Systems thinking: Russell Ackoff's point of view

Systems engineers think differently! There is also a term for this, "Systems Thinking". Russell Ackoff is considered one of the pioneers of systems thinking. But what exactly is systems thinking?

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What is systems thinking?

Systems thinking means seeing the whole while recognizing the parts. Systems thinking means understanding that the whole is more than the sum of the parts. It is the search for characteristics that cannot be found in the individual parts. It also means perceiving the states of the system, but paying attention to the processes that are realized with it. It also involves recognizing that a part of the system is itself a system.

Successful problem solving requires finding the right solution to the right problem. We fail more often because we solve the wrong problem than because we get the wrong solution to the right problem.

Russell Ackoff

In his essay A Lifetime of Systems Thinking Russell Ackoff he shares six revelations, of which the following three concern systems thinking:

Three revelations on systems thinking

• Improving the parts of a system does not necessarily improve the system. This revelation is not intuitive for many, but it is one of the reasons why even excellent engineers build mediocre products. The whole thing starts in a very practical way with the fact that the parts have to fit together. To take Ackoff's example: If you try to fit the engine of a Rolls Royce into a Hyundai, the result will probably be worse than with the Hyundai engine - if you can get the car to run at all.
• Problems are not organized by discipline. Effective work is interdisciplinary and problems must be considered holistically. For practical reasons, universities are organized by discipline, but that doesn't mean that nature is. Instead, disciplines are more like angles, and problems need to be looked at from different angles. The quote from Albert Einstein also fits in with this.
• Problems do not need to be solved, they need to be resolved. In other words, the system and its environment must be adapted and manipulated in such a way that the problem disappears. This requires common sense and an inquiring mind - trial and error or scientific approaches will not necessarily get you anywhere.

Problems can never be solved with the same mindset that created them.

Albert Einstein

Conclusion

Systems thinking is a habit that can be applied to many areas of life, not just work. Again, please refer to the above-mentioned essay by Russell Ackoff, in which he amusingly applies systems thinking to healthcare, the school system and companies. Those interested should also read the monthly Ackoff Center Weblog to the heart.

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