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with Tony Hodgson and Daniel Wahl |
Each module is self-contained and can be studied separately
Module 1: The Art and Science of Systems Thinking
24-28 April 2010
Module 2: Systems Thinking for Human Systems
5-8 June 2010
Module 3: Systems Thinking for Community Resilience
18-22 September 2010
Applied whole systems thinking can offer a creative response to the diverse and interconnected challenges posed by the sustainability transition.
Systems thinking is a practical skill for recognising crucial patterns of connectedness that affect the success or failure of our decisions and projects. These patterns are overlooked by our linear thinking mind and, because they reflect the dynamic behaviour of the real world, ignoring them usually lands us with unintended consequences, as in the saying “the solution proved to be worse than the original problem”.
Who is this course for?
This course will be helpful for anyone involved in projects that are associated with sustainability because we cannot design or manage systems well in a sustainable way without taking into account the complexity and interconnectedness of things. Systems thinking helps to identify and weave together and understand the dynamics of the diversity of influences involved when people, ecologies and economies overlap.
 The course will blend theory and practice together and concentrate on the personal skills development that will enable people to apply the ideas in practice in their own field of interest.
The course will be particularly useful for:
Transition project leaders and advisors
Sustainable development leaders and advisors
Consultants and others in the field of low carbon schemes
Planners and policy makers on corporations, social enterprises and public services
Educators interested in teaching thinking methods
What will I learn?
In these workshops you will
develop the mental skills to see situations systemically
be able to employ some systems techniques to help problem solving and decision making
learn some basic methods for facilitating group work within a systems framework
find out how to incorporate systems method into your daily practice
learn enough be able to learn more from wider sources
Module 1 – The Art and Science of Systems Thinking
• Systems thinking as a feel for the structures behind complexity, adaptability, resilience and transformation – the aesthetics of dynamic systems
• Systems thinking as a science which reveals the laws and principles of adaptive systems that can guide problem solving, design and effective action
• Using visual techniques to map complexity and understand better the mutual influence between multiple factors in a situation
• Understanding the relationship between the behaviour of a system and its structure - the tool of causal loops with feedback – introduction to system archetypes
• Systems thinking as a basis for practical action to improve existing systems or design new systems – how to facilitate people and projects with systems thinking methods
• Practice with coaching
Module 2 – Systems Thinking for Human Systems
• Introducing, refreshing or teaching the introduction to systems thinking as art and science
• Using visual graphics to create collaborative ‘rich pictures’ of complex situations and processes, such as ecovillages, transition processes or sustainable business enterprises
• Human activity systems and soft systems modelling (SSM) as a method a collaborative problem solving or design in situations with multiple stakeholders
• Using the SSM multiple category analysis to understand how to design or improve a system - working on specific examples
• Application project within the Findhorn community
• Action learning review including prospective application to the student’s own interest
Module 3 – Systems Thinking for Community Resilience
• Introducing, refreshing or teaching the introduction to systems thinking as art and science
• The structure of viable systems as understood by VSM (viable systems model)
• The relationship between VSM, sustainability and resilience
• Applying VSM to the diagnosis of an existing situation , project or organisation
• Resilience and human ecology – transforming the level of resilience in communities to meet the demands of the global age
• Recursion and the challenge of interlocking levels from the individual to the planetary society – the structure of holarchies
• Systems thinking, group consciousness and transcending individual intelligence
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Tony Hodgson is the World Modelling Coordinator for the International Futures Forum and the director of Decision Integrity Ltd. He has 30 years of experience as a consultant to major companies internationally.
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Dr. Daniel Wahl PhD is a sustainability educator and whole systems design consultant. He holds degrees in biology, holistic science, and natural design.
www.findhorncollege.org, www.cifalfindhorn.org |
Venue
All courses take place at the world-renowned Findhorn community in Morayshire, Scotland.
Cost
£750 Corporate
£450 Individual
£365 Student
Prices include accommodation, full board and course materials
Apply online here
More Information:
Findhorn College, The Park, Findhorn, Forres, IV36 3TZ
Tel: 01309 690806,
E-mail: college@findhorncollege.org
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