Iceberg model

Summary

The video script delves into the Iceberg Model, a systems-thinking tool that illustrates the layers of abstraction in any situation, from observable events to underlying mental models. It emphasizes the unseen systemic structures and mental models that cause behaviors, suggesting that understanding these deeper layers is crucial for addressing issues effectively. The model uses the analogy of an iceberg to highlight that most of the system's mass lies hidden beneath the surface, much like the majority of a situation's complexity is not immediately apparent.

Takeaways

• 🧊 The Iceberg Model: It's a metaphor for understanding the deeper layers of a situation or organization beyond the observable surface events.
• 🔍 Expanding Perception: The model encourages individuals and organizations to see the whole system, not just isolated activities or events.
• 🌐 Systemic Structures: The model suggests that events and patterns are caused by underlying systemic structures and mental models, often hidden from view.
• 📉 Patterns and Trends: It's important to identify patterns as they indicate recurring issues and can help in anticipating, planning, and forecasting.
• 🏗️ System Structure: The 'rules of the game' that influence patterns, which can be explicit or implicit, visible or invisible, and are part of the cause-and-effect relationships.
• 🤔 Mental Models: These are the deeply held beliefs and assumptions that drive behavior and ultimately generate the structures and patterns observed.
• 🌐 Structure Causes: A fundamental concept is that structure causes 80 to 90% of issues, not people, emphasizing the importance of understanding systemic structures.
• 👀 Hidden Nature: Like an iceberg, most of what is happening in the world is hidden, and the model helps to make this hidden aspect explicit.
• 📈 Observing Patterns: Recognizing patterns allows for more effective reactions to problems and the ability to adapt to changes.
• 🌟 Mental Models Influence: Mental models shape people's perception and are often subconscious, learned from society or family.
• 🔑 Identifying Mental Models: They are typically difficult to identify and involve many unspoken assumptions, key to understanding systemic behavior.

Q & A

What is the Iceberg Model in the context of systems thinking?

The Iceberg Model is a conceptual tool used in systems thinking to illustrate the various levels of abstraction in a situation or organization, from observable events to underlying patterns, supporting structures, and mental models.

How does the Iceberg Model help in understanding a situation?

The Iceberg Model helps by encouraging individuals and organizations to expand their perception of a situation, seeing it within the context of the whole system rather than focusing on just a single activity or event.

What does the term 'tip of the iceberg' signify in the Iceberg Model?

The term 'tip of the iceberg' signifies the small, visible part of a whole situation, implying that there is much more hidden below the surface that may be surprising or not immediately apparent.

According to the Iceberg Model, what causes 80 to 90% of issues in a system?

According to the Iceberg Model, systemic structures and mental models, which are often hidden, cause 80 to 90% of issues, not the people within the system.

What are the four basic levels identified by the Iceberg Model?

The four basic levels identified by the Iceberg Model are events, patterns, system structure, and mental models.

What are 'events' in the context of the Iceberg Model?

In the Iceberg Model, events are the observable, discrete activities or facts about the state of things in the system, such as catching a fish or a news report on the evening news.

What is the significance of identifying 'patterns' in the Iceberg Model?

Identifying patterns is significant because they indicate that an event is not an isolated incident and can help in anticipating, planning, and forecasting, allowing for more effective reactions to problems.

How are 'structures' in the Iceberg Model defined?

Structures in the Iceberg Model are the rules, norms, policies, guidelines, power structures, distribution of resources, or informal ways of work that have been tacitly or explicitly institutionalized and support, create, and influence the patterns seen in events.

What role do 'mental models' play in the Iceberg Model?

Mental models in the Iceberg Model are the deeply held assumptions and beliefs that drive behavior and ultimately generate the structures and patterns observed in events.

Can you provide an example of how the Iceberg Model might be applied to personal health?

An example of applying the Iceberg Model to personal health could be catching a cold as an event, catching colds more often when tired as a pattern, lack of rest from excessive work as a systemic structure, and the mental model being an identity as a hardworking person.

