{"id":703,"date":"2022-03-28T18:23:14","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T22:23:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/decolonizingengineering\/?post_type=chapter&p=703"},"modified":"2022-08-04T15:12:14","modified_gmt":"2022-08-04T19:12:14","slug":"systems-thinking-2","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/decolonizingengineering\/chapter\/systems-thinking-2\/","title":{"raw":"Systems Thinking","rendered":"Systems Thinking"},"content":{"raw":"https:\/\/learning.video.ubc.ca\/id\/0_qgq1h7vf?width=608&height=402&playerId=23448773\r\n
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Watch this Training Video on \"Systems Thinking.\" Download the audio podcast of this video<\/a> [Download Link].<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

What is Systems Thinking?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n[pb_glossary id=\"557\"]Systems thinking[\/pb_glossary] is a crucial concept to understand before engaging with Indigenous communities, but even if you aren\u2019t working with Indigenous communities, it is important for all engineers to be somewhat familiar with the topic. There are three types of systems we are likely to encounter as engineers: Simple, Complicated, and Complex. (Blignaut, 2019)\r\n\r\n[pb_glossary id=\"326\"]Simple systems[\/pb_glossary] have known knowns (AKA all the variables are known), so they are solvable. For example, the equation of a line with a known x or y value is solvable. The cause and effects in this system are clear.\r\n\r\n[pb_glossary id=\"440\"]Complicated[\/pb_glossary]\u00a0systems have known unknowns, like a large system of equations that can be only solved with a matrix. In this case, the cause & effect relationships are separated by space & time. You can utilize systems thinking to solve these systems.\r\n\r\nLastly, there are\u00a0<\/i>[pb_glossary id=\"328\"]complex\u00a0systems[\/pb_glossary]. [pb_glossary id=\"328\"]Complex systems[\/pb_glossary] have unknown unknowns, so you don\u2019t know the framework or the variables. The cause & effect relationships aren\u2019t repeated, and the system is only coherent in retrospect.\r\n\r\nFor example, your household is a\u00a0<\/i>[pb_glossary id=\"326\"]simple\u00a0[\/pb_glossary]system. There\u2019s you, maybe a spouse, maybe kids or elders that depend on you, and maybe a pet. You can easily map that system in terms of who is related to who. However, what if you try to map your entire family tree? Who do you include? Your parents, your cousins? Your in-laws? What about your cousins\u2019 spouses and their parents? Or your child\u2019s spouse? Do you define family by blood, the law, something else, or a combination? That system is\u00a0[pb_glossary id=\"440\"]complicated[\/pb_glossary].\r\n

Sources<\/h1>\r\n

Blignaut, S. (2019, August 19).\u00a07 Differences between complex and complicated [blog post].<\/em>\u00a0Noteworthy.<\/em> Retrieved from https:\/\/blog.usejournal.com\/7-differences-between-complex-and-complicated-fa44e0844606<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Mindtools. (2016).\u00a0The Cynefin Framework. Mindtools.<\/em> Retrieved from https:\/\/www.mindtools.com\/pages\/article\/cynefin-framework.htm<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Poli, R. (2013). A Note on the Difference Between Complicated and Complex Social Systems.\u00a0Cadmus Journal<\/em>, 142-147. Retrieved from\u00a0https:\/\/www.cadmusjournal.org\/files\/pdfreprints\/vol2issue1\/reprint-cj-v2-i1-complex-vs-complicated-systems-rpoli.pdf<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Additional Reading<\/h1>\r\nIf you are interested in exploring complex systems in the engineering context, take a look at these resources:\r\n

Ottino, J.M. (2004). Engineering complex systems. Nature<\/em>, 427, p. 399. Available at https:\/\/www.nico.northwestern.edu\/documents\/engineering-complex-systems.pdf<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Sheard, S.A. and Mostashari, A. (2009), Principles of complex systems for systems engineering.\u00a0<\/span>Syst. Engin.<\/em>, 12: 295-311. DOI:\u00a0<\/span>10.1002\/sys.20124<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\nBelow are some civil engineering specific resources on complex systems:\r\n

