Systems Thinking

Question 1

4 Building Blocks of Systems Thinking

Answer 1

1. Circles of Causality
2. Reinforcing Feedback
3. Delays
4. Balancing Feedback

Question 2

Tools for Systems Thinking and Modeling

Answer 2

1. Dynamics: graph over time

2. Structure: Causal-loop Diagrams

Question 3

The ability to ____ when there may be a systematic structure driving the results in one quality of a developed thinker

Answer 3

Sense

Question 4

4 Steps in Systems Thinking

Answer 4

1. Focus on a specific problem
2. Identify the critical variables
3. Graph the behavior of the key variables time (BOT)
4. Develop a causal loop diagram

Question 5

Causal Loop Construction: The Basics

Answer 5

1. Create variable
2. Draw the links
3. Label the loop
4. Talk through the loop

Question 6

Is a causal relationship drawn from the cause to effect.

Answer 6

Link

Question 7

The ____ of the link is placed by the
Arrowhead and tells the direction of change:
S = same direction
O= opposite direction

Answer 7

Sign

Question 8

The ____ indicates the resulting nature of all the relationships in the loop: B = Balancing Loop
R= Reinforcing Loop

Answer 8

Loop Notation

Question 9

Tells of the significant time lapse between cause and effect

Answer 9

Delay

Question 10

Quality of quantity that can vary upward and downward.

Answer 10

Variable

Question 11

The powerful tool for representing structure in complex systems.

Answer 11

Causal Mapping

Question 12

It indicates causal influence.

Answer 12

Arrows

Question 13

It shows the direction of Causality.

Answer 13

Positive and negative signs
+ = Direct relation
- = inverse relation

Question 14

It exists when decision change the state of the system, changing the conditions and informations that influence future decisions.

Answer 14

Feedback Loop

Question 15

2 Kinds of Feedback Loops

Answer 15

1. Reinforcing loops

2. Counteracting loops

Question 16

This is kind of feedback loops that are responsible for accelerating growth, accelerating decline, or traps due to inertia

Answer 16

Reinforcing Loops

Question 17

Kind of feedback loops that are much more prevalent but often obvious; they balance and adapt.

Answer 17

Counteracting loops

Question 18

“all else being equal” or?

Answer 18

Ceteris Paribus

Question 19

Constructed by assuming ceteris peribus, or all else being equal when assessing the direction of change in a relationship.

Answer 19

Causal loops

Question 20

Characteristics of Complex Systems

Answer 20

1. Interconnected
2. Dynamic
3. Cause and effect
4. Policy resistant
5. Counterintuitive
6. Long-run behavior

Question 21

“Everything influences everything else”

Answer 21

Interconnected

Question 22

Change occurs on many time scales (characteristics of complex system)

Answer 22

Dynamic

Question 23

Obvious solutions fail or actually worsen the situations (char of complex systems)

Answer 23

Policy resistant

Question 24

Systems Thinking helps us:

Answer 24

1. Represent our own mental models
2. Elicit the mental models of others
3. Discuss and challenge ideas
4. Reconcile model differences

Question 25

Purpose of Systems Thinking

Answer 25

1. Understanding how the system structure creates the behavior we observe
2. Represent short and long-term effects of actions
3. Anticipate the side effects of decisions
4. Evaluate the consequences of alternatives

Question 26

Effective leverage points are not so obvious

Answer 26

Counterintuitive