System Thinking Essay Example

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    Business
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    Undergraduate
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Systems Thinking is Critical in Developing Solutions to Sustainability Challenges-Domestic Violence

Systems’ thinking is derived from viewing all the elements and components that perform a specific task together to achieve a similar vision as a whole. In the personal livelihood involves systems in different approaches such as relationship, electronic, biological, and even ecologically. In recognizing these systems, it is possible in based on facts and not theories as one can look at the problem or issue to understand the outcome better, the reasons of happening and how to improve the situation. System thinking helps in recognizing the whole event or situation, understanding the pattern and interrelationships and hence providing a chance to think and learn the best approach on how to interrelate the issue or event in the effective and efficient way (Broks 2016, p. 409). In this essay, it elaborates on the system thinking as a critical tool in developing solutions to challenges facing humanity such as domestic violence. Domestic violence is a challenge being experienced in different families. Using systems thinking approach, the domestic challenge has a pattern that takes a process and stages. At every stage, the involved person is provided with a chance to review, learn and improve the situation or event. Therefore, the study seeks to relate the domestic violence challenge and develop a suitable solution using a systems thinking approach.

In understanding a system, it is essential in breaking it down and identifying the components and characteristics. The system has a purpose and it comprises a larger system wholly. The change in the system is experienced depending on the feedback obtained, the information to the originator leading to subsequent action. The system thinking helps in making adjustments in the feedback provided (Cabrera, Cabrera, & Powers 2015, p. 536). The decision making depends on the critical thinking of a person of the event or situation at hand. The system thinking guides in making adjustments to suit the challenge sustainability. In the domestic violence, system thinking is critical in determining the possible channel or process leading to the more advanced stage. The family members are supposed to understand a possible process that leads to domestic violence at an advanced stage. Therefore, using the system thinking tool, the family members should understand the system and working out the possible outcome to prevent complicated challenges.

Systematic thinking aspect helps in controlling dynamic behaviors through thinking, describing and understanding the interrelationship and forces essential in shaping personal behaviors. The behavioral systems are dynamic depending on the person believes and values relating to the cultural collectiveness. Systematic thinking helps in changing systems in a more effective and acting on the natural process to fit the natural, cultural and economic aspects (Valentinov 2012, p. 539). On the cultural aspect, the behavioral dynamic tool under the system thinking helps in shaping the family value as the social and community unit. Domestic violence results from the personal behavior and understanding in solving the challenges facing the family. It is essential to consider system thinking as the aspect that guides in finding an appropriate solution. Therefore, the domestic violence challenge takes a systematic process and can be controlled before getting into advanced stage through understanding dynamic behavioral changes.

Another systems thinking tool is brainstorming whereby the involved party tends to understand the sequence of unfolding events or situation through collective thinking together. Brainstorming provides insights of understanding the channel or sequence of unfolding events or situation. Brainstorming helps in combining thoughts regarding a specified concern affecting the livelihood of a community (Wallis 2013, p. 98). Some challenges such as domestic violence are culturally instigated. In the current world, domestic violence is a past practice and, hence, unethical and immoral practice. Brainstorming requires more than one person thinking together with the appropriate approach toward solving the problem. The need of brainstorming is finding a possible solution towards the social problem facing the family such as domestic violence. Systems thinking help in finding the possible approach in breaking the process or cycle that results to domestic violence. Therefore, brainstorming tool helps in developing an insightful approach toward the realization of the possible solution to the challenge.

The understanding common challenge facing people from different multiple approaches helps in analyzing the systems and process. It is important for the involved parties to come together and seek appropriate approach in solving the issue surrounding their problem. Through brainstorming tool in the system thinking, the involved parties are able to analyze and realize the partner these are involved in achieving the possible outcome. Understanding the system and the pattern provides an insight of how individuals can deal with a specific issue that would help in breaking the system (Müller-Wienbergen, Müller, Seidel, & Becker 2011, p. 721). Studying the cycle, a process of a sequence of the event helps in seeking possible stage to react toward achieving a possible solution to the problem being experienced. It is important to consider the development of the strategic approach that would enable an individual to realize when a problem is getting out of hand. Domestic violence has specific stages and process that reaches to advanced stage leading to divorce. If using the systems thinking approach, the involved parties would understand the marriage direction it has taken and seek for a possible solution. Therefore, brainstorming tool would have helped in analyzing the domestic violence process and give a sequence of the event and possible stage to realize when the issue is getting out of hand.

The dynamic thinking tool provides chance for expounding thinking to challenge the system thinking cycle. It enables an individual in seeking other possible alternative approaches toward realizing the solution to the challenges being faced. Domestic violence is a social challenge that is being faced by different families and hence setting a certain sequence or process. a critical and creative thinker using dynamic approach, an individual develops a strategic approach that would help in combating the system to realize the solution to the problem (Porra & Hirschheim, 2007, p. 464). Furthermore, it is important to consider an analysis of every stage in the cycle, process, and sequence of the events in a system. Thinking dynamically enables an individual to develop a different thinking approach towards the issue affecting the livelihood of a person. Therefore, the dynamic thinking tool allows the possibility of different alternatives to look for a specific solution.

