How does one find the patterns that connect such a vast world of systems models, approaches, frameworks, and theories? aka, a general theory of systems thinking? Here's my advice after

There's a common perception that thinking and doing are really different things. In the world of systems thinking this translates into debates about systems thinking versus systems action. I have

Relationships are action-reaction. Interaction. Causes and effects. Feedback. Any two things or ideas can be related and any thing or idea could be a relationship itself. The mind is fluid

How we organize the parts of a system into a whole matters. Every whole has parts. Every part is a whole which has parts. And, every whole is a part

Change our perspective and the distinctions we make change, too. And of course, the part-whole organization and the relationships we see can change as well. Every perspective has a point

Distinctions are not things but negotiated boundaries between ideas/things; a boundary between the identity and other that occurs fractally (across scale in the same pattern). The key skill in

The discussion of emergence is always one that gets tempers roiled in the systems thinking community. Indeed, it is one of a few of what I call "sacred cows

I was recently asked the following: "Derek, when I first came across DSRP, I was a little 'turned off' by S being called 'Systems' . For some people systems are

In our research with K-12, undergraduate, graduate students, and the general public over the last decade, a number of patterns emerge that show us the specific things systems thinkers do.

image credit[1] This blog considers ways in which DSRP can improve our writing. DSRP is an acronym representing four simple rules the Cabreras posit as underlying the diversity

Dr. Derek Cabrera gave a keynote address entitled "A Systems View on Adult Learning" at the CAEL International Conference on November 18, 2015, to 600 adult learning professionals.

Categorical thinking is ubiquitous, but there are more elemental structures hidden underneath. Knowing these structures will decrease lock-in and bias and increase critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity as well

Image credit[1] This blog is about how practicing four simple rules can make us better people.[1:1] Derek Cabrera has identified four simple rules or patterns that underlie

It’s about making the school system reflect learning and engagement instead of control and test scores. It’s trying to make the system better for the student and also

A frequent question we receive about DSRP is "Once I make distinctions, and recognize systems, relationships, and perspectives in my thinking process, how will I know if I've arrived

I recently attended an Arizona Project WET teacher training where they are integrating systems thinking into their program and curriculum. Arizona Project WET is partnering with ThinkWater to “flip” water

The internet is full of memes. Here's one that's an entertaining idea embedded in a pop-culture image. Meme: "an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person

Image credit [1] This entry is part of our everydayST series. Learn more about the everydayST tag. I recently posted a link on the ThinkWater Facebook page to a public

WEST POINT, N.Y. (August 28, 2015) — Dr. Derek Cabrera, Cornell Faculty and Senior Research Scientist at Cabrera Research Lab for the study, innovation, and dissemination of systems thinking, was

I like this term, Water Thinker. I like to think of myself as a Water Thinker, but what does that mean? At ThinkWater, we consider a Water Thinker to be

This entry is part of our everydayST series. Learn more about the everydayST tag. Dr. Seuss may represent an approachable and fun entrée to using DSRP[1], not just for

Yesterday my "word of the day" (delivered by email from Dictionary.com) was xeriscaping, which is a noun that means "environmental design of residential and park land

Today I'm writing an everydayST post on shopping.[1] I'm an avid bargain-hunter. It deeply pains me to have to buy something at full price. I derive an inordinate amount

This entry is part of our [`everydayST`](http://stdaily.ghost.io/whats-the-everyday-dsrp-tag/) series. Learn more about the [`everydayST`](http://stdaily.ghost.io/whats-the-everyday-dsrp-tag/) tag. Understanding the idea of and being

In response to my post on Coming to ThinkWater, a friend asked me why I framed what I wrote about water as challenges instead of opportunities. I thought that was

This entry is part of our [`everydayST`](http://stdaily.ghost.io/whats-the-everyday-dsrp-tag/) series. Learn more about the [`everydayST`](http://stdaily.ghost.io/whats-the-everyday-dsrp-tag/) tag. The value of systems thinking is

This entry is part of our [`everydayST`](http://stdaily.ghost.io/whats-the-everyday-dsrp-tag/) series. Learn more about the [`everydayST`](http://stdaily.ghost.io/whats-the-everyday-dsrp-tag/) tag. I went with my wife for

The current international borders were obviously not in place when the Pangea supercontinent existed. But this map relates two ideas (Pangea and Current International borders) into a single whole (system)

Einstein famously said, "if you can’t explain something simply you don’t understand it." Of course, there's lot's of nuance in understanding systems thinking but sometimes one

I've been working in sustainability and environmental education for the past 15 years. I chose this field because I believe that education is the best way to move our society

There are a number of folks in the systems thinking world who are of the opinion that when discussing what is universal to all attempts at thinking systemically, it all

A couple recent posts in online discussion groups have asked about positive outcomes that result from applying systems thinking (ST) to a variety of topical areas. In fact, one person

I'm motivated to write this blog by a recent discussion thread on Systems Thinking Daily about mental models. Of particular interest is how can we be more aware of our

All images credits from STMS[^n] I mentioned in a previous [blog](http://stdaily.ghost.io/what-are-the-patterns-that-connect/) that systems thinking itself is a complex adaptive systems (CAS) and that underlying

Today I am writing about systems thinking, and how it can be equated with looking beyond the surface to see invisible structure. My library is chock full of books and

I can sum up what people want to know about systems thinking in two questions. First, they want to know what systems thinking is, which several previous blogs here, here,

I was recently asked a number of questions which I will reframe some for clarity. 1 Is systems thinking (ST) a thing? Or more specifically, is ST a single thing?

