Comments on: Embrace your Systems Thinker

By: Rosa Say

Rosa Say — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:27:54 +0000

Great metaphors always help, and I like this one!

By: Rosa Say

Rosa Say — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:23:28 +0000

Thank you Timothy! Happened to see this on Frank Chimero’s ethos scroll earlier this morning too:

“Process is all of the rungs of the ladder between the bottom rung and the top rung. You can’t really get anywhere meaningful without process.”

He also says, “The Process is the reward.”

By: Timothy Johnson

Timothy Johnson — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:18:34 +0000

Another way to think of the difference between a system and a process is to think of a process as having steps (actions, tasks, activities, etc.). The process of making a sandwich will involve steps such as cutting and spreading. The system of sandwich making will encompass those steps as well as the inputs (bread, cold cuts, cheese, produce, personal desires), output (the sandwich itself), feedback loop (hunger satisfaction), and environment (kitchen).

By: Timothy Johnson

Timothy Johnson — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:26:51 +0000

Sure thing, Rosa. Simply put, the process is the “roadmap” of the system. It is the HOW of converting inputs to outputs. Some people refer to process as throughput or transformation. The term used is not as important as understanding the role it plays within its broader system.

Example: Think of the system of decision-making (which you mentioned in your post). The “output” is the decision. Our “inputs” would include the facts we have available, our experiences, our perceptual filters, inputs from others, etc. The process is how we derive the decision based on the inputs available to us. The feedback loop is the assessment of how “good” the decision was.

By: Rosa Say

Rosa Say — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:09:15 +0000

Thank you so much Roselia, for giving me the affirmation of your comment, you’re so very welcome! People certainly make life joyful and colorful, don’t they!

By: Rosa Say

Rosa Say — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:06:41 +0000

Mahalo for coming by Timothy, and it’s my pleasure to share your book with our Ho‘ohana Community. I loved it, and I’m sure they will too.

Can I ask a favor of you? I find that “system” and “process” are words which often get used interchangeably. The language of intention with each gets very muddied and unclear — can you give us a simple, workable definition for each one that will help us keep their difference easier to remember?

By: Roselia Conrad

Roselia Conrad — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:11:38 +0000

I loved hearing from both worlds, the black & white (systems) and the grey (people).
Having been consciously aware of walking in both worlds, without the words to communicate my experience, it is a blessing to have you, Rosa, the mind and voice to express the thoughts needed to make this a better world for me and subsequently for others, with better understanding and more compassion. In the end, for me, it is always about our greatest resource…people…and how we manage that precious resource…starting, first, with myself. Loved this conversation. Mahalo.

By: Timothy Johnson

Timothy Johnson — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:43:22 +0000

I’m feeling embraced, Rosa… completely and totally. First and foremost, Mahalo for the great shout-out on my book.

More importantly, thank you for keeping the importance of systems thinking at the forefront of everyone’s attention.