Systems Thinking (glossary)
(1) An epistemology which, when applied to human activity is based on four basic ideas: emergence, hierarchy, communication, and control as characteristics of systems.
(2) A process of discovery and diagnosis – an inquiry into the governing processes underlying the problems and opportunities.
(3) A discipline for examining wholes, interrelationships, and patterns utilizing a specific set of tools and techniques.
Source
(1) Checkland, Peter. 1999. Systems Thinking, Systems Practice. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
(2) & (3) Senge, P. M. 1990. The fifth discipline: The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization. New York, NY: Doubleday Business.
Discussion
Definition (1) is the System Science view, defining system thinking as a "theory of knowledge, esp. with regard to its methods, validity, and scope", based around seeing the world as systems.
Definitions (2) and (3) focus more on Systems Thinking as a collection of methods for dealing wih system problems. This aspect of Systems Thinking relates directly to the Systems Approach defined in the SEBoK.
See also the topic What is Systems Thinking?
SEBoK Discussion
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