Image credit[^n] The term wicked problem is thrown around a lot in the systems thinking world. But what is a wicked problem? The following summary of the definition of

"The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking." - Albert Einstein[1] In a previous post I cautioned newcomers to the field against

Recent discussion prompted by the query "What is systems thinking?" has motivated me to write this blog, in part because there is no simple, widely agreed upon answer

Image credit: M.C. Escher.1 There is an often cited, well-worn debate around *epistemology versus ontology* in systems thinking. It is in ways reminiscent of the *nature versus nurture*

The Distinctions Rule may seem like the easiest part of DSRP, the four simple rules of systems thinking identified by Derek and Laura Cabrera in Systems Thinking Made Simple: New

You can interpret that title either way... Today I discuss the Systems Rule of DSRP (see DSRP Primer for more info). I'll keep it brief because Derek Cabrera wrote a

New Yorker cartoon on perspective... The perspective rule involves two coimplying elements: a point (the seer) and a view (that which is seen). Images credit: STMS.1 It is also

Let’s deconstruct this often made claim that systems thinking (ST) stands in contrast to (in this case on opposite ends of a continuum from) reductionism. This claim appears reasonable

Image credit: Association for Psychological Science.1 I’m writing again about the four simple rules of systems thinking: Distinctions, Systems, Relationships, and Perspectives (DSRP). I focus today on Relationships.

Today I’m exploring one of the four simple rules of systems thinking (DSRP) from the book Systems Thinking Made Simple: New Hope for Solving Wicked Problems. The four rules

Dr. Derek Cabrera has long demonstrated that four simple rules characterize the field of systems thinking and operate across its multitude of approaches and methods. Moreover, he asserts that these

SYSTEMS THINKING MADE SIMPLE We are excited to announce the release of our new book, Systems Thinking Made Simple: New Hope for Solving Wicked Problems (Odyssean, ISBN 0996349308, $29.95,

Our new book, Systems Thinking Made Simple: New Hope for Solving Wicked Problems (Amazon), will be used as a textbook in an upcoming systems engineering course at West Point. Visit

We're excited to announce the publication of a new book on systems thinking by Drs. Derek and Laura Cabrera. Systems Thinking Made Simple: New Hope for Solving Wicked Problems reflects

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 27, 2015 Ithaca, NY -- With the upcoming beta-release of their systems thinking modeling tool, MetaMap, (metamap.me) Cabrera Research Lab (cabreraresearch.org) makes it possible

Ithaca, NY November 21, 2014 — On Wednesday December 3, 2014 from 4:30-7:00pm (Plant Sciences 233), the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs (CIPA) will host a TED-style mini-conference on

Dr. Derek Cabrera was invited to speak with Graduate Business Students at Cornell's Johnson School Dr Derek Cabrera was invited to speak with Cornell Business graduate students about a systems

Water educators, program directors, and industry members gathered to discuss how to get youth thinking Over 30 educators, program directors and water industry members gathered at the University of Wisconsin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Madison, WI, October 25, 2014 —A surprising collection of educators, leaders and water industry members are gathering on the University of Wisconsin campus next week. The group

OCTOBER 16, 2014 From a trek I did in Europe. A slow journey across a single distinction. An aerial view of the European Alps...a geological boundary. The geopolitical border

An educational conference dedicated our Vision-Mission to Engage, Educate and Empower 7 Billion Thinkers Sir Ken Robinson and Dr. Derek Cabrera (see Dr. Cabrera's talk transcript here) will be keynoting

A Vision and Mission for Educators: Engage, Educate, and Empower Thinkers in Classrooms, Schools, and Districts Please use the following citation: Cabrera, D. (2014) The Simple Idea behind E3. Keynote

Dr. Cabrera's plenary at ISSS (the 58th Meeting of the International Society for the Systems Sciences at the School of Business at George Washington University, Washington DC) on the universality

Are the visualization approaches designers use a conscious choice? I was at the Design School the other day at Cornell University and I had the opportunity to leisurely walk around

Captured in our book, Systems Thinking Made Simple, DSRP is an acronym that stands for the four simple rules that underlie all forms of systems thinking: Make Distinctions and recognize

June 11, 2014 The original Dalai Lama and founder of Buddhism, the Hindu Prince Gautama Siddhartha, said, “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts.

April 14, 2014 Cortex Man (scientific name: Cortical Homunculus) is important for anyone who works in human learning (hint: that's really everyone... educators, corporate trainers, public speakers, parents, employers, marketing

By Erin Barrett reporter@ithacatimes.com © Copyright 2020 Ithaca Times Original article Ithaca City School District is leading the way in redesigning classrooms to align with pedagogical practices and a better understanding

Cornell scientists, the root crisis is thinking... by Derek Cabrera (originally printed in Sustainable Tompkins blog) What is the Crisis? My colleagues and I surveyed the faculty of Cornell University

On August 12, 2006, residents of Turner, ME found a dead animal in Debi Bodwell’s backyard. The carcass was found near a road, and neighbors speculated that a car