Applying Systems Thinking

Duration: 3 Day
Delivery: For organisations / groups in house

Systems thinking helps us to see the inter-relationships between things, as well as the underlying patterns and root causes of symptoms and problems that occur everyday in our organisations. Systems thinking enables us to find practical, effective and sustainable solutions to a myriad of real-world problems.

Systems Thinking Courss

You will gain a richer insight into problem solving, and a fluency in searching for and applying possible solutions. Your new skills will provide the foundation to understand and design corporate change.

  • Learn key approaches for Systems Thinking
  • Employ practical approaches to solve complex problems
  • Understand which approach fits which problem
  • Understand the dichotomies implicit in management
  • Recognise the balance point for best performance (between too much and too little)

As a management consultancy that uses systems thinking as an integral part of our work with clients across the private, public and charitable sectors … we feel we are uniquely qualified to present this exciting course – developed by systems practitioners.

Who will our Systems Thinking Courses help?

It is intended for those engaged in bringing new thinking and new solutions to their organisations and draws from the three worlds of systems practice providing a sound academic foundation, methods based approaches as well as pragmatic and practical solutions. Our Systems Thinking course will help people such as Business Analysts, Project Managers, Team Leaders, Change Managers, Change Agents, Senior Managers and anyone who wants to radically improve the quality and effectiveness of their organisation.

Designers, Legislators and Policy Analysts who wish to understand the world in which we operate better will also benefit from a better understanding of Systems thinking approaches.

Course Content

Grounding in a variety of systems thinking methods and approaches available including:-

  • Stafford Beer’s Viable System Model
  • Soft systems
  • Critical Systems Heuristics
  • SODA
  • Systems Dynamics
  • Cognitive mapping
  • Six Sigma
  • Lean 
  • Many more. 

Topics covered will include:

  • Background
      - New challenges and the need for a better view of the world
      - Benefits of Systems Thinking
      - Recognising types of problems and knowing how to solve them
      - A historical perspective – origin and development
      - Key management challenges and dichotomies
  • Approaches
      - An overview of some of the main Systems Thinking Approaches
      - Underpinning concepts and ideas
      - An Overview of some associated Tools and Techniques
      - Hard systems approaches
      - Soft systems approaches
  • Practical Advice
      - Introducing Systems Thinking
      - Communicating in pictures and concepts
      - Systems Thinking and Change Management
      - Review of Associated Skills and Knowledge needs
      - Recommendations for developing your own ‘methodologies’
  • Experience
      - The Application of Systems thinking in the Real World
      - Company case studies
      - Case material based on your own case study
      - Specialist material for Public Sector and Private Sector applications

In-House Training

Should you wish to organise our 3 day Systems Thinking Course as a bespoke training course for your organisation, please contact us today for a tailored proposal and quotation or call us on 01565 759893.

The three-day course comprises a stimulating mix of taught modules, discussion, cases and practical activities, together with pre-reading and a useful pre-course ‘audit’. We also invite delegates to bring their own issues for use in the course.

Importantly, course leaders will also be available for individual support and mentoring - entirely free of charge - for up to 30 days after the course.

Watt Works are based in the North West and cover areas such as Cheshire, Manchester, North Wales, Liverpool and Lancashire, and are happy to deliver in-house training courses nationwide.

View our payment terms and conditions here.

“The facilitators were fantastic. I knew very little about Systems Thinking before I attended the workshop and now I can’t wait to find out more.”

- Neil Winkworth, Baringa Partners

“Very knowledgeable and personable presenters who went out of their way to engage the participants and enhance the learning experience and provide more than expected.”
- Samuel Short, Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge

What is systems thinking training?

What is systems thinking training?

Systems thinking training is a term used to describe an alternative approach to problem solving. It is useful - essential even - for leaders and managers in industry and business, both in the public and private sector.

Systems thinking training combines various principles, approaches and methodologies to help build a clearer picture of relationships and situations affecting our businesses. With the skills that are taught during systems thinking training, we are more inclined to recognise how differing elements inter-connect. We are also able to look beyond the surface of obvious circumstance to locate the roots of conflicts and issues within our businesses.

With the help of systems thinking training we are able to become leaders and managers with a difference; able to think clearly, cut to the root of a problem and come up with solutions that provide an effective response. You could almost regard systems thinking training as gaining a sixth sense, because it allows you to approach difficult situations with skills that most people lack.

Who are systems thinking courses suitable for?

Systems thinking courses would be beneficial to all individuals because it enables you to draw on skills and strengths required to deal with problems and change. It is particularly useful to those whose daily work requires them to problem-solve, lead or manage change.

While systems thinking courses are growing in popularity within the public sector, this is not to say that those working in the private sector or in the not-for-profit sector wouldn't benefit from learning the skills and methodologies involved.

Life in the not-for-profit sector can be particularly challenging for leaders and managers; there are often less resources available to deal with challenging situations (financial and physical) and there tends to be more stakeholders involved which increases the amount of people you are answerable to - and therefore the amount of pressure you are under.

Why should I enrol on systems thinking courses with Watt Works?

With Watt Works, when you enrol on our systems thinking courses you can be assured that you will be learning about the essential practices involved in systems thinking. Our tutors base their teaching upon the three worlds of systems practice, which means you get a solid and reliable academic foundation as well as the practical benefits.

Our systems thinking courses are held in comfortable training venues, each one chosen to provide a quiet, calm and reflective location in which our course participants are able to focus completely on the skills they are learning.

There are a plethora of management courses on offer today - choosing the right one for the managers of your company or yourself could be one of the most important business decisions you will make. Take advantage of a combination of new thinking and traditional philosophies on offer and contact us about our systems training courses. This will give your business the edge it needs in a tough world where problems never go away, so survival and success depends entirely on how you approach them.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

For more information on any of our training services call us on +44 (0) 1565 759 893

All of our training services are designed to provide world-class experiences in learning and development.


We place extra emphasis on ensuring that participants on our courses have a superior learning experience that they are able to fully integrate in their personal and professional lives.


We provide pre-course preparation material, as well as a series of weekly and monthly follow ups and quizzes to ensure you make the most of your time with us.


All our courses are available via our open programme, or can be tailored extensivley to suit the needs of your organisation via in-house delivery.


Book a place on one of our open programme courses today...
More about courses
“Systems thinking is a discipline for seeing wholes. It is a framework for seeing interrelationships rather than things, for seeing patterns of change rather than static snapshots. It is a set of general principles- distilled over the course of the twentieth century, spanning fields as diverse as the physical and social sciences, engineering, and management. ... During the last thirty years, these tools have been applied to understand a wide range of corporate, urban, regional, economic, political, ecological, and even psychological systems. And systems thinking is a sensibility- for the subtle interconnectedness that gives living systems their unique character.”
Peter SengeConsultant and Author of 'The Fifth Discipline'

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Watt Works Consulting Ltd Booths Hall, Chelford Road, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 8GS, England, United Kingdom T +44 (0)1565 759 893
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