An Introduction to Systems Thinking
Learning Organizations and Systems ThinkingLeaders of complex organizations have historically attempted to use simplistic frameworks to manage what are inherently complex systems. Solutions, with the best of intentions, are often implemented too close to the problems. Short-term solutions combined with the lack of awareness or understanding of the natural interconnectedness of systems, often result in long-term non-solutions...
Introduction to the Compassionate Systems Framework in Schools
Author's Introduction Abdul Latif Jameel World Education LabDescriptionIn education, where interest in social and emotional learning (SEL), mindfulness, and systems thinking is growing, we find both an opportunity and a need to develop models of thinking and teaching that prepare students to better understand and respond to the systems to which these issues belong. We draw from established SEL models, together with developments in the emerging field of complexity science and the study of systems, to establish a framework—what we call a “compassionate systems” framework—for building a cognitive and affective foundation for global citizenship. This framework conceptualizes compassion as an essentially systemic property of mind: to cultivate compassion is to be able to appreciate the systemic forces that influence people’s feelings, thoughts and actions...