System or Collection
A system has 2 or more parts that interact to form a whole. Systems are everywhere, from the smallest cell, to your family, to the entire earth. These are all systems. Letās take a pile of dirty laundry, If you take away 1 shirt it wonāt change the functioning of the pile. But if I were to take my heart out of my body.. Iād die. That is the difference between a system and a collection, will it still work the same if you take 1 part away?
Why Systems thinking
In the ICT world, you encounter systems all the time. Think of networks, software applications, or even the various teams within an organization. Systems thinking not only helps you to understand those systems, but also to make better decisions, design smarter, and solve problems faster. It also makes you aware of the impact that systems can have on our environment and society.
Understanding the impact of change
ICT systems are often so closely linked that even small changes can have major consequences. By thinking systemically, you learn to predict how changes in one part of the system can affect other parts, including the people who deal with them. This helps you make not only technically efficient, but also people-oriented choices.
Causal relationships and feedback loops
A causal relationship is the direct relationship between a cause and an effect. Causal relationships are important in systems thinking because they show how things affect each other. If we understand how actions and changes work, we can better predict what will happen if we change something.
Systems thinking
Systems thinking helps ICT professionals see the broader impact of their work, which is increasingly important in a world where companies and organizations want to make contributions to the United Nationsā Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs focus on goals such as responsible consumption, climate change, and inclusive economic growth. ICT plays a key role in many of these goals, and by thinking systemically, we can contribute to solutions that make a real difference.
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