What is systems thinking?
Written by Laurie Davies
Reviewed by Kathryn Uhles, MIS, MSP, Dean, College of Business and IT
Have you ever met people who see things from a 10,000-foot view? They look at the big picture rather than get derailed by details, and they’re good at assessing problems before taking action. Such people are probably good “systems thinkers.” Let’s explore the method systems thinkers use, its key elements, examples and ideas on how to use systems-level thinking in education.
What is systems thinking?
Systems thinking is a way to approach issues by looking at them as systems. Rather than considering only how to solve an immediate problem, you consider how all of the pieces connect to make the whole.
Here’s a simple example. Let’s say you’ve got a piece of machinery in which one pesky gear keeps breaking. Instead of replacing that same gear over and over, a systems thinking approach might look at the gear’s construction and design (casting, forging, metallurgy), the operational conditions (weight, friction, torque, noise), the environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, sanitation), and the maintenance (cleanliness, lubrication). Various interconnected factors could be affecting the gear’s performance and durability.
An iceberg metaphor is often used to describe this approach. With an iceberg, there’s what we see above the water and the much bigger, unseen portion underwater.
Continuing with this metaphor, a systems thinker might approach a problem by asking:
- What could be under the surface that we don’t see?
- What are the conditions (budgets, resources) that influence the problem?
- What issues, people or systems are working together to create what is seen above the water?
- What ripple effects might be created by our ideas/solutions?
Six key elements of systems thinking
Six building blocks 
are key to understanding this process:
- Interconnections: Projects and people are connected. The approach identifies those connections and considers all of them.
- Emergence: This is the phenomenon of a larger idea, function, property or outcome that results from the interaction of smaller parts. It often is a better solution than could be gleaned from simply looking at the individual parts in isolation.
- Synthesis: This means combining two or more components in a system to form something new that helps us understand the entire system better or to build a better system.
- Feedback loops: Feedback loops illustrate via charts or diagrams the feedback between various parts of a system.
- Causality: Causality looks at how one thing influences others in an interconnected system.
- Systems mapping: Systems mapping is the chart or flow that will inform decision-making.
For this process to work, buy-in from the top-down and bottom-up is essential.
What is a systems thinker?
A systems thinker is someone who is able to look at a complex system and consider its interconnectedness and interdependencies, not just its isolated components.
Effective systems thinkers usually have an open mind and think holistically, rather than rely on a predictable formula or a linear approach. Those who operate from a systems thinker's perspective:
- Are curious
- Find root causes
- Have an open mind
- Are good listeners
A systems approach to thinking often involves considering a number of components, including humans, machinery or equipment, and the environment, and how they work together.
One example in the workplace is organizing supply chains, which are highly complex and often involve multiple suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and customers. Another example is project management, which involves designing schedules, considering competing priorities and anticipating potential delays to make sure that projects can be completed on time and within budget.
Those who have an interest in this type of analysis may want to consider a bachelor’s degree in data science to help them gain the necessary education to succeed in this role. With a wide range of applicable industries, a degree in data science is an option for enhancing or beginning a new career.
Application of systems thinking across industries
The application of systems thinking is used across a wide range of fields and industries, especially business, healthcare and education.
Systems thinking in healthcare
Systems thinking in healthcare can help with everything from improving patient outcomes to developing a more streamlined billing process. Examples of systems thinking in this industry include:
- Considering social, cultural and emotional factors affecting a patient’s health to identify optimal treatment
- Figuring out how to improve quality of care by integrating treatment plans across primary care facilities, specialists, and urgent or emergency care
- Analyzing data on demographics, healthcare usage and disease to improve population health and services within communities
Systems thinking in business
Although various departments within a company may be working toward a common goal, they may also be competing for the same resources, implementing different project requirements, or prioritizing different outcomes for success. The ability to design effective solutions and anticipate issues ahead of time is critical to business success. Knowing how to apply systems thinking to business processes and operations management can help to ensure that departments are working together rather than against each other.
This approach can be applied to business situations such as:
- Managing airline fleet maintenance, setting flight schedules and arranging sufficient staffing
- Planning a marketing campaign while also considering customer personas, budgets, legal constraints and competitors’ efforts
- Implementing new customer-service software that may require additional employee training or reveal incompatibilities in other systems
Those interested in applying systems thinking in business will want to consider a bachelor’s degree in management or an operations management certificate to begin their career.
Systems thinking in education
Systems thinking provides a powerful framework for understanding and addressing the interconnected factors that affect teaching and learning. This thinking can help educators and administrators develop strategies to better support students as well as the institutions themselves.
What does this approach look like in education? It can include:
- Developing lessons and programs that build on past learning and are appropriate for the student’s age and educational level
- Ensuring programs are aligned with required competencies and current and future workforce needs
- Assessing learning outcomes to identify areas for improvement or gaps in curricula and programming
In all of these fields, questions like “What am I not seeing here?” or “What's under the iceberg that I don’t understand?” can help you begin to grasp the whole system.
Learn more about systems thinking
If you’re interested in learning more about the mechanics of systems thinking and the ways it can be applied in business, healthcare, education and other fields, University of Phoenix offers:
- Bachelor of Science in Data Science
- Bachelor of Science in Management
- Operations Management Certificate
- Project Management Certificate (Undergraduate)
Contact University of Phoenix for more information.
Michael Marticek, DBA, MBA
Instructor, University of Phoenix
"With systems thinking, you solve problems by investigating factors and outcomes of those factors on your work. It gets made to sound so tricky. But it’s really just logic."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A journalist-turned-marketer, Laurie Davies has been writing since her high school advanced composition teacher told her she broke too many rules. She has worked with University of Phoenix since 2017, and currently splits her time between blogging and serving as lead writer on the University’s Academic Annual Report. Previously, she has written marketing content for MADD, Kaiser Permanente, Massage Envy, UPS, and other national brands. She lives in the Phoenix area with her husband and son, who is the best story she’s ever written.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Currently Dean of the College of Business and Information Technology, Kathryn Uhles has served University of Phoenix in a variety of roles since 2006. Prior to joining University of Phoenix, Kathryn taught fifth grade to underprivileged youth in Phoenix.
This article has been vetted by University of Phoenix's editorial advisory committee.
Read more about our editorial process.