Defining Systems Thinking

Incorporating systems thinking into a baking course can help learners develop critical thinking skills and understand the complex processes involved in baking. Baking involves various components such as ingredients, equipment techniques, and environmental factors that all interact with each other to produce a final product. By understanding how these components relate to each other and how they impact the final product, learners can learn to approach baking problems in a holistic manner and develop a deeper understanding of the baking process. For example, learners may be challenged to find the best substitutes for various ingredients. Additionally, incorporating systems thinking can help students develop skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, and creative thinking, which can be applied to a variety of fields beyond baking. Systems thinking can also promote sustainability and equity in baking by encouraging students to consider the environmental impact of their ingredients and methods, as well as the ethical and social implications of their choices.

Incorporating systems thinking into a finance course can help learners understand the interconnectedness of financial systems, policies, and decisions. Financial decisions have far-reaching consequences, not only for individuals but also for organizations, communities, and the global economy. By learning to view financial systems as complex and interconnected, learners can develop critical thinking skills that enable them to analyze financial problems from multiple perspectives and identify potential unintended consequences. Additionally, systems thinking can help students understand how social, political, and environmental factors can impact financial systems and vice versa, leading to a more holistic and sustainable approach to financial decision-making.

Healthcare involves complex, interconnected systems, from individual patient care to the broader healthcare system. By incorporating systems thinking, participants in a healthcare program can better understand how each patient is a unique holistic system, influenced by factors such as their genetics, environment, and social determinants of health. Furthermore, they can learn to consider the wider healthcare system, including the policies, laws, and socioeconomic factors that impact patient outcomes. This understanding can help learners to think critically about how to provide the best care for their patients within these systems, and to identify and address any potential systemic issues that may be impacting patient health.