Strategy

Thinking in Systems: 6 key ideas

by Donella Meadows

The core ideas of Thinking in Systems, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.

1. IDEA 1 OF 6

   Stocks and flows

   A system is made of stocks, like money in a bank, and flows that change them.

   Watch the flows to understand the stock.

2. IDEA 2 OF 6

   Feedback loops

   Balancing loops push a system toward stability; reinforcing loops amplify change in either direction.

3. IDEA 3 OF 6

   Delays cause oscillation

   When there's a lag between action and effect, people overreact and the system swings.

4. IDEA 4 OF 6

   Find leverage points

   Changing goals, rules or information flows often transforms a system more than adjusting numbers.

5. IDEA 5 OF 6

   Policy resistance

   When actors pull toward different goals, systems resist change.

   Align goals to unlock progress.

6. IDEA 6 OF 6

   Watch before acting

   Observe a system's behaviour over time before intervening, and stay humble about what you know.