Systems Think Your Situation
Why Use It
Problems and opportunities generally do
not exist in isolation. This question set is designed to look beyond what
appears to be an independent situation.
It helps provide a systems understanding by looking at the broader
picture in which the problem resides.
How to Use It
Answer questions below.
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System
Drivers |
Answers |
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What is the principle underlying the potential future
problem/opportunity? |
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What factors do you think have contributed to the potential
problem/opportunity? |
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What are the key things that drive this situation? |
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What about the situation is most urgent and needs attention
right now? |
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What aspects of the situation are controllable but are not being
controlled? |
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What is the unique set of qualities that makes this situation
what it is and not another? |
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What aspects about this situation require outside help? |
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System
Context |
Answers |
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Is the future problem/opportunity a one-time situation that is
not likely to happen again? |
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What is the system that surrounds the problem? |
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What are all the system components or parts? |
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What is the purpose of the systems and its components? What better purpose should they have? |
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What small problems add up to this one or make it worse? |
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Where does this situation fit in the larger system? |
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Can the whole problem/situation be solved or just a part? |
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Can solving this problem be used to solve other problems? |
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What are the major
dynamics that make the system work the way it does? |
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What self-organizing
tendencies does this system have? |
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System
Inter-connections |
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How does the potential problem/situation interact with each
system component or part? |
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What other situations are interconnected? |
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Is this problem/situation part of a larger problem? |
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What other problems are linked to this one? |
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What are the system boundaries of the problem (inputs and
outputs)? |
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How does this problem/situation interact with other processes?
Customers? Systems? Other Problems? |
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Might resolving this situation hurt the system? |
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Might solving this problem create other problems? |
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System
Changes |
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What change was made just before the problem or situation
started? |
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What things are being done differently now than they were done
before? |
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What successful action
stopped or dropped off? |
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When did the problem start
and where did it come from? |
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Have changes occurred that have not been adjusted? |
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What person was hired or
got involved before things changed? Is
someone making sweeping changes? |
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What person left just
before things changed? |
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What new (revised) policy
or procedure was put in place? |
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How has the workload
shifted? Are priorities shifting? |
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Are orders coming from
different directions? |
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Is there a new vendor? |
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Information Source: Peter M. Senge, The Fifth Discipline (New York, Currency
and Doubleday)