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.