<\/i>Bertelsen, Sven & Sven. (2003). Construction as a Complex System [conference proceedings].<\/span>\u00a0Proceedings for the 11th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction.<\/em>\u00a0Retrieved from\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/236841812_Construction_as_a_Complex_System<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Ellinas, C. (2019) Perspective: organisations as complex systems. Civil Engineering and Environmental Systems<\/em>, 35(1-4), pp. 1-5. DOI: 10.1080\/10286608.2019.1615472<\/a><\/p>","rendered":"

https:\/\/learning.video.ubc.ca\/id\/0_qgq1h7vf?width=608&height=402&playerId=23448773<\/p>\n

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Watch this Training Video on “Systems Thinking.” Download the audio podcast of this video<\/a> [Download Link].<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

What is Systems Thinking?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Systems thinking<\/a> is a crucial concept to understand before engaging with Indigenous communities, but even if you aren\u2019t working with Indigenous communities, it is important for all engineers to be somewhat familiar with the topic. There are three types of systems we are likely to encounter as engineers: Simple, Complicated, and Complex. (Blignaut, 2019)<\/p>\n

Simple systems<\/a> have known knowns (AKA all the variables are known), so they are solvable. For example, the equation of a line with a known x or y value is solvable. The cause and effects in this system are clear.<\/p>\n

Complicated<\/a>\u00a0systems have known unknowns, like a large system of equations that can be only solved with a matrix. In this case, the cause & effect relationships are separated by space & time. You can utilize systems thinking to solve these systems.<\/p>\n

Lastly, there are\u00a0<\/i>complex\u00a0systems<\/a>. Complex systems<\/a> have unknown unknowns, so you don\u2019t know the framework or the variables. The cause & effect relationships aren\u2019t repeated, and the system is only coherent in retrospect.<\/p>\n

For example, your household is a\u00a0<\/i>simple\u00a0<\/a>system. There\u2019s you, maybe a spouse, maybe kids or elders that depend on you, and maybe a pet. You can easily map that system in terms of who is related to who. However, what if you try to map your entire family tree? Who do you include? Your parents, your cousins? Your in-laws? What about your cousins\u2019 spouses and their parents? Or your child\u2019s spouse? Do you define family by blood, the law, something else, or a combination? That system is\u00a0complicated<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sources<\/h1>\n

Blignaut, S. (2019, August 19).\u00a07 Differences between complex and complicated [blog post].<\/em>\u00a0Noteworthy.<\/em> Retrieved from https:\/\/blog.usejournal.com\/7-differences-between-complex-and-complicated-fa44e0844606<\/a><\/p>\n

Mindtools. (2016).\u00a0The Cynefin Framework. Mindtools.<\/em> Retrieved from https:\/\/www.mindtools.com\/pages\/article\/cynefin-framework.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

Poli, R. (2013). A Note on the Difference Between Complicated and Complex Social Systems.\u00a0Cadmus Journal<\/em>, 142-147. Retrieved from\u00a0https:\/\/www.cadmusjournal.org\/files\/pdfreprints\/vol2issue1\/reprint-cj-v2-i1-complex-vs-complicated-systems-rpoli.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Additional Reading<\/h1>\n

If you are interested in exploring complex systems in the engineering context, take a look at these resources:<\/p>\n

Ottino, J.M. (2004). Engineering complex systems. Nature<\/em>, 427, p. 399. Available at https:\/\/www.nico.northwestern.edu\/documents\/engineering-complex-systems.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Sheard, S.A. and Mostashari, A. (2009), Principles of complex systems for systems engineering.\u00a0<\/span>Syst. Engin.<\/em>, 12: 295-311. DOI:\u00a0<\/span>10.1002\/sys.20124<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Below are some civil engineering specific resources on complex systems:<\/p>\n

<\/i>Bertelsen, Sven & Sven. (2003). Construction as a Complex System [conference proceedings].<\/span>\u00a0Proceedings for the 11th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction.<\/em>\u00a0Retrieved from\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/236841812_Construction_as_a_Complex_System<\/a><\/p>\n

Ellinas, C. (2019) Perspective: organisations as complex systems. Civil Engineering and Environmental Systems<\/em>, 35(1-4), pp. 1-5. DOI: 10.1080\/10286608.2019.1615472<\/a><\/p>\n

definition<\/span>