Outlines

00:00

🧊 Iceberg Model of System Change

The first paragraph introduces the Iceberg Model, a systems-thinking framework that illustrates the various levels of abstraction in a situation or organization. It emphasizes the importance of looking beyond observable events to understand underlying patterns, systemic structures, and mental models. The model uses the analogy of an iceberg to convey that a small part of the issue is visible, while the majority lies hidden beneath the surface. It suggests that systemic structures and mental models are the root causes of events and patterns, and understanding these can lead to more effective problem-solving and adaptation. The paragraph also touches on the idea that structure causes most of the issues, not the people within them, and that mental models are the beliefs and assumptions that shape our perception and behavior.

05:01

🌱 Mental Models and Systemic Structures

The second paragraph delves deeper into the concept of mental models and systemic structures. It explains that mental models are the deeply held assumptions and beliefs that drive behavior and maintain the status quo of structures. These models are often subconscious and can be influenced by societal or familial values. The paragraph provides examples of how patterns and structures are interconnected, such as the relationship between the number of cows and the amount of milk produced, and the systemic issue of oil spills linked to our dependence on fossil fuels. It also discusses the challenge of identifying mental models due to their implicit nature and the assumptions that are rarely made explicit. The paragraph concludes with a personal health example, illustrating how an immediate event like catching a cold can be part of a larger pattern influenced by underlying structures and mental models related to lifestyle and identity.

Keywords

💡Iceberg Model

The Iceberg Model is a conceptual framework used to represent the different levels of abstraction within a system, from observable events to underlying patterns, structures, and mental models. It is central to the video's theme as it illustrates how only a small fraction of a system's dynamics are visible, with the majority being hidden beneath the surface. The model is used as an analogy to explain that what we perceive in everyday phenomena is just the 'tip of the iceberg,' while the deeper systemic structures and mental models are the real drivers of events.

💡Observable Events

Observable Events are the discrete activities or facts that we can directly see or measure within a system. In the context of the video, these events are likened to the tip of the iceberg, representing the most apparent aspects of a situation. The script uses the example of catching a fish to illustrate an observable event within a system, emphasizing that while events are what we typically focus on, they are just the surface manifestations of deeper systemic patterns.

💡Patterns

Patterns refer to the trends or recurring behaviors that occur over time within a system. The video script explains that patterns are important to identify because they indicate that an event is not an isolated incident. For instance, the script mentions 'recurring oil spills' as a pattern that suggests an underlying systemic issue, which is our dependence on fossil fuels.

💡Systemic Structures

Systemic Structures are the underlying frameworks or systems that create and influence the patterns we observe in events. These structures can include rules, norms, policies, and power dynamics that shape how a system operates. The video script suggests that these structures are often hidden from view but are responsible for generating the patterns and events that we can observe, such as the dependence on fossil fuels leading to oil spills.

💡Mental Models

Mental Models are the deeply held beliefs, values, and assumptions that shape an individual's or organization's perception and behavior. In the video, mental models are described as the foundation that supports systemic structures and patterns, influencing how events unfold. The script uses the example of a hardworking identity that might lead to excessive work and lack of rest, ultimately causing a pattern of getting sick.

💡Systemic Thinking

Systemic Thinking is an approach that focuses on understanding how things influence one another within a system. The video emphasizes that systemic thinking is crucial for recognizing that structure causes the majority of issues, not the people within them. This concept is fundamental to the Iceberg Model, as it encourages looking beyond individual events to understand the systemic causes.

💡Cause-and-Effect Relationships

Cause-and-Effect Relationships are the connections between patterns that indicate how one event leads to another within a system. The video script uses the example of a farmer increasing the number of cows to get more milk, illustrating a direct cause-and-effect relationship. This concept is integral to understanding the systemic structures that underlie observable patterns and events.

