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The Hidden Dangers of Systems Thinking

In “Thinking In Systems”, the seminal work by Donella H. Meadows she identifies the dangers of systems thinking twofold:

“People who are raised in the industrial world and who get enthused about Systems Thinking are likely to make a terrible mistake. They are likely to assume that here, in systems analysis [..] is the key to prediction and control. The mistake is likely because the mind-set of the industrial world assumes that there is a key to prediction and control.”

And:

“Systems thinking makes clear to even the most committed technocrat that getting along in this world of complex systems requires more than technocracy.”

Systems Thinking is a philosophy about connection. A way of understanding how our systems don’t live in isolation. Therefore don’t expect them to solve everything. Only expect them to change things and not necessarily always for the better.





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