Dr. Russell Ackoff on Systems Thinking - Pt 2

Summary

This 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

• 🚗 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.
• 🔍 The script emphasizes that analysis alone cannot answer 'why' questions about systems; understanding requires synthesis and explanation.
• 🧠 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.
• 🤔 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.
• 🌐 Systems are defined by their function within a larger system, which is essential for understanding their role and purpose.
• 🔧 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.
• 🧩 A system cannot be divided into independent parts without losing its essential properties; it is the product of the interactions of its parts.
• 🚫 Analysis, which involves breaking down a system into parts, can actually result in the loss of the system's essential properties and understanding.
• 🏫 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.
• 🤝 The script suggests that true understanding comes from considering the interactions between parts of a system, rather than studying them in isolation.
• 🌟 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

00:00

🔍 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.

05:02

🧩 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.

Keywords

💡Automobile

An automobile is a motor vehicle designed for the transportation of passengers and their luggage. In the video script, the automobile is used as an example to illustrate the concept of systems and their functions. The script discusses why the motor is in the front, originally because of the 'horseless carriage' design, and how taking it apart does not explain its purpose or function.

💡Horseless Carriage

The term 'horseless carriage' refers to an early type of automobile that was a precursor to modern cars. It was called so because it was a carriage without a horse, indicating a shift from animal power to mechanical power. The script uses this term to explain the historical placement of the motor in the front of vehicles.

💡Analysis

Analysis is the process of breaking down a complex topic or substance into simpler parts in order to gain a better understanding of it. In the context of the video, analysis is contrasted with synthesis. The script suggests that while analysis provides knowledge of how things work, it does not provide understanding of why they work in a certain way.

💡Synthesis

Synthesis is the process of combining separate elements or substances to form a coherent whole. In the video, synthesis is presented as a way of thinking that provides explanations and understanding, as opposed to analysis which provides knowledge. Synthesis involves understanding the behavior and purposes of systems.

💡Explanations

Explanations are statements that clarify the reasons or causes of something. The script emphasizes that explanations are crucial for understanding why things are the way they are, as opposed to just knowing how they function. Explanations lie outside the system and are part of the process of synthesis.

💡Understanding

Understanding is the ability to perceive the intended meaning or reason behind something. The video script argues that understanding is the product of explanations, not merely the result of analysis. Understanding is achieved through synthesis, which provides insights into the behavior and purposes of systems.

💡Systems

A system is a set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole. The script uses the term to discuss how objects and concepts are part of larger entities, and how their functions and behaviors are determined by their roles within these systems.

💡Educational System

The educational system refers to the organized institution, structure, and practice through which the teaching and learning process is conducted. In the script, the educational system is mentioned as an example of a system where understanding the whole is more important than studying its parts in isolation.

💡Economic System

The economic system encompasses the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services in a society. The script uses the economic system as an example to illustrate how corporations are part of this larger system and their roles define their functions within it.

💡Essential Parts

Essential parts are components of a system that are necessary for the system to function as intended. The script discusses how essential parts are necessary but not sufficient for the performance of a system's function, using the motor, battery, and fuel pump of an automobile as examples.

💡Function

Function refers to the purpose or activity for which something exists or is used. In the video, function is emphasized as the defining characteristic of a system within a larger system. Understanding the function of a system is crucial for understanding its role and behavior.

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