Your first system, is you.
Feeling stressed? Go for a run. But why - that’s such an absurd thing to do! But it works. The exercise endorphins make you feel calmer. Being calm allows you focus. Focus leads to better problem solving. Problem solving leads to solutions. Solutions reduce stress. Congratulations! You’ve just used understanding yourself as a system, to produce your desired effect.
Systems thinking is a perspective, of understanding things by looking at them as systems - with elements, inter-relationships and purpose. This book was recommended to me as a go-to for fundamentals of systems thinking.
Stocks and flows
one stock and two stock systems inflow and outflow
Loops & Delays
the concept of loops; feedback loops, reinforcing loops; constraints concept of delays dominant loops
oscillations; perception delay, response delay
changing the length of a delay to influence a system; strong determinants of behavior
Systems Zoo
systems don’t exist in isolation - multiple kinds of systems
systems with similar feedback structures produce similar behaviors system dynamics questions explore possible futures and what-if questions how to assess the value of a model / model utility
two stock systems
two stock system no unlimited growth limits to growth archetype non-renewable resource are stock limited renewable resource is flow limited