Systems Thinking - And Other Dangerous Habits

Author: H. William Dettmer

ISBN 978-1-63868-002-4 (softcover) $39.95;
978-1-63868-003-1 (hardcover) $46.95

446 pages

The world is a complex system. Whatever part of it we inhabit or function in, everything within it is connected in some way to other components, both within and outside the part we occupy. Nearly all of the problems mankind experiences result from our inability to recognize intra- and inter-systemic connections... in other words, to THINK SYSTEMICALLY. This is particularly true of the massive, widely impactful problems we face. Unfortunately, systems thinking is not a part of most people's education, though it is probably the most crucial foundation for everything we do.

Systems Thinking and Other Dangerous Habits aims to alleviate this widespread unawareness of the importance of viewing everything we think and do through the lens of systems. It begins with a review of some high-visibility systemic failures, segues into the history and basics of systems thinking, then examines some critical areas of systems knowledge, tools, and human motivation.

This book is an introduction to systems thinking, pointing the reader to important topics worthy of more comprehensive research.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

H. William "Bill" Dettmer is the author of seven books on constraint and complex system management, including "The Logical Thinking Process" and "Brainpower Networking Using the Crawford Slip Method." Over his 25-year consulting career, his clients include United Health Group, Raytheon Missile Systems, U.S. Air Force Software Technology Center, Seagate Technology, U.S. Navy Sea Systems Command, Lucent Technologies (both in Europe and the US), Western Digital Corporation, NEC America, INESA and ICI/Inca Corporations (South America), Orrcon Ltd. (Australia), Qualiplus, S.A. (Brazil), Bayer GmbH (Germany), and Osram GmbH (Germany). A retired US Air Force command pilot, Bill has 4,000 hours of multi-engine jet flying time and 75 combat missions to his credit. He holds a BA degree from Rutgers University and a Master of Science degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, where he also taught graduate courses in the same program for seven years. Bill is the foremost expert in the world on the logical thinking process developed by E.M. Goldratt.