Introduction to systems thinking for civil servants (24 May 2022)

Summary

This document is a short introduction to systems thinking for civil servants. It is one component of a suite of documents that aims to act as a springboard into systems thinking for civil servants unfamiliar with this approach.

Content

This suite of documents includes:

1. The systems thinking journey

What:

Weaves systems thinking throughout the policy design process. Outlines how systems thinking complements existing guidance.

Who:

Designed as a first step into understanding systems thinking.

2. The systems thinking toolkit

What:

A step-by-step guide to 11 simple and accessible systems thinking tools. Includes illustrative examples and templates for each tool.

Who:

Designed for those who want to use systems thinking.

3. The systems thinking case study bank

What:

A collection of testimonials from a diverse group of civil servants across government.

Who:

Anyone interested in examples of systems thinking in government.

These documents introduce a small sample of systems thinking concepts and tools, chosen due to their accessibility and alignment to civil service policy development, but which is by no means comprehensive. They are intended to act as a first step towards using systems thinking approaches to solve complex problems and the reader is encourage to explore the wider systems thinking field further.