"The Art of Systems Thinking : Essential Skills for Creativity and Problem Solving" by Joseph O'Connor, Ian McDermott

We are used to logical thinking. But once you are introduced to systems thinking, the whole world changes - because you begin to see the world differently.

On personal life, with systems thinking, we become more sensitive to our surrounding, especially the people we interact with. We will be less inclined to be reactive, otherwise we get caught in vicious circle, whereby own own thinking, action and behavior make the situation worse than what we want it to be.

On organizational life, for that matter, community or society, we will gain better insights as why chronic problems never go away, there are tons of resistance to change to what we believe should be changed, why today problems are caused by the solutions we introduced yesterday, why the harder we try, the more powerless we become ...

With deeper understanding and insights to forces at play, we will seek leverage to intervene or design new action that can produce maximum results with little efforts.  We become more creative and generative and as time goes by, we become wiser.

 

Introduction to Systems Thinking  by Daniel H. Kim

When "Systems Thinking" is no more mere theories or surface understanding, but an ART, something in your "hand", in your mind, in your own creation, .. that is the power you feel

In ancient China, there were martial arts of great prominence. We read stories of followers of with great perseverance, went deep into the mountain to learn the "secret formula" of the martial arts. It is with the similar feeling, when I read "The Art of Systems Thinking : Essential Skills for Creativity and Problem Solving" by Joseph O'Connor, Ian McDermott.

If martial arts is for self defense, "The Art of System Thinking" is for living, a very basic skill ("secret formula") to understand and comprehend this complex world in which we are a part. And from this profound understanding, we derive inspiration and energy to move forward, creating an influence in the direction of our Vision, while we are constantly being influenced by other forces.

.	. The "Thinking" in Systems Thinking: Seven Essential Skills

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