Summary of Steven Schuster's The Art of Thinking in Systems

Book excerpt: Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Systems theory is a way of thinking that allows us to understand and solve problems. It explains that behavior that is already present within the structure of a system can be suppressed or released as we study and understand systems and problems. #2 Systems thinking is the art and science of making reliable inferences about behavior by developing an understanding of underlying structure. A system is a group of interconnected things that display their own behavior over time. Systems are usually the cause of their own behavior. #3 Systems thinking is a paradigm shift from our more traditional thinking patterns because it encourages us to look at events and patterns by focusing on the connection and relationship between a system's parts, instead of only looking at the individual parts in isolation. #4 Systems thinking is not better than linear thinking. They are both necessary for us to see and appreciate the world around us completely and in all its complexity. Trying to only use one way of thinking is like going through the world with one eye closed.