Udemy
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Development
Web Development Data Science Mobile Development Programming Languages Game Development Database Design & Development Software Testing Software Engineering Development Tools No-Code Development
Business
Entrepreneurship Communications Management Sales Business Strategy Operations Project Management Business Law Business Analytics & Intelligence Human Resources Industry E-Commerce Media Real Estate Other Business
Finance & Accounting
Accounting & Bookkeeping Compliance Cryptocurrency & Blockchain Economics Finance Finance Cert & Exam Prep Financial Modeling & Analysis Investing & Trading Money Management Tools Taxes Other Finance & Accounting
IT & Software
IT Certification Network & Security Hardware Operating Systems Other IT & Software
Office Productivity
Microsoft Apple Google SAP Oracle Other Office Productivity
Personal Development
Personal Transformation Personal Productivity Leadership Career Development Parenting & Relationships Happiness Esoteric Practices Religion & Spirituality Personal Brand Building Creativity Influence Self Esteem & Confidence Stress Management Memory & Study Skills Motivation Other Personal Development
Design
Web Design Graphic Design & Illustration Design Tools User Experience Design Game Design Design Thinking 3D & Animation Fashion Design Architectural Design Interior Design Other Design
Marketing
Digital Marketing Search Engine Optimization Social Media Marketing Branding Marketing Fundamentals Marketing Analytics & Automation Public Relations Advertising Video & Mobile Marketing Content Marketing Growth Hacking Affiliate Marketing Product Marketing Other Marketing
Lifestyle
Arts & Crafts Beauty & Makeup Esoteric Practices Food & Beverage Gaming Home Improvement Pet Care & Training Travel Other Lifestyle
Photography & Video
Digital Photography Photography Portrait Photography Photography Tools Commercial Photography Video Design Other Photography & Video
Health & Fitness
Fitness General Health Sports Nutrition Yoga Mental Health Dieting Self Defense Safety & First Aid Dance Meditation Other Health & Fitness
Music
Instruments Music Production Music Fundamentals Vocal Music Techniques Music Software Other Music
Teaching & Academics
Engineering Humanities Math Science Online Education Social Science Language Teacher Training Test Prep Other Teaching & Academics
AWS Certification Microsoft Certification AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CompTIA A+ Cisco CCNA Amazon AWS CompTIA Security+ AWS Certified Developer - Associate
Graphic Design Photoshop Adobe Illustrator Drawing Digital Painting InDesign Character Design Canva Figure Drawing
Life Coach Training Neuro-Linguistic Programming Personal Development Mindfulness Life Purpose Meditation Personal Transformation Neuroscience Emotional Intelligence
Web Development JavaScript React CSS Angular PHP WordPress Node.Js Python
Google Flutter Android Development iOS Development Swift React Native Dart Programming Language Mobile Development Kotlin SwiftUI
Digital Marketing Google Ads (Adwords) Social Media Marketing Google Ads (AdWords) Certification Marketing Strategy Internet Marketing YouTube Marketing Email Marketing Retargeting
SQL Microsoft Power BI Tableau Business Analysis Business Intelligence MySQL Data Analysis Data Modeling Big Data
Business Fundamentals Entrepreneurship Fundamentals Business Strategy Online Business Business Plan Startup Freelancing Blogging Home Business
Unity Game Development Fundamentals Unreal Engine C# 3D Game Development C++ 2D Game Development Unreal Engine Blueprints Blender
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Teaching & Academics Math Systems Thinking

Systems Thinking: Essential Concepts

Foundational Concepts In Systems Thinking & Theory
Rating: 4.0 out of 54.0 (79 ratings)
401 students
Created by Systems Innovation
Last updated 6/2018
English
English [Auto]
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

What you'll learn

  • You will be able to better think in systems and communicate more effectively using the vocabulary of systems theory

Requirements

  • A basic understanding of the english language is required to take this course

Description

Systems Theory

“Systems thinking is a discipline for seeing wholes. It is a framework for seeing interrelationships rather than things, for seeing patterns of change rather than static snapshots…Today systems thinking is needed more than ever because we are becoming overwhelmed by complexity.” – Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline

