Systems Thinking Lab

This laboratory is dedicated to the memory of Vasiliu Dinu Eugen

Systems Thinking Framework

  • This section of RDRP research hub is dedicated to Systems Thinking Theories & Methodologies. 
  • This is the research laboratory to explore, learn, debate, and understand the philosophy, ethics, and epistemology behind the Systems Thinking Theories. 
  • This laboratory is in close synergy with Cities2030, and RURALITIES projects, FILL, and RoRuralia Living & Policy Labs.

Systems Thinking Laboratory coordination:
Codrin Dinu Vasiliu (codrindinuvasiliu(at)gmail.com)

Systems Thinking Laboratory

To define a way of understanding

Not long time ago I came to the idea that, if I want to understand what Systems Thinking is about, a definition is not enough. And because I am here in the land of thinking about systems, a definition of Systems Thinking may put this concept in its epistemological place, among the other sciences and theories, but it does not provide me with speculative tools to gain a critical understanding of Systems Thinking. So, at the beginning of the research in this laboratory, for me, it is enough to pay attention that a system is a system of systems, and its understanding must be always a dynamic, analytic, synthetic but also speculative endeavor. (Codrin Dinu Vasiliu)

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News, Events, Synergies, and Resources

News, events, synergies and resources from our laboratory and from other projects related to systems thinking too. 

20 October 2023

In this presentation, based on methodological methods employed in the Cities2030 project, I would like to introduce a possible systemic approach by unifying three qualifying models for urban consumer behaviour, namely the Iceberg model, the systemic fields model, and the model of resilience dynamics. Their joint use could lay the foundations of a complex approach to understanding urban systems.

15 October 2023

We participated in the national conference Vectors of Rural Development in the North-Eastern Region of Romania, Sustainable Agro-food Systems, and presented a model of good practices in terms of collaboration and co-interest of the stakeholders in the agrifood systems from the North-East Development Region of Romania. The methodology engaged here is based on a systemic approach, namely a model of quadruple helix collaboration and knowledge management focused on the mutual endeavor of identifying specific issues and possible solutions.

14 October 2023

When we consider the urban world, truth can be understood and employed as either a value or systemic function. Here lie the very two limits of the systemic dynamics in terms of understanding-truth relationship. Firstly, I can very well take into consideration the truth understood as systemic value. And, under these premises, I should bring up the excessive ideological authority raised by this understanding approach to the truth at the system level. 

14 October 2023

More and more we think and even more frequently represent the urban worlds in systemic terms. All sorts of claims, from strategic, political, social, and cultural to even psychosocial ones, insinuate into our discourses and carry their own load of particular themes and vocabularies. Words such as ecosystem, biopolitics, and resilience have become operative in our languages and they are no longer novelties in the issues raised in the debate about our urban worlds and our roles as consumers of the big cities.

Systems Thinking Blog

How to define Systems Thinking. A concept definition vs defining a way of understanding

Not long time ago I came to the idea that, if I want to understand what Systems Thinking is about, a definition is not enough. And because I am here in the land of thinking about systems, a definition of Systems Thinking may put this concept in its epistemological place, among the other sciences and theories, but it does not provide me with speculative tools to gain a critical understanding of Systems Thinking.

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Systems Thinking Laboratory

Systems Thinking Laboratory is a virtual space for ideation, co-creation, and co-innovation. 

Exploratory Work in Progress

Systems dimensions. Principles of understanding systems in Systems Thinking theories

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Exploratory Ideas >>

Workshop Agenda >>

Iceberg Model or Iceberg Models?

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Workshop Agenda >>

Closed systems, open systems

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Workshop Agenda >>

Status quo and disruptions in rural systems

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Innovation hubs and knowledge ecosystems

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FILL Mapping

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FILL Mapping is a Mapping Methodology. We are trying to combine innovatory models for knowledge management with systems thinking epistemology. 

