors. The difficulty is that they're ingrained in our identities. It's
hard to change bad behavior permanently because of this. We must work on our habits and
identities. Changing our inner beliefs, which changes our personality.
 THE IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM THINKING

• Important in developing a deeper understanding regarding the phenomena (Important in

achieving a greater level of comprehension with regard to the occurrence).
• System thinking represents a more comprehensive way of conceiving experience (System
thinking is a mode of thinking that provides a more all-encompassing perspective on experience).
• Helps to explain complexity in a more comprehensive way (Contributes to a more in-depth and
thorough explanation of complexity).

SYSTEM THINKING HABITS OF MIND

• Seeking to understand the bigger picture (Instead of focusing on small details, you should think
about how your actions will affect the success of a project or company goal as a whole. Big-picture
thinking is important for success at work because knowing what to focus on can help you budget
your time well, deal with stress, and set goals that you can reach).
• Seeing patterns/trends in the system (In order to recognize patterns, we must first inquire,
"What's been happening? Where, if anywhere, have the distinctions, contrasts, and continuities
changed over time? On the other hand, if we can progress to the third level of viewing the
environment, we will be able to identify explanations that are structural in nature. We can start
to make hypotheses about the underlying factors that created the observable events and patterns
if we ask, "What would explain these patterns?" When we do this, we are beginning to see the
causal connections that exist between events and beginning to see how these patterns can be
explained.)
• Recognizing how a system’s structure causes its behavior (Behavior is made up of a network of
relationships, or structure. The most important part of a structure is not the things themselves,
but how they fit together. Structure is hard to see because it is what it is. Unlike events and
patterns, which are usually easier to see, much of what we think of as structure is often hidden.
For example, we can see traffic accidents, but it's harder to see the structure that makes them
happen.)
• Identifying cause & effect relationships (It is common knowledge that the components of a
system are interrelated. There are many possible varieties for these relationships. A relationship
that can be classified as a cause-and-effect link is one kind of interconnectivity. That is to say, a
shift in the state of one element can trigger a change in the state of one or more components that
are related to it.)
• Surfacing & testing assumptions (It is intended to be utilized in circumstances in which problems
are highly linked and frequently disguise substantial differences amongst the individuals who are
addressing the difficulties.)
• Finding where unintended consequences might arise (Unintended consequences when dealing
with a complex system, any intentional action will inevitably result in unintended repercussions.
The term "unintended consequences" refers to the results of an activity that were not planned for
or anticipated. Most such results are undesirable. In order to head off potential issues in the
future, it is essential to identify any unintended consequences that may arise.)
 • Finding leverage points to change a system (People who are skilled in systems analysis have a
strong faith in the concept of "leverage points." These are points within a complex system (such
as a business, an economy, a living body, a city, or an ecosystem) where a seemingly insignificant
change in one variable can have a significant impact on other aspects of the system.)
• Resisting making quick conclusions (Many individuals have the tendency to jump to conclusions.
People who jump to conclusions make incorrect assumptions based on insufficient evidence. This
kind of thinking encourages people to make conclusions rapidly, yet these decisions are frequently
incorrect.)

REFERENCES:

How does systems thinking help design thinking? - bootcamp. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2022, from
https://bootcamp.uxdesign.cc/how-does-systems-thinking-help-design-thinking-4553a7133e38

Study.com. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://study.com/learn/lesson/iceberg-model-

systems-thinking-overview-analysis-examples.html

Durmonski, I. (2021, August 23). How The Iceberg Model of Systems Thinking Can Help You Solve
Problems? Retrieved November 11, 2022, from https://durmonski.com/self-
improvement/iceberg-model-systems-thinking/

How to See “Structure” - The Systems Thinker, https://thesystemsthinker.com/how-to-see-structure/.

Systems Thinking - Overview, History and Role in the Workplace,

https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/management/systems-thinking/.
QUIZ

______ 1. It concentrates on the individual components. What type of thinking is this?

A. System Thinking B. Design Thinking
C. Traditional Thinking D. Critical Thinking
______ 2. ___________ is a method for determining or to figure out the source of a problem.
A. Mind Map B. Venn Diagram
C. Flowchart D. Iceberg Model of System Thinking
______ 3. In this level, this is what’s visible and what truly occurred. And, in most cases, the only thing
apparent is if we don't put in the effort to figure out what created a certain problem.
A. Event Level B. Structure Model
C. Pattern Level D. Mental Model Level
______ 4. The following statements are the systems thinking habits of mind. Which is NOT TRUE in the
below statements?
A. Finding leverage points to change a system
B. Surfacing & testing assumptions
C. Seeking to understand the smaller picture
D. Recognizing how a system’s structure causes its behavior
______ 5. The following statements show the importance of system thinking. Which is/are TRUE in the
below statements?
A. System thinking represents a more comprehensive way of conceiving experience
B. Helps to explain complexity in a more comprehensive way
C. Important in developing a deeper understanding regarding the phenomena
D. All of the above

NARRATIVE REPORT

There are two types of thinking, traditional and systems thinking. In traditional thinking, it
focuses on individual pieces while in systems thinking, focuses on how things interact with other elements.
The systems thinking is proposed by Professor Jay W. Forester, it utilizes computer simulations and
different graphs and diagrams to illustrate and predict system behavior. Some of the popular graphics
used in the analysis include the causal loop diagram, the behavior over time graph, the management flight
simulator, and the simulation model. When it comes to systems, it is composed of interrelated elements,
cause and effects among the components and that components may work together. To figure out where
the problem comes from by using Iceberg Model of System Thinking. In this model of system thinking, we
have four levels: Event, Pattern, Structure, and Mental Model. For event level, it answers the question
“What is happening?”, for pattern level, it answers the question “What has been happening over time?”,
for structure level, it answers the question “What is influencing the repeating behavior?”, and for mental
model, it answers the question “What beliefs stimulate the behavior?”. System thinking is important
because it develops deeper understanding regarding the phenomena, system thinking represents a more
comprehensive way of conceiving experience, and it helps to explain complexity in a more comprehensive
way. In the system of thinking habits of mind, we have eight habits of mind. The habits of minds are the
following: seeking to understand the bigger picture, seeing patterns or trends in the system, recognizing
how’s a system’s structure causes its behavior, identifying cause and effect relationship, surfacing and
testing assumptions, finding where unintended consequences might arise, finding leverage points to
change a system, and resisting making quick conclusions.