Systems Thinking

What is Systems Thinking?

This course presents introductory concepts, methods, and tools required for adopting and applying a systemic philosophy of thinking in the realm of complexity. It is designed to educate students a new paradigm of problem solving in which collective benefits of the entire system is considered in evaluations in addition to those of its stakeholders. Emphasis is on understanding complexity through the lens of systemic phenomena as well as shaping forces of the system and their dynamics. Students will learn how to think critically about complex problems through analysing influential components and modelling dynamics of interactions within the ecosystem from which the problem is emerging.  In order to achieve the objectives of this course, students will learn applications of qualitative approaches such as lingual tools and semantics of systemic languages as well as those of quantitative methods such as systems dynamics and agent based modelling. The course accompanies many practical in class assignments, case study reviews, audio and video supplements to the core of discussions, and group discussions. The course is designed for graduate-level students who are familiar with concepts of modelling and requires a final project in addition to completion of in class assignments.