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X.2 · Capability in Cross-cutting

Systems thinking

Seeing how parts of a product, a team or a market affect each other over time.

Map3 skills

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3 skillsClick a hexagon to set your status

X.2.1InterdependenciesHow changes in one part ripple into others.
X.2.2Feedback loopsCycles where an effect feeds back into its cause.
X.2.3Second-order and unintended effectsConsequences beyond the immediate result of a decision.

Mark all 3

Where to start

2 resources

articleStart here
Introduction to systems thinking ↗
Will Larson · 2018 · 4 min
Stocks, flows and feedback applied to an engineering team, in a few minutes.
articleGo deeper
Leverage points: places to intervene in a system ↗
Donella Meadows · 1999 · 43 min
The classic essay on where a small change moves a whole system, and why the obvious levers are often the weakest.

Tools

2 tools

ToolFree
LOOPY
ncase.me ↗
Draw causal loop diagrams in the browser and watch the feedback play out.
ToolFreemium
Kumu
kumu.io ↗
Map systems, stakeholders and relationships as interactive diagrams.

Also in Cross-cutting

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X.3Decision-making4 skills
X.4Communication4 skills
X.5Collaboration6 skills
X.6Leadership and ownership5 skills
X.7Continuous learning4 skills
X.8Responsible product development4 skills
X.9AI-assisted work5 skills