What is Systems Thinking?

Question 1

Interconnected

Answer 1

adjective
Different parts or things connected to each other
* All these complex systems are interconnected in various ways that might be hard to grasp.
* Society is a web of interconnected relationships.

Question 2

Dynamics

Answer 2

noun
Forces that produce movement or change
* The dynamics within the team shifted dramatically when there was a change in leadership.
* The power dynamics within their organization is in crisis.

Question 3

A configuration of parts

Answer 3

phrase
How different elements are arranged to form a whole
* A computer’s configuration of parts determines it’s capabilities and functionality.
* Tesla cars’ configuration of parts affects their speed and overall performance.

Question 4

Nonlinear

Answer 4

adjective
Not following a straight or direct path from one event to the next
* The nonlinear nature of the internet allows for information to be shared more easily and effectively.
* Many movies rely on a nonlinear plot.

Question 5

Cause and effect

Answer 5

phrase
Describing how one event causes another
* We are studying the cause and effect of social media on mental health and wellbeing.
* Analyzing the cause and effect of economic policies can inform future decision-making.

Question 6

Cascading effects

Answer 6

adjective - noun
The chain reactions caused by an event
* The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in 2008 had cascading effects on the global economy.
* Cutting down trees in the Amazon has cascading effects on the ecosystem and biodiversity of the forrest.

Question 7

A fan-favorite

Answer 7

noun
Something that is widely popular among fans
* Their new product became an instant fan-favorite.
* That movie has remained a fan-favorite for decades.

Question 8

Condiment

Answer 8

noun
Something that is added to food to improve its taste
* Ketchup is a very popular condiment in the United States.
* Most family restaurants have various condiments on their tables.

Question 9

Well-equipped

Answer 9

adjective
Having the necessary tools / knowledge to perform a task or understand how something works
* Luckily our department was well-equipped to deal with the situation and its fallout.
* They were not well-equipped with the correct tools to perform an accurate analysis.

Question 10

Play out

Answer 10

phrasal verb
How something with conclude
* The negotiation is still ongoing, so we are not sure how things will play out.
* We are eager to see how our new marketing strategies play out.

Question 11

Readily available

Answer 11

adverb - adjective
Something is easy to obtain
* Online information on this topic is readily available.
* A vast array of apps are readily available for iPhone users.

Question 12

Unintended consequences

Answer 12

adjective - noun
The unexpected outcomes as the result of a particular action or decision
* The government’s decision to raise interest rates had some unintended consequences.
* The implementation of our new IT systems had some unintended consequences, causing much confusion.

Question 13

Institutional analysis

Answer 13

noun
The study of how an institution / organization functions
* We used institutional analysis to examine the role of certain corporate governance policies.
* This new policy was informed by institutional analysis.

Question 14

Hidden and visible flows

Answer 14

phrase
The movement of resources or information within a system, where some are easily noticed and others are not
* Informal conversations within a company is an example of hidden flows.
* We are studying both the hidden and the visible flows within social media systems.