Learning Systems Thinking with Diana Montalion and Lisa Schäfer

Key Takeaways:

• Systems Thinking is the opposite of linear thinking and focuses on relationships and their impacts.
• It’s not about considering everything simultaneously, but having additional tools for analyzing complex systems.
• Good communication and understanding of system relationships reduce cognitive load in the long term.
• Systems thinking cannot be forced, but can be promoted through small experiments and successes.
• Tools like ADRs, quality goals, and modeling support systemic thinking.

Core Questions Addressed:

• What is the difference between linear and systemic thinking?
• How can Systems Thinking be introduced in teams and organizations?
• What practical methods exist for getting started with Systems Thinking?
• Why is communication so important for systemic thinking?
• How are modeling and Systems Thinking connected?

Glossary of Important Terms:

• Systems Thinking: Thinking approach that considers relationships and interactions in systems
• ADR (Architecture Decision Record): Documentation of architectural decisions including rationale
• Leverage Points: Points in a system where small changes have large effects
• Conceptual Integrity: Conceptual integrity / consistency of a system
• Event Storming: Collaborative modeling method for analyzing business processes
• Systemic Argumentation: Justification of decisions considering the overall system