Structure changes behavior

A system is a set of things interconnected that produce a pattern of behavior over time.

The behavior of the system cannot be known just by knowing the parts from which it’s made. More than the sum of its parts.

System: Interconnected set of elements coherently organized in a way to achieve something.

A set of things that aren’t interconnected isn’t a system.

Intangibles like “pride” can also be part of a system.

Systems can be subsystems of other systems.

Stocks and flows

Stocks: present memory of the history of changing flows in the system.

Flow: how things flow.

All models — mental or mathematical — are simplifications of the world.

System thinkers see the world as a collection of feedback processes. (Stocks and flows)

Reinforcing loops create exponential effects / growth.

“The goal of all theory is to make the basic elements as few and simple as possible without having to surrender the adequate representation of experience.” - Einstein

Dominant loops determine behavior of system more.

Balancing loops are there. Almost Nothing can grow extremely fast indefinitely. Nothing physical can grow indefinitely.

Resilience has a limit.

The ability for systems to self-organize (make themselves more complex) is very powerful. Very common in living systems, because learning and evolution do that. It’s the ability to learn, diversify, and make itself more complex. It can arise from very simple rules.

Complex systems can evolve from simpler systems only if there are stable intermediate forms