Hi Apologies if this is not the right forum to post this!
The organisation I work for are currently implementing system thinking approach throughout is there anyone who is involved with this way of working?

Within the organisation teams have been set up to look at the processes in place to complete individual jobs. Then a work flow is completed, then the team cut out the waste, and then produce a lean way of doing it.
Through this there has been a change to staff jobs, I just wondered if anyone else was working this way

Hi Apologies if this is not the right forum to post this!
The organisation I work for are currently implementing system thinking approach throughout is there anyone who is involved with this way of working?

Could you give us a little more background on this, like what your company is doing.

I am also interested in reading of the reason why you are asking about this.

Here you will find many proponents of system thinking such as Wikipedia describes: "...Systems Thinking recognizes that in complex systems, events are separated by distance and time; therefore, small catalytic events can cause large changes in the system. Systems thinking acknowledges that a change in one area of a system can adversely affect another area of the system; thus, it promotes organizational communication at all levels in order to avoid the silo effect."

Many organizations are trying to move away from the silo effect that is recognizable in terms like quality departments being asked to fix all the problems. Better understanding and effectively maneuvering the interdependent factors of systems and processes can result in more permanent and comfortable solutions and working lifestyles.

Do you have specific questions?

I do look forward to your specific questions, Leslie, but perhaps this will give you something to think over in the meantime...

My company has 5 success factors. From this our objectives are developed. All projects must align with an objective, which in turns aligns with a success factor. In some cases, more than one.

This allows us to see how our improvement projects impact (and are impacted) by the financials, production, quality, human resources, etc.

There's also some good (or at least detailed) information here (http://www.managementhelp.org/systems/systems.htm#anchor123477).

Hi Apologies if this is not the right forum to post this!
The organisation I work for are currently implementing system thinking approach throughout is there anyone who is involved with this way of working?

Within the organisation teams have been set up to look at the processes in place to complete individual jobs. Then a work flow is completed, then the team cut out the waste, and then produce a lean way of doing it.
Through this there has been a change to staff jobs, I just wondered if anyone else was working this way
Lesley

Do know of Vic Baxter, MD of Cornerstone Community Care in Aberdeen? He is a Deming enthusiast who has implemented the Deming approach (which includes "systems thinking") in his organisation.

To me, "systems thinking" involves many of the same principles as what I would classify as "proper" process management - identify what influences a process, and what effect it will have (on other processes, staff, the environment...)

No I dont know of him, I will try and find out though Thanks

No I dont know of him, I will try and find out though Thanks
Leslie

Cornerstone
Head Office
Suite 1A
Exchange House
28 Exchange Street
Aberdeen
AB11 6PH
Tel: 01224 256000

You can tell him that I gave you his name...!

All the best

"System Thinking" in one sentence: Make sure that when you do something, it doesn't screw up something else .

Beware the academics, who love nothing more than belaboring the bloody obvious.

Beware the academics, who love nothing more than belaboring the bloody obvious. I resemble that remark! :lol:

"System Thinking" in one sentence: Make sure that when you do something, it doesn't screw up something else .

Beware the academics, who love nothing more than belaboring the bloody obvious.I think Jim is on the right track here. Over the last 40 years, many organizations recognized as "efficient" have come around to a systems/Lean way of thinking, which includes empowering employees across all functions of the organization to look at the ENTIRE process in which they have a part with the idea of finding ways to improve the entire process, not merely create an efficiency in one step which throws inefficiencies on to other steps in the process. One of the major criticisms of GE's application of Six Sigma and Lean under Neutron Jack Welch was that claimed savings never seemed to work their way down to the bottom line because the burdens were merely shifted, not eliminated.

Systems thinking...

People set up the system...the system runs the organization...people tweak the system (not each other).

During a smooth transOcean trip the pilots are, at most, adjusting the trim; flight computers run the show. (During the early 90's we were training dogs as co-pilots...their job was to bite the pilot if he/she reached for anything!)

Madfox