Applying Systems Thinking and
Common Archetypes to Organizational Issues

Module 2: Organizational Learning and Systems Thinking Framework

Exercise: Applying the Iceberg

Estimated Time: 10 minutes

Purpose: To take a first "systems" look at an issue from your own experience.

Instructions: Select an issue from your own experience that is:

  • Problematic
  • Long standing
  • Resistant to change interventions

Use the Events/Pattern/Structure Worksheet to look at this issue from the perspective of events, patterns, and structure. Consider the types of actions you are likely to take to improve the situation from each perspective. Ask others how they see this same issue and use the questions on the worksheet to guide your conversation.


Events/Patterns/Structure Worksheet

1

1. Events - Tell the Story
 

What happened?

What are some of the notable events?
2

2. Patterns - Draw the Graphs
 

What's been happening?

How has performance changed over time?

What are other important trends?
3

3. Structure - Identify Cause & Effect Relationships
 

What has caused this change in performance?

What are some of the tangible or physical factors contributing to these patterns?

What are some of the intangible factors (including beliefs, values, and mental models) that may be contributing to these patterns?

What are some of the consequences of changes in performance?

Do any of the consequences become causes for further erosion or stagnation of performance?


4. What types of actions does each perspective suggest?

5. If you combine the different data and patterns from multiple perspectives, does this lead to any new hypotheses about the structures at the root of the problem?