UNPACKING ESSENTIAL FUNCTION 1: SYSTEMS THINKING
“System thinking is a method of critical thinking by which you analyze the relationships between the system’s parts in order to understand a situation for better decision-making.”
Rouse, 2005
System Interdependence
Every system can be reduced to three major components: 1) shared beliefs, values and vision; 2) the collective system; and 3) the individual system member. (Senge, 1990). The connectedness between these three components make up the dynamics of system interdependence.
- The connection between the system’s shared beliefs, values, and vision with the collective system members is evidenced by the system structures, policies, and processes that are in place. Do the system structures, policies, and processes align with the system’s shared beliefs, values, and vision?
- The connection between the system’s shared beliefs, values, and vision with the individual member is evident through the choices made by the individual on a daily basis. Are the individual members’ choices aligned with the system’s shared beliefs, values, and vision?
- The connection between the collective system members and the individual system member are observable through the collegial relationships that exist within the system. Are the relationships collaborative and supportive?
The system interdependence triangle must be balanced for the system to function with maximum effectiveness. Each side needs to be as strong as the other two. Problems occur when one side “outweighs” the others.
- If the connection between the shared values, beliefs, and vision with the collective membership is weighted down by too many rigid structures, policies, and processes the system’s effectiveness will be impacted.
- If the connection between the shared values, beliefs, and vision with the individual is weighted down by too many individual choices that are not aligned with the beliefs, the system does not function as a network.
- If the connection between the collective membership and the individual member is weighted down by too many co-dependent relationships effective collaboration will not occur.
Systems Thinking in Education
Educational leaders need to be systems thinkers. Often educational organizations are not viewed as systems, however like systems, schools consist of interrelated parts that impact one another, produce outputs, are always changing, and are impacted by other systems (communities, families, etc. (Ribeiro, 2016). Systems thinking provides an organizing framework for understanding the interconnectedness of the educational system. To make educational systems more adaptive, innovative, collaborative, and effective, educational leaders need to adopt a systems thinking approach to continuous improvement.
In the following video, Senge provides an introduction to the concept of systems thinking (Wile, 2014).
What, if any, unintended “consequences” have resulted from school-improvement behaviors or actions taken in your district? What impact did these “consequences” have on continuing school-improvement efforts?
Benefits of Systems Thinking (Jackson, 2016).
A systems thinking approach provides an effective way of thinking, communicating, acting, and achieving results by providing the following elements.
- A framework for making sense of an organization’s complexities
- A method for integrating new ideas within the system’s context
- A view of what is going on in any organization and its environment
- A process to create strategies, problem solve, and make decisions while finding leverage points for change, keeping the outcomes and goals in the mind at all times
- A more complete and holistic way of thinking
It is important to use a systems thinking approach, when addressing an issue or problem for which the following elements are true (The Waters Foundation, 2018).
- The issue is important
- The problem is chronic, not a one-time event
- The problem is familiar and has a known history
- There have been unsuccessful prior attempts to solve the problem