Do the Practitioners’ Level of Systems-Thinking Skills Differ across Sector Types?

Systems Thinking: A Review and Bibliometric Analysis

“…Organizations tend to restructure their business models due to the rapid growth of technological and economic development. As a result, organizations attempt to find new toolsets and techniques to cope with large-scale complex system problems [1][2][3]. In addition to the technical characteristics, complex systems are marked by other important characteristics such as ambiguity, emergence, interconnectivity and socio-economical forces such as employee, social and government policies.…”

“…Following Bertalanffy's work in systems theory, a trend toward generalized theories in biology, physics, psychology, social science, and other fields has appeared [18][19][20]. The movement towards systems theory was essential due to: (1) the inability of several mathematical methods, i.e., physics to capture the idea of wholeness (the whole of the system), (2) the need to approach a problem using new ways of thinking that capture general principles for all systems irrespective of its nature, and (3) the failure of mathematical models to solve social-technical problems. The notion of systems thinking dates back to the time of Aristotle, who suggested the concept of holism as a basis for systems thinking.…”

To be or not to be a systems thinker: Do professional characteristics influence how students acquire systems-thinking skills?

“…Previous studies have revealed different processes and factors that affect systems thinking. They include experience (Beasley, 2012;Kordova and Frank, 2018;Padhi et al, 2018), systems-thinking practice (Kim and Senge, 1994), teaching systems thinking (Assaraf and Orion, 2005;Camelia et al, 2015), developing a learning culture (Sambrook and Stewart, 2000) and the managerial level, degree of involvement in the working environment, type of employer, and level of education (Nagahi et al, 2020). Below, we examine the effects of these and other factors on the four groups following a systems-thinking learning process.…”

“…Developing a learning culture in the organization helps to develop systems thinking Sambrook and Stewart (2000) Developing systems thinking requires that it be assimilated into core skills and processes in the organization by integrating systems engineering in broad areas Beasley (2012) Three-part approach for training managers from a systems point of view: staff management and upward influence; management across the organization; and how a manager sees, understands and acts outside the organization's boundaries Levy (2017) A common language between communities can help develop systems thinking Lavi and Dori (2019) The level of the managerial role, degree of involvement in the working environment, type of employer, and educational level all have an impact on systems-thinking skills Nagahi et al (2020) Personal effects on the learning process Personal analysis, personality, talent, task management, and experience influence systems thinking Davidz (2006) Using documentation and correction processes to share mental models within the group and overcome the barriers of personal mental models Lamb andRhodes (2007) Miller et al 10.3389/feduc.2023.1026488 Frontiers in Education 04 frontiersin.org thinking. Zulauf (2007) lists several subjects whose development facilitates learning systemic thinking.…”

“…Therefore, they must adopt a systems-thinking approach. The factors that affect identifying a practitioner with high systems-thinking abilities are the managerial role level, the environment's complexity, the type of employer, and the educational level required (Nagahi et al, 2020).…”