💡Perception

Perception in the video refers to how individuals interpret and make sense of the world around them. It is shaped by mental models and influences what we consider to be important or relevant within a system. The script discusses how the Iceberg Model helps to expand perception by encouraging individuals to see situations within the context of the whole system rather than focusing solely on isolated events.

💡Supporting Structure

Supporting Structure is the underlying framework that enables patterns to occur. In the video, it is described as the 'rules of the game' that can be written or unwritten, physical or invisible. These structures answer the question of what might explain the observed patterns, such as the dependence on fossil fuels supporting the pattern of oil spills.

💡Current Affair

Current Affair in the context of the video represents a snapshot of events as they are presented in the news, which corresponds to the 'tip of the iceberg.' The script uses this term to illustrate how most people perceive the world through these daily events, which are the most visible and immediate aspects of a situation.

💡Global Issues

Global Issues are used in the script to exemplify how the Iceberg Model can be applied to understand complex, worldwide phenomena. The video mentions events like a new president in Italy or changes in commodity prices as the 'tip of the iceberg' for global issues, suggesting that there are deeper systemic structures and mental models at play that influence these events.

Highlights

The iceberg model is a fundamental tool for understanding system change, illustrating the various levels of abstraction from observable events to underlying patterns and mental models.

The model helps to expand perception by seeing a situation within the context of the whole system rather than focusing on single activities or events.

An iceberg analogy is used to represent the underlying structures that generate perceived events and issues, with only 10% visible above the waterline.

The expression 'tip of the iceberg' signifies that the visible part of a situation is small compared to the hidden aspects.

Systemic structures and mental models often remain hidden, yet they cause 80 to 90% of issues, emphasizing the importance of understanding these structures to change behaviors.

The iceberg model identifies four basic levels: events, patterns, system structure, and mental models, each representing different aspects of a situation.

Events are discrete activities or facts about the state of things in the system, observable at the tip of the iceberg.

Patterns represent trends over time and are crucial for understanding recurring events or changes.

System structure is the set of rules, norms, and relationships that influence the patterns observed in events.

Mental models are the deeply held beliefs and assumptions that shape people's perception and drive behavior within a system.

The iceberg model suggests that different people in the same structure will produce similar results, highlighting the impact of structure over individuals.

Understanding systemic structures is essential for addressing long-term, sustainable solutions to problems.

Mental models are often subconscious and can be difficult to identify, yet they are the driving force behind systemic structures.

The iceberg model can be applied to various contexts, including global issues and personal health, to understand underlying causes and patterns.

The model encourages stepping back from immediate events to identify and address the systemic structures and mental models that influence them.

By understanding patterns and structures, individuals can anticipate, plan, and react more effectively to problems.

The iceberg model underscores the importance of looking beyond the surface to uncover the hidden causes and dynamics of a situation.

