Opening the Box – Communicating Systems Thinking
“Opening the Box: Systems Thinking for Transformative Conversations” delves into the core principles of systems thinking, offering practical insights to help individuals and organizations navigate complexity. Authored by Jan De Visch, Miguel Pantaleon, Namrata Arora and Tony Korycki, this book promises to be an invaluable resource for anyone interested in understanding and applying systems thinking in their personal and professional lives. This session will feature the book’s authors, sharing their insights and engaging in a transformative conversation, applying the book’s insights.
Welcome to a transformative journey through “Opening the Box” a thought-provoking essay in a compact book, that invites you to delve into the realms of systems thinking. The essay is for anyone interested in systems thinking and explores several themes: systems thinking insights into complex situations; connecting observation with cause-and-effect patterns; departing from mechanistic, short-term thinking; and exploring four layers of systems thinking. It’s a unique dialogue between Pandora and her grandmother, offering profound insights into understanding reality, questioning narratives, and navigating our interconnected world. The essay centers around the four layers of systems thinking: parts and wholes, nascent development, coherence, and metamorphosis.
The essay is centred on three underlying points: how systems thinking deepens comprehension of living systems dynamics; how we depart from fashionable thinking, moving beyond mechanistic and short-term market-focused thought processes; and our food system as a real-world application, inviting readers to apply systems thinking to self-selected situations.The story and dialogue uncovers the power of critical thinking, as Pandora’s grandmother challenges surface-level solutions, and advocates for deeper exploration. Explore how seemingly innocent decisions impact our whole food system, from greenhouse gas emissions to social inequities. Gain insights into choices affecting farmers, distributors, retailers, consumers, and the environment.
“Opening the Box” is more than an essay; it’s a tool for opening dialogue around the quality of one’s thinking. You can use it in various formative contexts to master systems thinking strokes, get closer to daily work's essence, and make better sense of your world.
Speaker: Tony Korycki, Executive Director, SCiO (Systems & Complexity in Organisation)
