Systems Thinker's Toolbox : Tools for Managing Complexity

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Table of Contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Author -- Other Books by This Author -- Chapter 1: Introduction -- 1.1 How to Read and Use This Book -- 1.2 Thinking -- 1.3 The Systems Approach -- 1.4 Systems Thinking -- 1.4.1 The Two Distinct Types of Systems Thinking -- 1.4.2 Systems Thinking and Beyond -- 1.5 Problem-Solving -- 1.6 Alphabetical List of Tools -- 1.7 Summary -- References -- Chapter 2: Charts -- 2.1 Bar Charts -- 2.2 Cause and Effect Charts -- 2.2.1 Using a Cause and Effect Chart -- 2.2.2 Creating a Cause and Effect Chart -- 2.3 Compound Bar Charts -- 2.4 Compound Line and Bar Charts -- 2.5 Control Charts -- 2.6 Financial Charts -- 2.7 Flowcharts -- 2.7.1 Types of Flowcharts -- 2.7.2 Flowchart Symbols -- 2.7.3 Rules for Drawing a Flowchart -- 2.7.4 Creating a Flowchart to Represent a Process -- 2.7.4.1 Starting from the Ending Here you start with a completed product, namely the cup of instant coffee, and think about what you did to create it (Section 11.8). Working backwards from the completed stirred cup of instant coffee ready for drinking, yo -- 2.7.4.2 Starting from the Beginning Starting from the beginning means that you have to think forwards and ask questions. Here you might have thought about: -- 2.7.4.3 Starting in the Middle Here the ideas come in no particular sequence and you write them down as they come. You then arrange them in Lists (Section 9.4) and Relationship Diagrams (Section 6.1.2), then in hierarchies showing how the parts come toget -- 2.7.5 The Most Common Mistakes Made When Drawing Flowcharts