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Conflict analysis and systems thinking

Systems thinking has been extensively used in organisational development - especially in the business domain - in recent years. Its basic premise is that systems - that are everywhere - can only be understood through exploring the interactions among its parts. Systems thinking highlights the world's complexity and rejects the idea of linear cause and effect relationships. This makes it highly relevant for creating understanding about conflict. Systems thinking is also action-oriented and sees its purpose in identifying leverage points for change. Systems thinking is like a new language and therefore this section will start with an introduction to systems thinking, describing key tools such as causal loop and stock and flow diagrams, before asking how the discipline should be applied to conflict analysis.

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What is systems thinking? This lecture quotes a number of definitions from the field and highlights important characteristics of systems thinking. What is a system? Systems are everywhere around us, they are made up of the interactions of their parts. Find out more in this lecture. Another interesting and accessible lecture dealing with the system definition, you can find in Systems Thinking and Practice, open learning source, chapter 5.1 Definition of a system <http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=183686> (accessed 14 August 2009). Systems thinking tools. Systems thinking uses a number of tools in order to undertstand how systems work. Here, the most important are introduced and more references are given. Causal loop diagrams Behavior over time graphs System archetypes Stocks and flows Catalina Foothills School District, Tips for Using System Dynamics Tools, 1997/2003. <http://clexchange.org/ftp/documents/Implementation/IM2003-12TipsUsingSDTools.pdf> (accessed 14 August 2009). Includes tips for Behavior over time graphs, causal loop diagrams as well as stock and flow diagrams. The Creative Learning Exchange, Everyday Behavior over Time Graphs, Vol. 10 (2001), No. 5. <http://www.clexchange.org/ftp/newsletter/CLEx10.5.pdf> (accessed 20 August 2009). Here you can find everyday examples of Behavior over Time graphs, such as temperature, the falling of leaves or friendship. It is meant to be used in the classroom and therefore suited for introductory purposes. Relevance of systems thinking for conflict analysis. Here we ask: What are the arguments for using systems thinking for conflict analysis? Applying systems thinking to conflict analysis. This content explores how what has been learnt about systems thinking can be applied to the conducting of conflict analysis.		Just a glass of water. This activity introduces participants to key ideas of systems thinking through a simple experiment. Systems everywhere. This activity can be used to introduce participants to what systems are. Thinking in systems - what does it mean. Statements of systems thinkers about their discipline are reviewed by participants. You can use any of these Content Processing Activities for the contents on the left side, especially 1 to 3. The vicious cycle of discrimination. This activity can be used to familiarise participants with causal loop diagrams. The facilitator's walking behavior over time. This activity asks participants to draw a behavior over time graph observing you crossing the room. It can be used as a first step to introduce this tool of systems thinking. Angry, not without reason. This activity evolves around a role play. Participants are asked to draw behavior over time graphs as well as a causal loop. Ideally, this activitiy should be used after "The vicios cycle of discrimination" and "The facilitator's walking behaviour over time". Why things escalate. This activity introduces systems archetypes and deals more specifically with the escalation archetypes. Power of the purse. This activity applies stocks and flows first to an everyday example and then to conflict. The power of thinking in systems - also for conflict analysis? Systems thinking has in recent years been increasingly applied in corporate businesses. Participants are now asked to explore the possible benefits of systems thinking for conflict analysis. Applying systems thinking to conflict analysis. There is so far no comprehensively developed guide for applying systems thinking to conflict analysis. It is suggested here to go through a number of steps in order to apply systems thinking tools to conflict analysis. Systems thinking is like learning a new language, you become fluent through practicing! The following steps should be gone through for one conflict. Step 1: Where to start? Force field and conflict stages Step 2: Selecting key variables Step 3: Grouping of key variables Step 4: Behaviour over time graphs Step 5: Causal loops Step 6: Finding archetypes Step 7: Identifying leverage points

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What is systems thinking? This lecture quotes a number of definitions from the field and highlights important characteristics of systems thinking.

What is a system? Systems are everywhere around us, they are made up of the interactions of their parts. Find out more in this lecture.

Another interesting and accessible lecture dealing with the system definition, you can find in Systems Thinking and Practice, open learning source, chapter 5.1 Definition of a system <http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=183686> (accessed 14 August 2009).

Systems thinking tools.

Systems thinking uses a number of tools in order to undertstand how systems work. Here, the most important are introduced and more references are given.

Catalina Foothills School District, Tips for Using System Dynamics Tools, 1997/2003. <http://clexchange.org/ftp/documents/Implementation/IM2003-12TipsUsingSDTools.pdf> (accessed 14 August 2009). Includes tips for Behavior over time graphs, causal loop diagrams as well as stock and flow diagrams.
The Creative Learning Exchange, Everyday Behavior over Time Graphs, Vol. 10 (2001), No. 5. <http://www.clexchange.org/ftp/newsletter/CLEx10.5.pdf> (accessed 20 August 2009). Here you can find everyday examples of Behavior over Time graphs, such as temperature, the falling of leaves or friendship. It is meant to be used in the classroom and therefore suited for introductory purposes.

Relevance of systems thinking for conflict analysis. Here we ask: What are the arguments for using systems thinking for conflict analysis?

Applying systems thinking to conflict analysis. This content explores how what has been learnt about systems thinking can be applied to the conducting of conflict analysis.

Just a glass of water. This activity introduces participants to key ideas of systems thinking through a simple experiment.

Systems everywhere. This activity can be used to introduce participants to what systems are.

Thinking in systems - what does it mean. Statements of systems thinkers about their discipline are reviewed by participants.

You can use any of these Content Processing Activities for the contents on the left side, especially 1 to 3.

The vicious cycle of discrimination. This activity can be used to familiarise participants with causal loop diagrams.

The facilitator's walking behavior over time. This activity asks participants to draw a behavior over time graph observing you crossing the room. It can be used as a first step to introduce this tool of systems thinking.

Angry, not without reason. This activity evolves around a role play. Participants are asked to draw behavior over time graphs as well as a causal loop. Ideally, this activitiy should be used after "The vicios cycle of discrimination" and "The facilitator's walking behaviour over time".

Why things escalate. This activity introduces systems archetypes and deals more specifically with the escalation archetypes.

Power of the purse. This activity applies stocks and flows first to an everyday example and then to conflict.

The power of thinking in systems - also for conflict analysis? Systems thinking has in recent years been increasingly applied in corporate businesses. Participants are now asked to explore the possible benefits of systems thinking for conflict analysis.

Applying systems thinking to conflict analysis. There is so far no comprehensively developed guide for applying systems thinking to conflict analysis. It is suggested here to go through a number of steps in order to apply systems thinking tools to conflict analysis. Systems thinking is like learning a new language, you become fluent through practicing! The following steps should be gone through for one conflict.

chachabooth	Latest page update: made by chachabooth , Aug 21 2009, 5:24 AM EDT (about this update About This Update Edited by chachabooth 10 words added view changes - complete history)
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