Learning Systems Thinking

Learning Systems Thinking

by Diana Montalion
Released July 2024
Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ISBN: 9781098151331

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Book description

A decade ago, developers built information-sharing software by writing a lot of custom code in a single code base, then adding layers of caching. Now we build information systems: interdependent software and services, data platforms, and event streams. Many of our software-to-systems initiatives fail, though, and when they do, we double down on traditional linear approaches. But linear thinking cannot resolve systems challenges. We need to shift to systems thinking.

This book shows software developers and architects how systems thinking can guide you through the emerging complexity of modern systems. Author Diana Montalion presents a vision of technology architecture that transforms how we learn, communicate, and collaborate with others. Through practical examples and scenarios, you'll learn how to develop critical self-reflection and decision-making skills amid complexity and uncertainty—and lead impactful cultural change within your organization.

You'll learn:

  • How linear thinking limits your perspective on software systems
  • The obstacles to changing your perspective and how to move past them
  • How systems and nonlinear thinking help you understand and navigate complex issues arising from internal and external factors
  • Methods for creating sound, cross-functional recommendations in the midst of complexity and uncertainty
  • How nonlinear approaches improve the quality of architectural thinking and deliver impactful change for organizations
  • How to provide a modern style of leadership as software becomes information systems

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Table of contents

  1. Preface
    1. From Nowhere to Everywhere
    2. From Software to Systems
    3. Technology Design is Communication Design
  2. I. Introduction to Systems Thinking
  3. 1. A System of Thinking
    1. In This Chapter
    2. Linear Thinking is the Default
    3. Systems Thinking is Nonlinear
    4. What is Systems Thinking?
      1. Systems Thinking is a Practice
    5. Qualities of a Systems Thinker
    6. Systems Thinking as Leadership
      1. Riding on the Front of the Train
    7. How to Get the Most From This Book
    8. Summary
      1. Practices
      2. Questions for Your Journal
  4. 2. Systems Thinking is Relationship Design
    1. How relationships produce effects
    2. In This Chapter
    3. Creating Conceptual Integrity
    4. Counterintuitiveness
    5. A Basic System: Everything in Flux
      1. A System of Ideas
    6. Systems Thinking is Sociotechnical
      1. Time is Always a Factor
    7. Summary
      1. Practices
      2. Questions for Your Journal
  5. 3. Shifting Your Perspective
    1. In This Chapter
    2. The Iceberg That Sinks Our Initiatives
    3. Modeling as a Core Practice
    4. Five Core Practices
    5. Learning a Different Language
      1. Mago’s Quandary
      2. Mago’s Quandary: Examples of Nonlinear Approaches
    6. Mindshifts are Hard
    7. Summary
      1. Practices
      2. Questions for Your Journal
  6. II. You Are a System of Thinking
  7. 4. Self-Awareness as a Foundational Skill
    1. In This Chapter
    2. Notice Your Thinking
      1. The First Practice
      2. Alternative Practices
    3. Everything in our Blindspots
    4. Decision Making is a Noisy Process
    5. Things Self-awareness Taught Me
    6. Summary
      1. Practices
      2. Questions for Your Journal
  8. 5. Replace Reacting with Responding
    1. In This Chapter
    2. Noticing Your Reactions
    3. Create Space for Your Reactions
      1. Opinion-driven as Normal
      2. The Stories Don’t Have to be the Same
    4. The Tyranny of Understanding
    5. The Practices
      1. “Yes, and …”
      2. The 24-hour Rule
      3. Breathe
      4. Go for a Walk
      5. Make a Snack or Take a Nap
      6. Write
      7. Notice Your Triggers: They are Clues
    6. Summary
      1. Practices
      2. Questions for Your Journal
  9. 6. A System of Learning
    1. In This Chapter
