Learn Systems Thinking from two of the world’s leading experts

isee systems has partnered with two renowned experts from Innovation Associates, Michael Goodman and David Peter Stroh, to bring you an unparalleled opportunity to learn the concepts and real world practice of Systems Thinking from the masters. In the first of two courses, Systems Thinking Concepts, you will learn how to use and apply the core tools and frameworks of systems thinking including the iceberg, causal loop diagrams, system archetypes, systems mapping, and mental models.

Additional materials are required: The book Systems Thinking for Social Change by David Peter Stroh and Michael Goodman’s online course Applying Systems Thinking and Common Archetypes. A special price of $99.00 vs. $199.00 is available to people who would like to subscribe to both the self-paced Applying Systems Thinking and Common Archetypes course and the Systems Thinking Concepts course.

Course Overview

1. Overview and Systems Thinking for Change
   1. Course overview
   2. History of systems thinking
   3. Why good intentions are not enough
   4. Differences between conventional and systems thinking
   5. Why systems thinking catalyzes change
2. Iceberg and Basic Systems Language
   1. Basic systems framework - the Iceberg
   2. Systems language: introduction to reinforcing and balancing loops, s's and o's, time delay
3. Basic Archtypes
   1. Introduction to archetypes
   2. Archetype family tree
   3. Fixes that backfire
   4. Shifting the burden
4. Basic Archetypes Continued
   1. Limits to success
   2. Success to the successful
   3. Accidental adveraries
5. Additional Archetypes
   1. Remaining archetypes: Tragedy fo the Commons, drifting goals, competing goals, escalation, growth and underinvestment
   2. Introduction to stocks and flows (bathtubs)
6. Mental Models
   1. Introduction to mental models
   2. How mental models fit into systems thinking
   3. Adding mental models to systems diagrams