Overview

Systems Mapping is an essential and deeply practical skill that makes Systems Thinking visible and tangible. It provides a strong structure for effective information visualisation that can help leaders quickly examine and decipher discrete patterns of complex systems to optimise decision making.

SM201 is a self-paced online course that guides participants in mapping any system, regardless of their level of complexity. Get ready to use hands-on examples in Plectica Systems Mapping software, allowing you to practice making beautiful and easily understandable maps. Through this programme, participants will learn skills that they can use in any software or medium.

Learning Objectives

1. Refine distinctions using card elements (i.e., title, summary text, webpage/map URL, image, video, other media, colour, and attribute)
2. Question, refine, or redefine the way you label or identify things using the “Distinctions identity ⇄ other” (Dio) Thinking Structure.
3. Deepen meaning of existing cards by adding parts.
4. Re-organise and re-arrange cards to convey and clarify meaning.
5. Build robust subsystems using freehand layout.
6. Compress top-level systems to clarify meaning.
7. Use colour to create systems across the map content.
8. As you consider the parts of your system (the various cards), be mindful of the gaps and look for overlaps.
9. Use relationship lines to connect ideas.
10. Differentiate relationship lines with directional arrows, colour, and weight.
11. Improve map readability and clarify meaning by distinguishing/labelling relationship lines (aka, RDs).
12. Improve map readability and clarify meaning by adding parts to relationship line distinctions (aka, RDSs or “zooming into Rs”).
13. Use perspective to reframe, prioritise cards, or change the view of your map.
14. Use perspective to develop a set of stopping rules to close out an analysis.
15. Use a large-scale model as a Perspectival-point (Pp) to alter another set cards as a Perspectival-view (Pv).
16. Mix and match Distinctions, Systems, Relationships, and Perspectives in a fractal and recursive way to evolve your map.
17. Avoid reinventing the wheel by identifying cognitive jigs.
18. Use waypoints to help walk people through a nonlinear system in a linear order.
19. Utilise all the non-cognitive features of Plectica and differentiate between cognitive architecture and non-cognitive features.
20. Collaboratively build, share, and evolve maps.

At the end of the programme, you should be able to:

• Visualise and model complex systems
• Optimise your maps with best practices and techniques
• Deepen your understanding of complex systems and be able to communicate ideas more effectively

Overview

To succeed and thrive in today’s increasingly interconnected world, the ability to understand complex systems, think fluidly, and solve complex problems is essential.

Systems Thinking 101 (ST101) is a self-paced online course that provides concrete systems thinking tools you can apply to analyse complex situations. Participants will be introduced to systems thinking concepts, principles, and practices to improve existing processes, operations, and thinking patterns. Through this programme, participants will learn to gather insights by deciphering and understanding the dynamics and interconnectedness of systems at play to make better decisions.

Learning Objectives

1. Use USBISP paradigm of systems thinking (Understand the System Before Identifying or Solving the Problem).
2. Can distinguish between and relate Systems Thinking, Systems Mapping and Systems Leadership.
3. Identify the elements (simple rules, agents, interaction effects, emergent property) of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS).
4. Articulate how Systems Thinking (DSRP) is foundational to the “8 types of thinking.”
5. Articulate the relationship between a global list of human crises and the root crisis (a thinking crisis).
6. Articulate the 4 ways that DSRP is foundational to Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Analytical Intelligence (IQ).
7. Articulate the mismatch between Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Adaptive (VUCA) and Linear, Anthropocentric, Mechanistic, and Ordered (LAMO) and why it’s important.
8. Recognise names and use cases of the top systems models and approaches (i.e., The 4 Waves of Systems Thinking).
9. Demonstrate ability to predict behaviour/action from mental models and reverse-engineer behaviour/action to mental models.
10. Using DSRP verbal and/or visual language, spontaneously reify mental models using pen and paper drawings or objects.
11. Decipher real-world scenarios using:
    1. Systems Thinking Iceberg model
    2. Systems Thinking Loop model
    3. Systems Thinking mental model = information + thinking (m=i+t) model.
12. Commit to memory the DSRP Thinking Structures and their Elements.
13. Using the DSRP Thinking Structures and their Elements to verbally express your thinking.

