Systems level thinking

System level thinking

What makes a forest a forest? Is it the animals? Is it the trees? Is it the location? If you take a bunch of trees, soil, and animals and put them together do you have a forest? The chances are not, because you don’t have the weather patterns, seasons, non living organisms, food chains, and many more pieces that make up the system as a whole.

Why is thinking like this important? Understanding the entire system and how our actions fit it help us see the bigger picture. For example, It allows us to see the broader context which in turn enables us to come up with more sustainable solutions, understand and solve complex problem, and see how we fit into the larger picture. Whether it’s economics, technology systems, environmental systems, or business adopting a system level thinking approach will let you see the forest through the trees.