Applying Systems Thinking and
Common Archetypes to Organizational Issues
Module 6: Systems Archetypes
How to Go Through This Module
This module assumes that you have completed Module 3, Systems Language, and that you can recognize and diagram reinforcing and balancing feedback. With this background, you can proceed through the archetypes in any order you choose, however the first five are organized from simplest to more difficult. We hope you will complete this module to build skill, and return to it as a reference manual for diagnosing and diagramming structure.
Most users report some value in reviewing the Archetype Family Tree to understand the relationship among the archetypes. Based on your own learning style, you can determine whether you will find the tree more valuable as an introduction or a summary.
Two examples are given for each archetype. Most of these will give you the option to diagram the feedback loop from the case description. We encourage you to take advantage of this feature. The more practice you get diagramming real situations, the easier you will find it to apply the tools to your own cases.
For the first five archetypes, you will find guidelines for applying the template to your own situation. You will get most value from the exercise when you use situations where you have direct experience and have the ability to affect the outcomes, but you can also practice applying the archetypes to stories appearing in the press or in some other written format.