Dr. Russell Ackoff on Systems Thinking - Pt 2
Summary
TLDRThis script explores the limitations of analysis in understanding complex systems, such as automobiles, by dissecting their components. It emphasizes the need for 'synthesis' to provide explanations and understanding of the behavior and purposes of systems. The speaker explains that systems are defined by their function within a larger context, and essential parts are necessary but not sufficient for their operation. The script also critiques the siloed approach of traditional education, which fails to integrate the understanding of a business as a whole system.
Takeaways
- đ The placement of the motor in the front of an automobile is due to historical reasons, as it was originally designed to replace the horse in the front of a carriage.
- đ The script emphasizes that analysis alone cannot answer 'why' questions about systems; understanding requires synthesis and explanation.
- đ§ Science traditionally produces knowledge about how things work, but not why they work the way they do, highlighting the need for a different approach to gain understanding.
- đ€ The process of synthesis involves three steps: identifying the system, explaining the behavior of the containing system, and aggregating understanding of the parts into the whole.
- đ Systems are defined by their function within a larger system, which is essential for understanding their role and purpose.
- đ§ Essential parts of a system are necessary for its function but are not sufficient on their own; they must interact to fulfill the system's purpose.
- 𧩠A system cannot be divided into independent parts without losing its essential properties; it is the product of the interactions of its parts.
- đ« Analysis, which involves breaking down a system into parts, can actually result in the loss of the system's essential properties and understanding.
- đ« The structure of business schools, focusing on separate subjects for different parts of a business, may not provide a holistic understanding of what a business is.
- đ€ The script suggests that true understanding comes from considering the interactions between parts of a system, rather than studying them in isolation.
- đ The importance of synthesis in understanding systems is highlighted, as it provides explanations for behavior and purpose beyond mere functional knowledge.
Q & A
Why is the motor in the front of an automobile?
-The motor is in the front because early automobiles were designed as 'horseless carriages,' mimicking the placement of a horse pulling a carriage from the front.
What is the significance of the term 'horseless carriage' in the context of automobile design?
-The term 'horseless carriage' reflects the historical transition from horse-drawn carriages to motorized vehicles, influencing the initial design of cars with the engine in the front.
Why does taking an automobile apart not explain its purpose or function?
-Disassembling an automobile only shows its parts but not how they interact to fulfill the vehicle's function, which is to transport people.
What is the difference between analysis and synthesis in understanding systems?
-Analysis breaks down a system into its parts, focusing on how things work, while synthesis integrates the parts to explain the system's behavior and purpose.
Why does the script suggest that science produces knowledge but not understanding?
-Science through analysis provides knowledge about how systems work, but understanding requires synthesis, which explains why systems work the way they do.
What are the three steps of synthetic thinking as described in the script?
-The three steps of synthetic thinking are: 1) Identifying the system as a whole, 2) Explaining the behavior of the containing system, and 3) Aggregating understanding of the parts into an understanding of the whole.
How does the script define a system in terms of its function and role in a larger system?
-A system is defined by its function within a larger system, where its role or function in that system is what determines its identity.
Why is it essential for a system to have parts that are necessary but not sufficient for its function?
-Essential parts are necessary for the performance of a system's function but are not sufficient on their own. They must interact to fulfill the system's purpose.
What happens when you apply analysis to a system by taking it apart?
-When a system is taken apart through analysis, it loses its essential properties and its parts lose their function, as they are only effective in interaction with each other.
How does the script illustrate the concept that a system is more than the sum of its parts?
-The script uses the example of an automobile, explaining that even if all parts are present, without their interaction, the car is not a functioning system.
What is the implication of the system's essential property in the context of business education?
-The implication is that business schools, by teaching subjects in isolation, fail to provide a holistic understanding of how businesses operate as integrated systems.
Outlines
đ The Illusion of Understanding Through Analysis
This paragraph discusses the limitations of analysis in providing a true understanding of systems. It uses the automobile as an example to illustrate how historical context, rather than mere mechanical analysis, explains design choices. The speaker emphasizes that understanding (explanations) is different from knowledge (analysis) and that true understanding comes from synthesis, which involves understanding the system within its larger context, identifying its function, and aggregating this understanding to explain the whole. The paragraph concludes by highlighting the essential parts of a system and how they contribute to its overall function, rather than existing independently.
𧩠The Fallacy of Isolating System Components
The second paragraph delves into the consequences of applying analysis to systems, using the disassembly of an automobile as a metaphor. It explains that when a system is taken apart, it loses its essential properties, and so do its components. The paragraph contrasts the idea that a system is not merely the sum of its parts, but rather the product of their interactions. It discusses the critical role of essential components like the motor in a car and how their removal from the system renders them non-functional. The speaker also reflects on the implications of this for education, suggesting that the compartmentalization of business school courses fails to provide a holistic understanding of business operations.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄAutomobile
đĄHorseless Carriage
đĄAnalysis
đĄSynthesis
đĄExplanations
đĄUnderstanding
đĄSystems
đĄEducational System
đĄEconomic System
đĄEssential Parts
đĄFunction
Highlights
The motor is in the front of an automobile because of the historical transition from horse-drawn carriages.
The purpose of a system cannot be understood by merely taking it apart; synthesis is needed for explanations.
Understanding why questions about systems requires a different way of thinking beyond analysis.
Science produces knowledge, not understanding, which is the product of explanations.
