Thinking in Systems

Quotes

Let’s face it. The Universe is messy. It is nonlinear, turbulent, and dynamic. It spends its time in transient behavior on its way to somewhere else, not in mathematically neat equilibria. It self-organizes and evolves. It creates diversity and uniformity. That’s what makes the world interesting, that’s what makes it beautiful, and that’s what makes it work.

A system is more than the sum of its parts . It may exhibit adaptive, dynamic, goal-seeking, self-preserving, and sometimes evolutionary behavior.

A system that optimizes for short-term results will almost inevitably produce unintended long-term consequences.

Successful businesses learn to balance between resilience and efficiency, ensuring they can withstand shocks without losing competitive advantage.

Expert Reviews

Thinking in Systems is required reading for anyone hoping to run a successful company, community, or country. Learning how to think in systems is now part of change-agent literacy. And this is the best book of its kind.

~ Hunter Lovins

When I read Thinking in Systems I am reminded of the enormity of the gap between systemic thinkers and policy makers. If this book helps narrow the gap, it will be Dana’s greatest contribution.

~ Lester Brown, founder and President, Earth Policy Institute

Dana Meadows taught a generation of students, friends, and colleagues the art and science of thinking beyond conventional boundaries. For her systems thinking included the expected things like recognizing patterns, connections, leverage points, feedback loops and also the human qualities of judgment, foresight, and kindness. She was a teacher with insight and heart. This long anticipated book, the distillation of her life’s work, is a gem.

~ David Orr, Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics, Oberlin College

Dana Meadows was one of the smartest people I ever knew, able to figure out the sensible answer to almost any problem. This book explains how she thought, and hence is of immense value to those of us who often wonder what she’d make of some new problem. A classic.

~ Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy

An inspiring sequel to Dana Meadows’ lifetime of seminal contributions to systems thinking, this highly accessible book should be read by everyone concerned with the world’s future and how we can make it as good as it possibly can be.

~ Peter H. Raven, President, Missouri Botanical Garden

Few matched Dana Meadows remarkable blend of eloquence and clarity in making systems thinking understandable. When Dana began her career, the field was esoteric and academic. Today it is the sine quo non for intelligent action in business and society. The publication of Meadows’ previously unfinished manuscript is a gift for leaders of all sorts and at all levels.

~ Peter M. Senge, author of The Fifth Discipline and The Necessary Revolution

Who should read this book

• Business Leaders and Managers: Learn how to navigate complex business environments and avoid unintended consequences of short-term decision-making.
• Policy Makers and Government Officials: Gain insights into designing effective policies by understanding the long-term impacts of systems.
• Environmentalists and Sustainability Advocates: Discover how actions affect ecological systems and the importance of sustainable practices.
• Students and Academics in Systems Theory: A foundational guide to understanding systems dynamics and the interconnectedness of various elements in systems.

Publisher’s Note

Thinking in Systems is a concise and crucial book offering insight for problem solving on scales ranging from the personal to the global. Edited by the Sustainability Institute’s Diana Wright, this essential primer brings systems thinking out of the realm of computers and equations and into the tangible world, showing readers how to develop the systems-thinking skills that thought leaders across the globe consider critical for 21st-century life.

Some of the biggest problems facing the world―war, hunger, poverty, and environmental degradation―are essentially system failures. They cannot be solved by fixing one piece in isolation from the others, because even seemingly minor details have enormous power to undermine the best efforts of too-narrow thinking.

While readers will learn the conceptual tools and methods of systems thinking, the heart of the book is grander than methodology. Donella Meadows was known as much for nurturing positive outcomes as she was for delving into the science behind global dilemmas. She reminds readers to pay attention to what is important, not just what is quantifiable, to stay humble, and to stay a learner.

In a world growing ever more complicated, crowded, and interdependent, Thinking in Systems helps readers avoid confusion and helplessness, the first step toward finding proactive and effective solutions.