1. Systems Thinking

(a sub-section of Co-creative Learning Teams)

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A way to map complexity

1. We need appropriate terminology if we are to grasp how teams work.
2. But this will not necessarily offer us insights that are joined-up and coherent.
3. Systems thinking encourages us to see any complex entity as a system.
4. For example, it means we could compare teams with living organisms or organisations.

1. Ecosystems use diversity, self-coordination and adaptation to survive.
2. But even a complex ecosystem can be conceptualised as a Black Box.
3. We might start by measuring what goes in and what comes out (i.e. inputs and outputs).
4. We can therefore observe its behaviour rather than thinking about its vast internal complexities.
5. This helps us to imagine what interior pathways and rules cause these effects.

A steering system presented as a 'black box'

Cybernetics

1. The Black Box analogy emerged from a systems discipline called Cybernetics.
2. The word comes from the Ancient Greek for 'oarsperson' (i.e. someone who steers a boat).
3. In systemic terms most vehicles 'steer', whether they have wheels, legs, wings, or fins.
4. In this broad sense, teams also steer themselves (e.g. around financial or logical obstacles).
5. In understanding steering, feedback is an important concept.
6. In order to stay on the cycle path you must remain aware of the effects of your actions.
7. Seeing where you are going is called feedback in systemic terms.

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The Whole Course

1. Systems Thinking
2. Self-management
3. Living systems
4. Team consciousness
5. Team synergy
6. Team sizes
7. Team diversity
8. Lucky Teams
9. Team Tools
10. Heart to Heart