Systems Thinkers, assemble!!
In our lifelong learning journeys, we're all Systems Thinkers. Welcome to Symptoms to Systems!
Welcome to Symptoms to Systems, dear reader!
Let me introduce you to this little corner of the internet.
This space, Symptoms to Systems, is devoted to deepening the common observations of the well-informed, well-educated observer: from the Events that she observes, towards unearthing Patterns that reveal deeper Structures and Designs right under the surface of what she’s able to see.
Our observer, Ms. Systems Thinker, plays with various tools & techniques of Systems Thinking to deepen her vision.
“If we can see beyond individual events to patterns and trends, then we can anticipate, plan, forecast, and adapt.”
This deepening model, in its simplest form, can be illustrated using the Iceberg model.
Ms. Systems Thinker always dives under the surface of the iceberg to closely examine the Patterns, Structures and Mental Models that reveal the System to her.
On ‘Symptoms to Systems’, I come from the belief that there is a LOT hidden beneath the surface of our observations. Using the systems thinking lens we can move through the different levels of the iceberg to stimulate our SEEING, THINKING, and INSIGHT about various systems. This is the first step towards identifying the right approaches to act and intervene in different systems - Seeing and Understanding are the essential first steps for taking more effective action.
For the reader, my endeavour will always be to dive further and unearth deeper structural insights about the world we live in. My long term life goal is to contribute towards the creation of a common, accessible, data-oriented language around simplifying and communicating complexity. As with all little endeavours that start with grand ambitions, I am absolutely hopeful that my online readers and my offline systems tribe will play a key role in driving the 3 elements that will make this exercise a success: good Content, good Reach and good Discussion (prompting reflection).
I anticipate that I will eventually find myself challenged on some thoughts I share here, if not almost all of them, and am not worried about this. A more serious fear I anticipate is around censorship as I talk about sensitive subjects, which I’ve already had some experience with, in various forms. We’ll tackle that as it comes.
So, let’s get into it.
Here’s what to expect + some links to get you started:
Deep Dive: A space for systems-driven analysis of various startups & ecosystems, unraveling complexity, and other topics;
Imprint: Published content that imprinted itself on my brain, that merits to be shared - this could be essays, articles, perspectives, books - making waves for their depth of insight.
Read Ideas, Limits to Growth & Non-Zero sum games inspired by a Nobel-winning economist’s work.
Vantage Point: Thought-provoking conversations with various industry actors and functional experts within various ecosystems, and fellow systems thinkers;
Showcase: An exciting space sharing brilliant work and case studies tackling complexity from across the globe;
Le Penseur: A thinker’s heaven, sharing musings, reflections and (sometimes unknowable) questions on current affairs or anything I have recently encountered;
As I Please: Experiments in communicating complexity using fiction, storytelling and other narrative techniques (inspired by George Orwell’s regular column in The Tribune).
Symptoms to Systems Whatsapp / Signal community: A space for all systems thinkers to engage and exchange ideas, to be launched later in the year!
As this page grows, different content will be categorised by topic and industry to make it easier for a reader looking for specialised topics to navigate the labyrinths of S2S. :)
I will await you to join me on this journey… And leave loads of comments and engage in meaningful discussions to take us further into enlightenment (don’t laugh at the wings of optimism I fly on :))).
Come, Let’s explore!!