Exploratory Ideas >>

Workshop Agenda >>

Laboratory Organizers

  • Rural Development Research Platform
  • “Gh. Zane” Institute for Economic and Social Research
  • Romanian Academy, Iași Branch

Laboratory Team

Coordinator

  • Codrin Dinu Vasiliu

Scientific Research

  • Codrin Dinu Vasiliu
  • Ioan Sebastian Brumă
  • Lucian Tanasă

Editor and Translator

  • Sonia Bulei

Laboratory Collaborators

  • Tuula Löytty (SLEAN – SMART & LEAN HUB OY, Finland)
  • Kalle Karlsson (SLEAN – SMART & LEAN HUB OY, Finland)
  • Demet Osmancelebioglu – (SLEAN – SMART & LEAN HUB OY, Finland)
  • Justine Vanhalst (MATIS OHF, Iceland)
  • Edna Yamasaki (UNRF – ENOSI KINOTITON KIPROU, Cyprus)

RDRP Synergies

Systems Thinking Workshop

Systems Thinking Workshop is the virtual space where we debate the ideas generated by Systems Thinking Laboratory. 

Systems Thinking Workshop

ST workshops are not structured in a classical academic way. They are informal meetings where we learn, innovate, and create together. Before the meetings, we decide on a discussion agenda. In the meetings, we debate on the proposed agenda. After the meeting, we will edit a report with every participant as a co-author. The report will be open access available and it will be a support for our further research activities. 

2023 Workshops

Systems dimensions. Principles of understanding systems in Systems Thinking theories

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30th of November 2023
Online workshop

Exploratory Ideas >>

Discussions Agenda >>

Iceberg Model or Iceberg Models?

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20th of December 2023
Online workshop

Exploratory Ideas >>

Discussions Agenda >>

2024 Workshops

Closed systems, open systems

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31st of January 2024
Online workshop

Exploratory Ideas >>

Discussions Agenda >>

Workshop Calendar

2023

  • Systems Dimensions. 30th of November 2023
  • Iceberg Model or Iceberg Models? 20th of December 2023

2024

  • Open systems, closed systems. 31st of January 2024

Workshop Reports

2023

  • Systems dimensions. Principles of understanding systems in Systems Thinking theories. Workshop Report. November 2023

Symposiums

Systems Thinking Resources

Resources for Systems Thinking Research and Projects. 

Laboratory Deliverables

In this Laboratory Deliverables section you will find articles, conference presentations, books, reports and any other type of systems thinking deliverable, produced by this laboratory. You are given full open access, but please specify the sources if you use these materials. 

Models used in Systems Thinking Methodologies

Systems Thinking Vocabulary

This section is dedicated to the presentation of the main concept related to Systems Thinking Framework. The Vocabulary presents models, theories, methodologies, strategies, concepts.  

Other Resources

In this Other Resources section we present you some resources that are not produced in our laboratory but they are very important for systems thinking understanding. 

Projects Deliverables

Selected Bibliography

  • Donella H. Meadows (2008) Thinking in Systems: A Primer, Chelsea Green Publishing ISBN 978-1-60358-055-7
  • Peter Senge, 1990, The Fifth Discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization, Doubleday, New York
  • Stave, K.A., & Hopper, M. (2007). What Constitutes Systems Thinking? A Proposed Taxonomy. In 25th International Conference of the System Dynamics Society. Boston, MA.
  • Capra, F., 1996. The Web of Life: a New Scientific Understanding of LivingSystems, 1st ed. Anchor Books New York
  • Bossel, Hartmut. Systems and Models: Complexity, Dynamics, Evolution,
    Sustainability. (Norderstedt, Germany: Books on Demand, 2007)
  • Forrester, Jay. Principles of Systems. (Cambridge, MA: Pegasus
    Communications, 1990)
  • Sweeney, Linda B. and Dennis Meadows. The Systems Thinking Playbook.
    (2001)
  • Meadows, Donella H. The Global Citizen. (Washington, DC: Island Press,
    1991)

YouTube Videos

Systems General Theory

Iceberg Model

Problem Based Learning