    2. What is Learning?
      1. Learning is Conceptual Architecture
      2. A Learning-Driven Career
      3. Developing Personal Mastery
      4. Prioritize Solitude
      5. Mastering Disciplines
    3. A System of Support
      1. Practice Metacognition
      2. Proactively Integrate Other People’s Thinking With Your Own
      3. Apply What You Learn to Real World Challenges
      4. Do Deep Work
      5. Design Feedback Loops
      6. One Day at a Time, Forever
    4. Summary
      1. Practices
      2. Questions for Your Journal
  10. III. We Are a System of Thinking
  11. 7. Collective Systemic Reasoning
    1. In This Chapter
    2. What is Systemic Reasoning?
      1. How Systemic Reasoning is Collective
      2. Systemic Reasoning has Other Names
      3. Systemic Reasoning is Building an Idea
      4. Systemic Reasoning Structures (and Frames) Ambiguity
    3. Strengthening the Reasons
      1. Understandable
      2. Reliable
      3. Relevant
      4. Cohesive
      5. Cogent
    4. Using the Iceberg Framework
    5. Summary
    6. Practices
    7. Questions for Your Journal
  12. 8. Designing Feedback Loops
    1. In This Chapter
    2. Building Conceptual Bridges
      1. Mind the Gaps
      2. Point of View Blindness
      3. The Bridges
    3. Systems Thinking Needs Feedback Loops
      1. How Do You Design One?
    4. Four Core Skills
      1. How to Listen
      2. Change Your Own Mind
      3. Engage with the Reasons
      4. Look for Fallacies
    5. Summary
    6. Practices
    7. Questions for Your Journal
  13. 9. Pattern Thinking
    1. In This Chapter
    2. What is Pattern Thinking?
      1. Counterintuitiveness, Again
    3. How Relationships Produce Effect
      1. Modeling Patterns
      2. Same Event; Different Patterns
      3. Where to Look For Patterns
      4. Three Types of Patterns
      5. Seven Pattern Thinking Questions
    4. Mago: Looking at the Patterns
      1. Patterns in Relationship
      2. External, Technology System and Process Patterns
      3. Applying the Seven Questions to Mago
    5. Summary
      1. Practices
      2. Questions for Your Journal
  14. IV. Designing a System of Thinking
  15. 10. Modeling, Together
    1. In This Chapter
    2. What is Modeling?
      1. A Real World Example
      2. Diagramming vs Modeling
      3. Design Thinking
      4. There’s No One Way
      5. Start Small
      6. A Small Model with Big Impact: Top-Down Elaboration
      7. System Modeling is About Relationships
    3. Taking a Systems Perspective
      1. What Do We Model?
      2. MAGO from a Systems Perspective
    4. Summary
      1. Resources
      2. Questions for Your Journal
  16. 11. Systems Leadership
    1. In This Chapter
    2. The Paradigm We Work In
    3. We Learn to Work
      1. What Systems Leadership is Not
    4. Characteristics of Systems Leadership
      1. Architecting Communication Structures
      2. Integrative Leadership
      3. Systems Design
      4. Finding Places to Intervene
      5. Be Like Albert and Challenge Paradigms
    5. A System of Learning
      1. Developing a System of Learning
      2. Seven Learning Heuristics
    6. Systems Leadership for MAGO 
    7. Summary
      1. Resources
      2. Questions for Your Journal
  17. 12. Redefining Success
    1. In This Chapter
    2. What is Success?
      1. Success Depends on Perspective
      2. Success is Not Submission (But is Empathy)
      3. Success is Improving Conceptual Integrity
      4. Success is a Paradigm Shift
    3. Success for MAGO
    4. OKRs for Systems Leaders
      1. Objective: Cultivate Conceptual Integrity in Solution Recommendations
      2. Objective: Plant Seeds of Knowledge
      3. Objective: Encourage Knowledge to Grow
    5. Summary of Success
      1. Systems Thinking
      2. A System of Thinking
      3. Shifting Your Perspective
      4. Metacognition
      5. Systemic Reasoning
      6. Systems Leadership
    6. Summary
    7. Resources
    8. Questions for Your Journal
  18. About the Author

Product information

  • Title: Learning Systems Thinking
  • Author(s): Diana Montalion
  • Release date: July 2024
  • Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
  • ISBN: 9781098151331