System thinking approach is formulated by different systematic channel and hence leading to a predictable outcome. Using dynamic thinking tool, an individual understands the possible outcome of a certain system. Domestic violence leads to challenges in life, such as divorce and marriage problems. The dynamic thinking tool enables the involved partners in life to really focus on the outcome of the domestic violence and hence taking an appropriate decision before it is too late. Thinking from a different perspective helps in seeing differently and hence developing an appropriate combative mechanism to stop and overcome the challenge (Spruill, Kenney, & Kaplan 2001, p. 105). The different stages of domestic violence require different approaches. Therefore, the dynamic thinking tool enables the involved partners to focus on the domestic violence challenge from a different perspective and contributor in achieving a solution to the problem. Therefore, it is advisable for the family to focus on an appropriate solution through contributing on how they can solve the domestic violence issue. This is a collective task that requires having dynamic thinking capacity of different parties.

Structural thinking tool plays a major role in the systematic thinking whereby it helps to analyze the structure of the challenge to achieve a sensible solution. Understanding and learning the structure of a certain system helps in having clear picture or reasoning for every sequence or processes taking place. System thinking has multiple systems that take place and hence building a structure that a certain system follows (Groff & Shaffer 2008, p. 17). A system has a unique approach that defines its character and identity. The structure of the system helps in understanding all the approaches and contributing factors from the initial to last stage of the system or process. The structure opens a clear understanding of the possible outcome of the system, depending on specified stages followed. Using the structural thinking tool, it is possible to understand the different natures of domestic violence and how they take place. To obtain the solution of the domestic violence challenges, it is advisable to relate the structural thinking tool approach to understand the stage of the problem and what is required to solve the challenge.

The structure of a system provides specific parts to be analyzed for a quick decision-making. In achieving the solution to the domestic violence challenge, the structural approach would help in analyzing the contributing structure to instigate the violence. Having a clear structure of the contributing factors, it would be easier in dealing with the specific structure and ensuring the problem is addressed decisively. The structural thinking tool would also ensure the solving one problem at a time in a strategic approach (Mabin, Davies, & Cox 2006, p. 46). The factors contributing to the domestic violence would be dealt with separately and hence lead a common objective of solving domestic violence challenge. In different instances, the domestic violence is a result of different challenges facing the family. These challenges are instigated by the partners with a specific interest in the achievement of their goals. Understanding the contributing factors and goals of the family partners, it would be easier to solve the domestic problem using the structural thinking tool (Murray et al. 2015, p. 388). Therefore, it is the mandate of the family members to consider brings the quarreling partners together through analyzing the structural system of the domestic violence to understand specific contributing factors. Then, it would be possible to solve the every problem or challenge systematically and hence the solution to the domestic violence challenges.

A computer based tool as a system thinking approach helps in using the technological approach to find the solution to the challenges facing livelihood. The technological aspect is based on the development of a scientific approach toward understanding the system and thinking pattern (Kennedy 2004 p. 753). To understand the scientific approach, the system has to be connected to the changes being experienced and a comparison is made to come up with a common contributing factor. Analysis of different domestic violence challenges helps to quantify the similar problems that contribute to family problems. This helps in classifying the nature or different types of domestic violence. This helps in finding a unique solution applicable to the specific nature of domestic violence depending on the stage. Therefore, the computer based tool of system thing helps in generalizing unique approach toward solving the domestic violence issue.

Different system thinking tools help in coming up with the strategic approach toward realizing the solution to domestic violence challenge. The system thinking brings the notion of understanding the system structure, stages and the process to have a full insight of the contributing factors and stages of the challenge. To solve the domestic challenge, it requires understanding the factors behind the challenge and the possible outcome of the system (Stover & Coates 2016 p. 439). The dynamic and structural thinking tools provide analysis of the changing factors taking specified systemic structure in marriage life. Both the dynamic and structural thinking tools help in developing a strategic approach to understanding the challenges and coming up with a specific solution to every aspect affecting the livelihood in a domestic life. Integration of the reasoning in a systematic approach enables the involved partners to see the domestic violence on contributing factors and through the help of the system thinkers to come up with the solution to the challenges.

In conclusion, the system thinking concept provides a wider view of the possible approach to finding the solution towards the challenges facing livelihood. The dynamic behavior, brainstorming, structure and dynamic thinking tools enlighten the system thinking. In addition, the computer based tool contributes toward realization of technological application in understanding and solving the challenges facing the domestic violence. The diversity in thinking independently, strategically and structurally helps in unfolding the sequences and processes taken to the solving the domestic violence challenges. Therefore, the system thinking concept contributes to critical and creative thinking in developing a solution to sustainability challenges.

Bibliography

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Cabrera, D., Cabrera, L., & Powers, E, 2015, A unifying theory of systems thinking with psychosocial applications. Systems Research & Behavioral Science, 32(5), 534-545.

Groff, L., & Shaffer, R, 2008, Complex adaptive systems and futures thinking: theories, applications, and methods. Futures Research Quarterly, 24(2), 5-38.

Kennedy, D, 2004, The role of a facilitator in a community of philosophical inquiry. Metaphilosophy, 35(5), 744-765.

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Wallis, S, 2013, How to choose between policy proposals: a simple tool based on systems thinking and complexity theory. Complexity & Organization, 15(3), 94-120.