Systems Thinker's Toolbox: Tools for Managing Complexity

Systems Thinker's Toolbox: Tools for Managing Complexity provides more than 100 tools based on systems thinking and beyond. Each tool is described, and when necessary, examples are provided of how each of them can be used. Some of the simplest tools can be combined into more complex tools. The tools may be things such as lists, causal loops, and templates, as well as processes and methodologies.

Key Features

• Provides an explanation of the two views of systems thinking; systemic and systematic thinking, and then shows how to perform each of them in a complimentary manner



• Presents a set of thinking tools that can be used to apply systems thinking to solving problems in project management, engineering, systems engineering, new product development, and business



• Describes the tools from simple such as lists, and goes on to more complex such as Categorized Requirements in Process (CRIP) charts, and then onto the processes



• Introduces new tools that have been tested with positive feedback



• Discusses a set of communication tools that can improve project reviews and communicating innovative ideas

Joseph Kasser has been a practicing systems engineer and project manager for more than 45 years and an academic for almost 20 years. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (Singapore), the author of four books and many conference and journal papers. He is a recipient of many awards including NASA’s Manned Space Flight Awareness Award (Silver Snoopy) for quality and technical excellence for performing and directing systems. He spent 2007-2016 teaching and researching the nature of systems thinking.