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A Dive into “Thinking in Systems” book by Donella H. Meadows
My summary and notes hoping they help you understand if you want to get deeper into the book, or just scrap the surface with this (I’ll try to be short) summary.
I recently turned the last page of “Thinking in Systems” by Donella H. Meadows, a text that walks us through the entwining pathways of systems that constitute our world. Before we venture into the heart of this read, I’d like to share my personal thoughts on it: while I found the theme interesting, I also found it a bit heavy on theory with not as much practical application as I would have liked. It seemed to lack a direct pathway to employ the knowledge shared in improving one’s life or the lives of those around us.
Now, without further ado, let’s delve into the heart of this system-centric universe.
Understanding The World of Systems
Meadows uncovers the complex, interconnected web of systems that make up our world. In this book, a ‘system’ is described as an interconnected set of elements that are organized to achieve something specific. What’s vital to remember here is that understanding a system goes beyond merely recognizing its elements — it is equally about comprehending the interconnections and functions that orchestrate its operations.
An interesting perspective shared in the book is the human tendency to focus more on stocks and inflows rather than outflows. The example provided about filling a bathtub by either increasing the inflow rate or decreasing the outflow rate encapsulates this concept nicely. It’s a gentle nudge for us to expand our perspective and see the entire picture instead of just parts of it.
“The human mind seems to focus more easily on stocks than on flows. On top of that, when we do focus on flows, we tend to focus on inflows more easily than on outflows. Therefore, we sometimes miss seeing that we can fill a bathtub not only by increasing the inflow rate but also by decreasing the outflow rate.”
Dynamic Behaviors and Feedback Loops
The core of systems’ behaviors is heavily influenced by stocks and flows. Meadows enlightens readers on the concept of feedback processes, which give insight into the fluctuations…