Explanations of system behavior and purpose are found outside the system itself.
Synthesis involves three steps opposite to analysis: identifying the system's part, explaining the containing system, and aggregating understanding.
A system is defined by its function within a larger system, not by its parts alone.
Essential parts of a system are necessary for its function but are not sufficient on their own.
Systems cannot be divided into independent parts without losing their essential properties.
A system's properties are derived from the interaction of its parts, not the parts in isolation.
Disassembling a system results in the loss of its essential function and properties.
A system is not the sum of its parts but the product of their interactions.
The motor's necessity for a car is highlighted by the fact that it cannot function without it.
The brain's necessity for thinking is contrasted with its inability to think when separated from the body.
Business schools often fail to provide a holistic understanding of business by focusing on separate components.
The structure of universities can hinder the understanding of systems by isolating subjects.
The importance of considering the interaction between parts of a system for a comprehensive understanding.
The limitations of siloed inquiry in educational institutions and its impact on understanding systems.
Transcripts
see take an automobile for example which
is a simple mechanical system that
you're all familiar with why is the
motor in front well you probably know
the reason because it was originally
called the horseless carriage and
therefore the motor was footwear the
horse was in the front of the cart right
but do you think that somebody who
didn't know that but let's find out by
taking the automobile apart well let's
see
the automobile is originally a six
passenger vehicle why marvelousness 5 4
15 9 why was it 6 well taking it apart
tell you of course not
how many of you ever been to Britain
England you know they drive on the wrong
side of the road why do you think
they're taking British cars apart go and
tell you why they driving on the left
and we drive on the right of course not
what we began to understand is that why
questions about objects called systems
cannot be answered by the use of
analysis now answers the why questions
are called explanations and the product
of explanations is understanding and
when we tap became aware of in the 1950s
with science produces no understanding
it produces knowledge because the
product of analysis is how things work
never why they work the way they do we
needed a new way of thinking to provide
explanation and therefore understanding
explanations always lie outside the
system never inside and now sensation
into
sister power works it provides knowledge
but not understanding we need another
way of thinking which not surprisingly
is called synthesis that provides
explanations of the behavior of purposes
synthetic thinking consists of three
steps which are exactly the opposite of
analysis each one of analysis you think
whatever it is that you want to
understand you take it apart the first
type of senses that you think the thing
you won't understand say what is it
supporter you identify containing part
of which this is a part so we understand
in the northern video they say it's a
part of the transportation system first
when I understand the university is a
part of the educational system the
corporations are part of the economic
system and so leau77 the novices I try
to identify the properties and behavior
the part stated separately the second
step of synthesis I try to explain the
behavior of the containing the bowl
what's the educational what's the
transportation system the third step of
synthesis I try to aggregate
understanding of the parts into an
understanding of the whole in the third
step of synthetic thinking i
disaggregate the understanding of the
containing whole by identifying the role
or function of what I'm trying to
explain in that a system is a whole
spelled with the W that's defined by its
function and our larger system of which
it's apart every system is contained in
a larger system and its role or function
in that system is what defines it so if
you take the automobile coming back to
that again it's defined by the fact it's
an instrument for Kang people from one
place to another on the ground under
their control I'm in privacy so you
describe its function what it does you
don't describe how it does it if you
wanted to fine a computer you don't talk
about how it works you talk about what
it does what functions are performed
data processing calculation and so on
all systems are parts of larger systems
every system then is defined by its
function in a larger system in order to
perform that function
it requires essential parts these are
parts which are necessary for the
performance of the function but not
sufficient so for example the motor is
necessary for an automobile you can't
run without a motor
doesn't need a windshield bike to the
run it does need a door handle doesn't
need a cigarette lighter or rugs on the
floor but the motor the battery the fuel
pump are all essential
well that means then that an essential
property of a system is that it cannot
be divided into independent parts that
its properties derive out of the
interaction of its parts and not the
actions of its parts taken separately
therefore if we apply analysis to a
system what's the first thing you do
take it apart but when you take it apart
what happens it loses all of its
essential properties and so do its parts
you see if we brought an automobile in
here it's big enough to take one and
disassemble it and kept every part in
this room we would not have an
automobile we have the parts of an
automobile a system is never the sum of
its parts it's the product of their
interactions so when I take a car apart
it's no longer an automobile but even
more criticals affected at the motor
which is necessary to move a car when
you're move from the car can't move
anything including itself just sits
there you cannot think without a brain
but if the surgeon removes your brain
and puts it on a table it doesn't sit
there and think it's necessary for your
thinking you think the brain does not
think and what is separated from the
system of which it's apart
it loses its essential function as an
instrument for producing thought now
think of the implications of that simple
property of a system to start with you
go to a business school to learn how to
manage and organize activity and you
look at the course structure what are
the courses on there on the parts of a
business taken separately say study
marketing is a separate subject
production is a separate subject
finances separate subject and so on the
net result is at the end of the business
school you have no understanding of what
a business is and not even the
understanding of the parts because you
can't study the motor of an automobile
independently of a way it interacts with
other parts you can't study production
independently of how it interacts with
marketing finance and personnel and so
on but the way universities are
structured these are silos of inquiry
where each one claims complete autonomy
and independence of the others and to
the extent that they succeed they
emasculate the subject they call the
content out
Voir Plus de Vidéos Connexes
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)