Systems thinking is what it sounds like. Here is a definition: “Systems thinking is an approach to problem-solving that considers how different elements within a system interact with and influence one another. Instead of looking at problems in isolation, systems thinking recognizes that everything is interconnected, and solutions must address the whole system rather than just individual parts.”

Here is ChatGPT‘s response to what systems thinking is:

1. Interconnectedness – Everything is part of a larger system, whether it’s the economy, environment, or society. Changes in one area affect others.
2. Feedback Loops – Systems have reinforcing (positive) and balancing (negative) feedback loops that influence their behavior over time.
3. Emergence – The whole system often behaves in ways that cannot be predicted by analyzing individual components separately.
4. Causality & Delays – Actions within a system may have delayed effects, making it important to look at long-term consequences rather than just immediate outcomes.
5. Leverage Points – Some points within a system have a greater impact than others; identifying these can lead to more effective interventions.

Systems Thinking in Action

1. Climate Change & Economy – Instead of focusing only on reducing emissions, systems thinking considers how economic policies, technological advancements, and consumer behaviors interact to drive sustainable change.
2. Education Reform – Rather than just improving schools, systems thinking explores how family support, economic conditions, and community engagement shape educational outcomes.
3. Social Entrepreneurship – A social business tackling poverty might not only provide jobs but also invest in education and healthcare, addressing multiple aspects of the problem simultaneously.

Let’s combine systems thinking, social good and social entrepreneurship here at this blog. Here’s a blog called Database of Social Entrepreneurship.

Suppose you were a person interested in the following: environment (green, sustainability), social good (social enterprises, NGOs), and education. You are looking for “green” organizations that are willing and interested in providing their knowledge and expertise to teaching us how to live better and in harmony with the earth. Once example might be Water First. You want a list from a website that identifies organizations in your geographic area that meet this criteria. The next thing you need to do is to identify the connections or relationships between the other social issues such as poverty. For example, the elimination of poverty depends on reliable clean hot and cold water. I have found several directories on the Internet that list various organizations that are working for the social good. I want to find a website that is able to make the connections. For example, ending or reducing poverty requires a “team” of organizations working together. Also, I’d like them all be concerned with being “green” and sustainable. One important aspect of being green is clean energy. Another principle of being green is that we must learn to work with our environment, not against it.

In the database link above, I discuss the possibility or a database of “solutions” and combinations of connections. A solution to green affordable housing might include some solar panels on the roof. We’ve combined the reduction of poverty with renewable energy. The challenge may be to develop a database of connections and relationships. Sounds like we’d need research and brainstorming sessions, perhaps with the help of AI.