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TB871: Avoiding traps in conventional thinking

Posted on by Doug Belshaw

Note: this is a post reflecting on one of the modules of my MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice. You can see all of the related posts in this category. 

There are some really useful spray diagrams in the module materials. However, they all look very similar, with blue boxes and lines. I rely quite a lot on colour to help remember and differentiate things, so I’ve recreated them in Whimsical to help with that.

I’ve listed the three traps to conventional thinking below, along with systems approaches which were designed to counter these tendencies. The five systems approaches mentioned are described in a previous post.

A flowchart titled "Trap 1: Reductionism" illustrating the consequences of simplifying complex situations into fewer variables.

[Trap 1] is a concern about having a limited understanding of a situation because of silo thinking or narrow-mindedness. The two approaches that have traditionally addressed this are System Dynamics (SD) and the Viable System Model (VSM).

The Open University (2020), my emphasis/reformatting
Flowchart diagram illustrating "Trap 2: Dogmatism" in conventional thinking with a circular arrangement of purple nodes connected by arrows, outlining the cycle of adopting conformist perspectives leading to self-righteousness and reduction in perspectives, which results in fear, anger, and alienation, reinforcing the cycle.

[Trap 2] is a concern about the restrictive practice of ‘engaging’ through ignoring other perspectives of the situation. The two approaches that have traditionally addressed this issue are Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA) and Soft Systems Methodology (SSM).

The Open University (2020), my emphasis/reformatting
Conceptual diagram of 'Trap 3: Holism and Pluralism', showing flow between system holistic and pluralistic approaches to reductionism, dogmatism, and a central idea of complex situations with many perspectives. Arrows illustrate a cycle of thought reinforcing beliefs in holism and pluralism.

[Trap 3] is a concern about avoiding responsibility for boundary judgements often made in situations without awareness (e.g. focusing on road transport rather than all means of transport) by making them explicit with systems thinking in practice. The approach that has addressed this issue is Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH). 

The Open University (2020), my emphasis/reformatting

References

TB872: The main systemic influences now operating in my situation of concern (S2)

Posted on by Doug Belshaw

Note: this is a post reflecting on one of the modules of my MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice. You can see all of the related posts in this category. 

Influence map showing various actors within the DCC ecosystem

The above is an attempt at an ‘influence diagram’ for my Systemic Inquiry 2 (S2). I’m not particularly happy with it, as I don’t think I’ve done a good enough job of explaining what’s going on. I also feel like I’ve missed something obvious.

However, the approaches I used in previous posts didn’t quite cut it. For example, this one not only took a long time to make but included ‘things’ (e.g. the DCC website) and not just people:

DCC ecosystem map made using kumu.io

The one below is my favourite as I think it’s the clearest. However, it’s talking about DCC’s audiences from a communications perspective, rather than the influence that different actors have within the ecosystem:

A diagram showing primary and secondary audiences of the DCC (unfinished work)

Given that diagrams are supposed to be snapshots based on a particular observers view of the system, I feel like these three combine to give me a better understanding of what’s going on. Perhaps because I’ve been so involved in this world for the last 13 years, I know that there’s so much more going on. I just don’t want to boil the ocean when, like Daniel Bedingfield, I gotta get thru this.

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