Links Between Systems Thinking and Complex Problem Solving - Further Evidence

摘要

There is a widely held belief that systems thinking is an answer to the increasingcomplexity of the environments in which we live and function. Despite strongassertions, however, the relationship between systems thinking and complex problemsolving has received slight attention in the literature. Using Richmond’s (1997) sevenclassificationscheme as the theoretical base, this paper investigates the link betweensystems thinking and complex problem solving. The Verbal Protocol Analysis (VPA)methodology was used to gather and analyse the empirical data. The findings of thestudy indicate that while the degree of systems thinking does matter, in fact, it is certaintypes of systemic thinking that are more relevant to performance. Further, evidenceshows that subject’s approach to the problem is also a highly pertinent factor in taskperformance in that better performers displayed a distinctive pattern of thought thatdiffered from that of the worse performers. Better performing subjects attempted togain understanding of the system structure before they proceeded to develop strategiesand take action. The findings also revealed a cyclical thought pattern that wasconsistently followed by better performing participants. This pattern, termed the CPAcycle, consists of three distinct phases of conception, planning, and action.This research contributes to both fields of systems thinking and complex problemsolving. Specific contributions include novel research methodology and in particularoperationalization of systems thinking paradigm, as well as identification ofdisintegrated factors affecting complex problem solving.