Putting it All Together: A Systemic Perspective

Abstract

We’ve come a long way together. Recall Fig. 2.3, which presented a basic illustration of the steps underlying mess decomposition and reconstruction, presented as Fig. 11.1 with additional annotation regarding topics covered since our discussion in Chap. 2. The assumption at this point is that the reader has read through the first ten Chapters of this book and understands how to analyze a singular problem from each of the six perspectives presented in Chaps. 5–10. This analysis alone would be sufficient for a standalone problem. Those interested in understanding messes, however, need to go the extra mile. To this end, this Chapter develops a meta-methodology for understanding messes by discussing the interconnected elements necessary from each perspective to be integrated into a coherent whole for systemic understanding. The primary focus of this chapter is on mess reconstruction. Messes, of course, are a construct of convenience. They are envisioned and constructed in a somewhat arbitrary manner by each of us (as the observer) and yet, in identifying a mess and deconstructing it as we did in Chap. 2, and then analyzing its elements as we did in Chaps. 5–10 (as the systems practitioner), we have placed a responsibility on ourselves to reconstitute these pieces into a coherent whole to allow for systemic understanding of our mess. To start on this journey, we must begin first with mess articulation and problem decomposition. Each perspective is then discussed as it pertains to gained understanding at the mess-level. They are presented as they reside within what we propose as two meta-perspectives, namely what is and what ought-to-be, or our current and idealized state, respectively, and named after the conventions established by Ulrich [5]. Articulation and reasoning about these two states with respect to our mess provides us with a rational framework for increasing our understanding about it. Finally, this analysis will be explored as it pertains to the act and observe stages of the TAO process. Both the content and the structure in this Chapter are to be taken together as a meta-perspective framework for systemic thinking.