Applying Systems Thinking and
Common Archetypes to Organizational Issues
Module 6: Systems Archetypes
Conceptual Model
The Systems Archetypes build on the basic components of systems language covered in Module 3. All the archetypes we will cover include two or more reinforcing or balancing loops, or some combination of both. As in Module 3, we will focus on the structure underlying the patterns of behavior (and stories) we observe.
The archetypes are one way to quickly construct a working hypothesis about the cause of the patterns we observe. Each archetype has a characteristic story line, patterns of behavior over time, feedback loop diagram (sometimes called a template), mental models, and potential interventions.
In order to work effectively with the forces at play, it is essential to learn how to describe the structure well. This will be the focus on the content of this module.