Transcripts

there are a few basic models that are

very helpful for thinking about system

change one of the most popular V's is

what is called the iceberg model the

iceberg model tries to illustrate the

various levels of abstraction to a

situation or organization from the

observable events to underlying patterns

that generate these to the supporting

structure and ultimately the mental

models used by an organization the

iceberg model helps individuals and

organizations to expand their perception

of a situation to see it within the

context of the whole system and not

limit themselves to looking at just a

single activity or event it is designed

to help people to step back and identify

the different patterns that the event is

part of the possible structures that

might be causing it to occur and finally

the model that is creating those

structures an iceberg is used as an

analogy to represent the underlying

structures generating perceived events

and issues as it is known to have only

ten percent of its total mass above the

water while ninety percent of it is

under water the expression tip of the

iceberg is used to connote that what one

can see is only a small part of a whole

situation ie there is much more below

the surface and what it looks like may

be surprising just like with an iceberg

a large percentage of what is going on

in our world is hidden from view and the

iceberg model tries to make this

explicit by depicting it as a series of

layers that sit beneath the everyday

phenomena observed the iceberg model

argues that events and patterns which

are observable are caused by systemic

structures and mental models which are

often hidden

a fundamental systems-thinking concept

is that different people in the same

structure will produce similar results

that is to say structure causes 80 to

90% of all issues not so much the people

thus to understand behaviors we must

first identify and then understand the

systemic structures and underlying

mental models that cause them

the iceberg model typically identifies

four basic levels to situations events

which represent the manifest components

and actions observable to us the

patterns of behavior beneath this

described trends over time system

structure describes how the parts are

interrelated to influence the patterns

finally the mental models that support

everything else in the system through a

set of beliefs values and assumptions

shaping people's perception

the 1-minute snapshot of a Current

Affair that we might see in the evening

news is an example of an event within

the iceberg model above the waterline

are the events events are markers in

time where multiple variables are

observed

they are the what's happened or what we

saw they are discrete activities or

facts about the state of things in the

system like catching a fish if we apply

the iceberg model to global issues we

could say that at the tip above the

water are events or things that we see

or hear about happening in the world

every day that there is a new president

in Italy or that the price of

commodities is up the events that we

hear about in the news represent the

iceberg tip most of the world spends its

time at the event level it is how we

perceive the world while being occupied

with our daily activities

patterns are the changes and variables

that occur over time they are the trends

that we perceive taking place over time

if we look just below the water line

we often start to see patterns or the

recurrence of events this might be for

example recurring oil spills or once

computer periodically breaking down

patterns are important to identify

because they indicate that an event is

not an isolated incident patterns answer

the questions what's been happening or

what's changing when we make a statement

like it seems to be getting warmer in

winter or the price of gas is going down

these are patterns that we are observing

a series of relationships between events

when we get to the pattern level we can

anticipate plan and forecast it allows

us to adapt to problems so we can react

more effectively to them

the structure supports creates and

influences the patterns we see in the

events structures can be understood as

the rules of the game they can be

written or unwritten they can be

physical and visible or invisible they

are rules norms policies guidelines

power structures distribution of

resources or informal ways of work that

have been tactile or explicitly

institutionalized they answer the

question what might explain these

patterns

it may not be easy to see the structure

but the patterns we can see tell us that

the structure must be their structures

are composed of cause-and-effect

relationships these are connections

between patterns for example a farmer

might say if I increase the number of

cows I will get more milk she is saying

there is a connection between an

increasing number of cows a pattern and

an increasing amount of milk another

pattern or for example the underlying

structure of a problem such as recurring

oil spills might be our dependence on

fossil fuels but if you look at the root

cause of such spills you can start to

understand and address long-term

sustainable solutions such as developing

alternative energy sources that do not

rely on oil shipment

the mental model used to perceive the

world is ultimately what generates the

structures patterns and events below the

structures are the mental models these

define the thinking that creates the

structures that then manifest themselves

in the patterns of events mental models

are people's deeply held assumptions and

beliefs that ultimately drive behavior

there is typically not just one pattern

or structure or mental model at play

there can be many mental models are the

attitudes beliefs morals expectations

values or culture that allow structures

to continue functioning as they are

these are the beliefs that we often

learn subconsciously from our society or

family and are likely unaware of mental

models are ultimately what keep the

structure doing what it does they are

the thoughts and processes of reasoning

that need to exist to cause the

structure to be the way it is these

ideas exist in the minds of the

structures stakeholders the people who

set up the structure or those that play

a role in the way it operates mental

models are typically difficult to

identify and that they engender many

assumptions that are never made explicit

an example of the iceberg model may be

seen in one's own health catching a cold

would be an event catching colds more

often when we are tired is a pattern the

systemic structures or causes for

getting tired might include lack of rest

from excessive work which might in turn

be a product of a mental model

surrounding our identity as a

hardworking person one tends to get

caught up in the immediate event of

suffering from a cold and typically

forgets that it is part of a pattern of

events that is caused by the underlying

structures of our lifestyle and

perception