Systems Thinking Basics: From Concepts to Causal Loops [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Virginia Anderson (Author), Lauren Johnson (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Pegasus Communications (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883823129
• ISBN-13: 978-1883823122
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #417,259 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best used as a course book, June 21, 2002

By 

Mike Tarrani "www.tarrani.com" (Deltona, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Systems Thinking Basics: From Concepts to Causal Loops (Paperback)

At 144 pages this book is a short introductory text and workbook that is designed to introduce systems thinking. It starts by building an awareness of systems thinking as a discipline, and by providing a series of learning activities that lead you through the basics.

The two main techniques that this book teaches are (1) behavior over time graphs and causal loops, both of which are the main tools employed in systems thinking. These are also the foundation of system dynamics of which systems thinking is a subset (system dynamics uses expanded techniques such as simulation models and analysis of alternatives).

What I like about this book is the clear explanation of the basics and the use of illustrations and learning activities. I also like the summaries of system archetypes and system thinking tools included in the appendices, which provide starting points for further study. It's not the best book for self-study because it is written more as a workbook than an introductory text. As such it is best used in an instructor-led course, or in conjunction with more in-depth books about system thinking (my favorite is Systems Thinking: Managing Chaos and Complexity by Jamshid Gharajedaghi).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Generated lots of ah ha moments, November 1, 2009

By 

S. Berg (USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Systems Thinking Basics: From Concepts to Causal Loops (Paperback)

This book is a quick and easy read...packed full of great ideas. Reading it got me to apply organizational behavior knowledge I already had in a different way. Lots of ah ha moments while reading. I'd recommend this to people who are responsible for analyzing/solving problems in an organization. I've already recommended this to others I know.

5 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Academic Text, June 26, 2007

By 

G. C. Obi "GCO" (Hammond, IN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Systems Thinking Basics: From Concepts to Causal Loops (Paperback)

Fairly good text book, while it explained the use and need for CLD's it fails to provide a first reader on how to actually draw the loops! It does not guide or recoomend what software to use in doing the drawing... we are all not technical drawers.....