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Question:

What is systems thinking, and how does that apply to schools?

Answer:

Peter Senge, in his book The Fifth Discipline describes systems thinking “as a philosophical alternative to the pervasive ‘reductionism’ in Western culture - the pursuit of simple answers to complex issues” (p. 185). Systems thinking asks us to examine all aspects of an issue and in doing so, expose biases and assumptions that may influence any given solution. To employ systems thinking, a group or team acknowledges that there may be more than one way to examine a complex issue, and better solutions are found when all lenses and perspectives are viewed, uncovered, and well thought through. systems thinking examines cause and effect relationships, how management structures within an organization behave and react, and how they influence each other, and when developing solutions, works to address root causes and sustained organizational improvement.

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