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“Everyone benefits from thinking and acting like a systems designer, no matter what industry you're in or what your job title is, because we all face really complex challenges in our work and in the world.”
Deirdre Cerminaro
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Look for Non-Obvious Connections
In complex systems, the most important relationships are often hidden from plain sight. Train yourself to identify connections between seemingly unrelated elements. These connections can reveal leverage points for impactful interventions.
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- [ ] Ask: "What indirect effects might this change have?"
- [ ] Map out second and third-order consequences
- [ ] Consider how different stakeholders might be unexpectedly linked
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Constraints are Your Friend
Embrace constraints as catalysts for creativity and innovation. Limitations in resources, time, or technology can lead to more focused and elegant solutions.
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- [ ] Reframe constraints as design opportunities
- [ ] Use constraints to narrow your focus and drive creative problem-solving
- [ ] Identify which constraints are fixed and which are flexible
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Complexity Calls for Systems Thinking
As problems become more complex, linear thinking falls short. Systems thinking provides tools to understand and address intricate, interconnected challenges.
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