Systems Thinking Basics: From Concepts to Causal Loops [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

~ Virginia Anderson; Lauren Johnson (Author) "Welcome to the world of systems and systems thinking!..." (more)
Key Phrases: systems thinking tools, causal loop diagram, archetype states, The Final Link, Technical Sales (more...)

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.com Sales Rank: #310,676 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 65 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 (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

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).

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good if they could bind it correctly, March 27, 2008

By	Lawrence W. Barkau "Critical Thinker" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Content is pretty good--but the publisher/binder needs to apply some systems thinking to their assembly process. All of the pages from 63 on are upside down!

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

By	S. Berg (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

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.