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Systems thinking and practice: a primer - T551This primer introduces the language and ideas of systems thinking and practice. It is a resource for the three undergraduate systems courses T205 Systems Thinking: Principles and Practice, T306 Managing complexity: A systems approach and the summer school based course TXR248 Experiencing Systems. It can also be used as a stand-alone introduction to systems.
A systems approach can be helpful in everyday situations involving people and technology where it is hard to know what to do because of a complex web of conflicting views and needs, a high degree of interconnectedness and a high degree of uncertainty.
Systems does not provide solutions by giving you formulae to apply, or rules to follow. Rather, it gives you ways to understand and work with situations that develop over time and probably have no ultimate ‘solution’.
Learning to think and act systemically often requires a fundamental change in patterns of thinking and behaviour. Systems concepts can be difficult to appreciate until you apply them yourself in a variety of situations. For these reasons T551 places a strong emphasis on practising the concepts in reflective activities and self-assessment exercises.
The primer consists of a printed booklet of about 80 A4 pages, and an order form for the DVD, which comprises of video and audio programmes (each with a set of notes), which illuminates some of the concepts by relating them to three contemporary situations: shopping, transport, and rivers.
Note: T306 students are eligible for this pack at a cheaper rate. Please wait for the application form enclosed with your student mailing, before ordering.