This course is an overview of the foundational concepts within system theory, in particular, it is focused on conveying what we call the systems paradigm that is the basic overarching principles that are common to all areas of systems thinking and theory. During the course we will be focused on systems thinking as a way of seeing the whole and the parts, seeing nonlinear causes instead of simple linear cause and effect, seeing dynamic patterns instead of flash shots of events.
Systems thinking has been defined as an approach that attempts to balance holistic and analytical reasoning. In systems theory, it is argued that the only way to fully understand something is to understand the parts in relation to the whole. Systems thinking concerns an understanding of a system by examining the linkages and interactions between the elements that compose the entire system. By taking the overall system as well as its parts into account this paradigm offers us fresh insight that is not accessible through the more traditional reductionist approach.
This course explores the foundations of systems theory, the process of reasoning call synthesis and its counterpart analysis. The central theme throughout the course will be on understanding these two basic processes of reasoning and how they relate to each other, thus enabling the student to become more effective in their reasoning and modeling.

Systems Thinking

In the first section of the course we start off by taking an overview to the systems paradigm, we will talk about how systems thinking helps us to gain an awareness to our processes of reasoning, their assumptions, strengths, and limitations. We will try to understand what paradigms in general are, before going on to talk about theories and the development of formal models.

Holism & Reductionism

In the second section, we explore the two basic approaches of holism and reductionism and their counterparts synthesis and analysis, which are the two processes of reasoning that form the foundations of systems thinking. In this section, we give a clear distinction between the two different approaches, how they interrelate and the consequences of using each approach.

Nonlinearity

The third section covers the theme of nonlinear causality, a reoccurring theme across all of the systems science. A major distinction between the analytical and synthetic approach is that between linear and nonlinear causality. In this section, we explore each and how they give very different conceptions to our understanding of cause and effect.

Relation Thinking

In the next section, we explore the relational paradigm, a way of looking at the world in terms of the connections between things, the networked patterns they form and how these shape and define the overall system. We go on to talk about the importance of interdependence and integration within systems thinking.

Process Thinking

The final section of the course is dedicated to process thinking. Systems theory sees the world in terms of constant change and macro-level processes that shape events through what are called systems archetypes. Likewise, we will talk about the key structural process of differentiation and integration that drives evolution and change within all forms of systems.

Audience

This course is designed for anyone with an interest in systems thinking and theory and should be accessible to all. By the end of the course students will have gained a new way of looking at the world, what we call the systems paradigm, that can offer fresh insight and a new approach to looking at virtually any domain of interest.

Who this course is for:

  • This course will be ideal of anyone with an interest in understanding systems thinking and theory

Course content

6 sections • 23 lectures • 2h 39m total length

  • Section Overview
    00:50
  • Preview16:42
  • What is a paradigm?
    02:35
  • Systems Awareness
    08:14
  • Formal Models
    12:57

  • Section Overview
    00:45
  • Reductionism & Holism
    12:57
  • Synthesis & Analysis
    06:09
  • Synthesis
    10:26
  • Effective Questioning
    01:54

  • Section Overview
    01:17
  • Causality Overview
    10:44
  • Linear Causality
    03:46
  • Nonlinear Causality
    12:42

  • Section Overview
    00:57
  • Relational Paradigm
    13:33
  • Interdependence
    05:42
  • Integration
    10:13

  • Section Overview
    01:35
  • Process Thinking
    07:53
  • Paradigm Shift
    04:51
  • Differentiation
    08:17

  • Conclusion
    04:24

Instructor

Systems Innovation
eLearning for systems thinkers
Systems Innovation
  • 4.1 Instructor Rating
  • 1,395 Reviews
  • 4,730 Students
  • 22 Courses

Systems Innovation is an online platform dedicated to the area of complex systems and systems change, our mission is to take the world of complexity and make it accessible to all. Systems and complex can be intimidating subjects with many sophisticated concepts, this is why we believe it is important to always start with the most essential, simplest elements of a subject making sure that students come away with a solid understanding of the core concepts behind each area. As Einstein said "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler"

Courses are curated and presented by Joss Colchester. Joss has extensive experience within the domain of complex systems both within academic research(mathematical modeling of complex system + network analysis) and has many years of practical systems engineering experience(designing and developing complex web-based information systems). He has a passion for taking abstract and complex concepts and making them concrete and accessible to as broad an audience as possible by combining clear and effective graphics with well-structured course content.


  • Udemy for Business
  • Teach on Udemy
  • Get the app
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Careers
  • Blog
  • Help and Support
  • Affiliate
  • Terms
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookie settings
  • Sitemap
  • Featured courses
Udemy
© 2021 Udemy, Inc.