System Dynamics and Systems Thinking

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C Thomas Higgins
Junior Member
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2002 3:39 am

System Dynamics and Systems Thinking

Post by C Thomas Higgins »

Sometimes we become so tangled up with words that they loose their hooks in
reality. This discussion of "systems thinking" "systems dynamics" SD is
becoming such for me. It seems to me that overlaying these concepts on the
actions of human beings produces a Venn diagram where the set of SD falls
within the set of "systems thinking". To map the concept of SD without
"systems thinking" in the behavioral landscape seems inappropriate. The
framework for the concept of SD then necessarily contains the concept of
"systems thinking". Is the heart surgeon more important than the general
medical practitioner?

In the medical profession a heart surgeon may consider himself more
"rigorous" than the general practitioner in matters of the pulmonary system.
The general practitioner would consider himself more "rigorous" in matters
of the general health of the human biological system. Each may consider the
other "softer" in matters of their specialty. Does discussing the
objectives of either in the terms of soft or rigorous make sense without
observing their behavior and the application of their skills? Are surgeons
and general medical practitioners SD practitioners? If they saw that the
heart disease was caused by the patient smoking and that the smoking was
rooted in chemical and emotional dependence, fed by family culture,
community tolerance, peer pressure, tobacco industry economics and mating
behavior, would they be using "systems thinking"?

The concept of "systems thinking" I believe applies across the board to all
observable phenomenon and impacts the context of all professional behavior.
Systems dynamics is the language used to describe observed phenomenon. It
is derived from the observation of symple physical systems which is then
applied more generally to the behavior of fluids, galaxies and social
interaction. You cant get to making such descriptions without thinking
systemically. Perhaps all professions will be tested in their "rigor"
against such principals described by the language of "systems dynamics".
Shouldnt then SD and its organizational representatives have something
profound to say about what "systems thinking" is as well as rigorously
perusing defining the language that describes systems behavior.

In my own profession, accounting, our thinking often stops at the edges of
accounting principals or tax law. Could the Systems Dynamics Society help
us in better understanding how such behavior limits our effectiveness in
delivering services. Maybe building liaisons with professional institutions
such as the AICPA would be an appropriate SD priority.

C. Thomas Higgins
C. Thomas Higgins, CPA
Post Office Box 820
Belfair, WA 98528
(360) 275-5414
(360) 275-6564
loscann@telebyte.net
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