Interconnections
In systems thinking, interconnections are the “rules of the game”. Interconnections are the flows and relationships that exist between the elements of a system. As such, interconnections determine how elements interact with or affect each other. What are examples of interconnections in basketball? Perhaps the most obvious ones are the rules of the game itself. The rules determine how players interact with each other, the ball and the opposing team. Coaching strategy is another example.
Interconnections are more important to determining a system’s behaviour than elements. Why? Because changing interconnections trigger more significant changes in a system than changing the elements. To illustrate this point,imagine changing the rules of basketball. What if players were allowed to make physical contact with each other? What if all time limits were removed or players could advance the ball by running? While we may still recognize it as basketball, the nature of the game (i.e., the system) would be fundamentally different - much more so than if we simply changed elements.
Another important point to make about interconnections is that they come in a variety of forms. They may be physical, tangible flows or invisible, intangible connections. Many interconnections are flows of information — signals that go to decision points or action points within a system (2008, 14). Invisible, informational or informal connections are often harder to identify, but crucial nonetheless to the system's functioning. To give some examples, the flow of blood through our veins is an example of a physical interconnection in our vascular system. The chemical process that signals it is time for a tree to drop its leaves is another example of a physical interconnection. A school’s code of conduct is an intangible interconnection that exists in a system, as it governs relationships among students, teachers and staff. The code of conduct is an example of an informational interconnection. It is also an example of a formal informational interconnection. Other examples of formal informational interconnections include a country’s constitution, laws, policies, or official regulations. However, informational interconnections can also be informal in nature, or not explicitly stated, written or even conscious to us. For example, cultural practices, social norms and customs that shape our thought and behaviour are informal interconnections. Relationships such as personal friendships, or rumours that travel through a school are other examples. In most social systems (those systems that exist within or involve groups of people or human societies) we find both formal and informal interconnections.
To sum up, interconnections may be physical flows or informational flows. They may be formal relationships and “rules” or informal social norms, practices or relationships. They may be visible to the eye or invisible and intangible. Typically, informational interconnections (especially informal ones) can be harder to identify, but they are as important to the dynamics of a system as tangible, visible, or formal ones. Understanding and identifying them is crucial to systems thinking. The nature of interconnections in a system contributes to a system’s overall function or purpose.