Blog Archives

The AI take a deep dive into “The systems thinker’s toolbox”, a book that offers over eighty tools and methodologies for managing complexity. These tools encompass various approaches, including Checkland’s Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) document, and mathematical techniques. The materials also explore paradigms for handling complexity, contrasting non-systems and systems approaches, and provide templates for document creation, idea generation, and problem formulation. Finally, the text presents the “Zone of Ambiguity,” a novel … Continue reading →

The AI team take a deep dive into a booklet by Niels Malotaux which details the TimeLine technique, a project management method emphasizing iterative, small changes to improve project outcomes. It advocates for defining a clear project goal, prioritizing tasks based on value, and using just-enough estimation with frequent calibration. The TimeLine approach addresses potential project delays proactively, offering strategies to save time and avoid common pitfalls like adding personnel to a late project. The … Continue reading →

The AI team take a deep dive into Joseph Kasser’s application of systems thinking to editing his father and teacher’s papers. His father, Moses Jakob Kasser, was a German-Jewish rabbi who served in the British Army’s 87th Company of the Alien Pioneer Corps during World War II. The book recounts Moses’s experiences as an unofficial chaplain to his unit, detailing his efforts to maintain Jewish religious life amidst the challenges of wartime service. It includes sermons, artwork, correspondence, … Continue reading →

This podcast takes a deep dive into a case study presented online to a Serverless Toronto meeting on September 16, 2024. The autobiographical details Dr Kasser’s application of systems thinking to improve postgraduate systems and software engineering education. He describes eight systems thinking tools he developed and employed to address challenges in curriculum design and delivery, including benchmarking other universities’ programs. The case study tracks his iterative approach, evolving from traditional lectures to blended and … Continue reading →

The AI team take a deep dive into Dr Kasser’s YouTube presentation which explores the Ten Commandments from a systems thinking perspective. The author questions the exact number of commandments, examining different interpretations of the biblical text in Exodus and Deuteronomy. A structural analysis is performed, breaking down each commandment into its components. Quantitative analysis is also applied, counting the commandments based on various criteria. Ultimately, the paper raises questions about the interpretation and application of the Ten Commandments … Continue reading →