Applying Systems Thinking and
Common Archetypes to Organizational Issues

Module 6: Systems Archetypes

This module supports two course objectives:

To learn a new language to communicate more effectively about complex issues.
To develop skills to analyze problems and identify the forces behind the problems that cause them to persist.

When you finish this module, you will be able to:

Identify examples of five systems archetypes, construct feedback loop diagrams for those archetypes, recognize their implications, and select generic higher-leverage interventions for the situations they describe.
Have an awareness of four additional systems archetypes, recognize the associated feedback loop diagrams and implications, and be familiar with the generic leverage points for each type of story.
Use the Archetype Family Tree for greater insight into how one classic story can evolve into another.
Begin to apply the systems archetypes to situations of interest to you.