1. Systems Thinking Storyboard 3 properties that determine system behavior Open vs. closed thermodynamic systems Map events Link events in causal loops Events proceed from patterns Patterns proceed from systemic structure resiliency capacity Awareness of facts: Systems exhibit certain properties that guide design decisions Main point All activity takes place within dynamic, interacting systems that cannot be separated from one another Awareness of personal role: Being able to visually represent the system and see one’s participation aids effective interventions Awareness of strategies: Changing symptoms requires changing systemic structure redundancy This work was made possible by the National Science Foundation’s DUE#0717428 | Jane Qiong Zhang and Linda Vanasupa

2. Systems Thinking Dynamic Systems 2

3. Systems Thinking Boundary Surroundings Elements defined by those analyzing the system Changes with time Group of interacting components Outside the system Conceptually “separates” the system and surroundings The Dynamic System Concept system The Dynamic System Concept

4. Systems Thinking Boundary 1 meter in all directions around my desk system Classroom Activity (2 minutes) Using the system above, redefine the system BOUNDARY so that the learning system above results in more learning. Share your results with you neighbor. The classroom Example Surroundings The instructor, me, my notebook, my pen, my desk, my chair My Learning System

5. Systems Thinking Boundary system Boundary system Thermodynamic Systems Can exchange energy but not matter Can exchange energy & matter Closed vs. Open Surroundings E m E

6. Systems Thinking Boundary system Example Classroom Activity (2 minutes) Turn to your neighbor and determine the boundary for this system. Determine the factors that qualify it as a open thermodynamic system. The US, atmosphere Surroundings Cars, gas sold in US, roads, buses, trains, subways US Transportation System

7. Systems Thinking Boundary system The Key System Properties Capacity- depends on placement of the system boundary and system properties Interdependency- degree of interconnectedness among the sub-systems within the system; higher interconnectedness results in less stable systems Resiliency- ability to adapt to changes in the surroundings; greater redundancy results in greater resiliency. Redundancy- the extent to which there are duplicate paths within the system to produce the same result. Surroundings

8. Systems Thinking Boundary system The Key System Properties Capacity- depends on placement of the system boundary and system properties Interdependency- degree of interconnectedness among the sub-systems within the system; higher interconnectedness results in less stable systems Resiliency- ability to adapt to changes in the surroundings; greater redundancy results in greater resiliency. Redundancy- the extent to which there are duplicate paths within the system to produce the same result. Surroundings

9. Systems Thinking Boundary The Key System Properties Capacity- depends on placement of the system boundary and system properties Interdependency- degree of interconnectedness among the sub-systems within the system; higher interconnectedness results in less stable systems Resiliency- ability to adapt to changes in the surroundings; greater redundancy results in greater resiliency. Redundancy- the extent to which there are duplicate paths within the system to produce the same result. Surroundings system

10. Systems Thinking Boundary system The Key System Properties Capacity- depends on placement of the system boundary and system properties Interdependency- degree of interconnectedness among the sub-systems within the system; higher interconnectedness results in less stable systems Resiliency- ability to adapt to changes in the surroundings; greater redundancy results in greater resiliency. Redundancy- the extent to which there are duplicate paths within the system to produce the same result. Surroundings

11. Systems Thinking Example: Construction Materials Flow Cycle for Aggregates Classroom Activity (2 minutes) Turn to your neighbor, isolate a sub-unit of the system pictured above. Identity all inputs and output of the sub-system that you isolated.

12. Systems Thinking Natural Dynamic Systems 12

13. Systems Thinking The Key System Properties Ideas: C.S. Hollings

14. Systems Thinking The Key System Properties Ideas: C.S. Hollings

15. Systems Thinking The Key System Properties Ideas: C.S. Hollings, M. Chertow

16. Systems Thinking System Behavior 16

17. Systems Thinking Events Patterns Systemic structure Symptoms, seen as resulting from patterns of behavior Developed in response to the system’s structure Create the patterns and symptomatic events Considers “the whole” rather than parts of the whole

18. Systems Thinking Classroom Activity (5 minutes) In groups of 2 or 3, identify an example of a global system tied to economic activity. Describe events, and patterns of behavior of this system. Example Events Patterns Systemic structure Global climate change CO2 emissions over time; use of fossil fuels over time US government-subsidized fossil fuel production; fossil-fuel-based national energy infrastructure Considers “the whole” rather than parts of the whole

19. Systems Thinking Example: Managing Agricultural Pests Linear, cause and effectCircular, cause, response, feedback Isolate interactions to analyze Integrate interactions to analyze Traditional Thinking vs. System Thinking

20. Systems Thinking Visually-representing Systems 20

21. Systems Thinking Systems Thinking Tools birthsdeaths population “ + ” =changes occur in the same directions (“s” also used) “ – ” =changes occur in the opposite directions (“o” also used) Resources a Reinforcing loopa Balancing loop Time delay Representing Systemic Structures with Causal Loop Diagrams + – +

22. Systems Thinking birthsdeaths population Resources a Reinforcing loopa Balancing loop Time delay Causal Loop Diagrams: “Limits to Growth” + – + Guidelines for Drawing CLD 1. Use nouns, that can vary

23. Systems Thinking birthsdeaths population Resources Time delay Causal Loop Diagrams: “Limits to Growth” + – + Guidelines for Drawing CLD 2. Indicate polarity

24. Systems Thinking birthsdeaths population Resources Time delay Causal Loop Diagrams: “Limits to Growth” + – + Guidelines for Drawing CLD 3. Show delays

25. Systems Thinking Guidelines for Drawing CLD “Shifting the Burden” from true solution to quick fix solution Individual Activity (10 minutes) Create your own “shifting the burden” story and share it with another. Start by identifying a “problem symptom,” and a “quick fix.”

26. Systems Thinking Classroom Activity (5 minutes) Here are two conceptual “models” of the relationship between nature, society and economic systems. Which of these models more accurately depicts reality? Why? Draw a causal loop diagram associated with the model. The Global System