At the end of the programme, you should be able to:

• Deepen your understanding of the what, why, and how systems thinking
• Enhance the logic you use to solve problems
• Analyse and model changes to complex systems
• Communicate the complexities and associations within a system

Overview

This 3-day programme aims to equip managers with perspectives and tools to better understand system complexity and to use systems thinking to formulate more effective strategies for problem solving and managing change.

A combination of learning methodologies will also be used. These include lectures, short presentations, videos, interactive learning activities, experiential learning, individual reflection, and group dialogue.

Programme Outline

1. What is Systems Leadership?
2. Shifting to the Systems Perspective
   • Systems Thinking Maxims; Understanding Complexity and Types of Problems; Complexity Mindset
   • Mapping our Systems View
3. Systemic Diagnosis
   • Introduction to Levels of Perspective (LOP) Framework
4. Overview of Language & Tools of Systems Thinking
   • Reinforcing and Balancing Feedback
   • Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs)
   • Behaviour-over-time Graphs (BOT graphs)
   • Mapping Systemic Structures using Causal Loop Diagrams
5. Systems Archetypes
6. From Diagnostic to Systemic Intervention
   • Developing Effective Interventions
   • Identifying Systemic Interventions
7. Practicing Systems Leadership and becoming an effective Systems Leader
   • Revisit Systems Leadership Roles & Qualities of Systems Leaders
   • What do effective Systems Leaders do? Map learning to Habits of Systems Leaders.
   • 5 Stage View of becoming a Systems Leader

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the programme, you should be able to:

• Understand the concept of Systems Leadership.
• List and explain the key Systems Thinking maxims.
• Understand the concept of complexity and how it relates to the different types of problems.
• Understand what is a system view and know how to map one.
• Use Behaviour–Over-Time (BOT) Graphs to map co-relationships in systems.
• Use Levels of Perspective (LOP) as a diagnostic tool for complex problems.
• Construct Causal loop Diagrams (CLD) to respect systemic structures.
• Identify higher leverage actions for more effective system intervention.
• Identify the different Systems Archetypes and explain how to manage them effectively.
• List and explain the steps from systemic diagnosis to intervention.
• List the key system leadership principles and attributes of an effective Systems Leader.

Overview

In today’s world, we work in and work through systems. Systems are force multipliers – but they also create problems that are complex and multi-faceted. To be effective, we need to be able to appreciate the system and its power; if not, we will be overwhelmed by the system – much like 6 blind men each feeling a part of an elephant. This programme introduces an approach to managing complexity using Systems Thinking. It enables the participants to appreciate the BIG picture and the inter-connections within the system. The participants will gain an insight into separating symptoms from real causes, and find high leverage points to implement effective solutions.

Through this programme, participants will increase their problem-solving capability, thereby bringing long-lasting efficiency and improvement at the workplace. In addition, the ability to appreciate the big picture enables them to formulate strategies, leading to aligned effort, less wastage, and ultimately improved revenue and profit margins.

Programme Outline

1. Concept of Systems Thinking
2. Framework for Systems Thinking (5 levels The Iceberg Model)
   • What is happening? – Establishing the facts
   • What is the real problem? – Separating symptom from root cause
   • What is causing the problem? – Appreciating the underlying structures
   • Why is this happening? – Vision and Mental Model
   • Application of Systems Thinking (Problem Solving, Strategy Creation, Culture Change)

At the end of the programme, you should be able to:

• Analyse an issue in terms of components and their inter-connections
• Synthesise perspectives from different stakeholders into a coherent picture
• Assess the situation with a systems-level perspective
• Identify the symptoms, root cause and consequences of a complex issue
• Adopt new paradigm and new mindset to reframe a problem
• Resolve the complex issue by creating effective solutions

Trainer Bio – Tan Hong Wee

Tan Hong Wee is an organisation development consultant who specialises in Systems Thinking, Design Thinking, Coaching and Facilitation. He has delivered countless application and education workshops for organisations such as Singapore Armed Forces, Singtel, BASF, ST Engineering, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Ministry of Education, Ren Ci Community Hospital, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, DSO National Laboratories and URA. Hong Wee has extensive experience in applying Systems Thinking, having helped many organisations diagnose their problems and creating effective solutions. The experience and insight from these real life cases make his workshops pragmatic, relevant and totally relatable for everyone. Hong Wee holds a M.A. (Mathematics) from Cambridge University, UK and a M.Sc. (Systems Engineering) from Naval Postgraduate School, USA. He is an accredited coach with the International Coach Federation.