Blog Archives

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 →

Our AI team takes a deep dive into the EverCourse format, an innovative flexible, lifelong learning model using a balanced classroom approach. Dr. Joseph Kasser acts as both instructor and individual coach, emphasizing peer-to-peer learning through teamwork. The self-paced modules combine pre-recorded video lectures, handouts, readings, and exercises, with weekly live Q&A sessions for interaction and networking. Participants can adjust their learning pace, bringing real-world problems into discussions. This structure allows for in-depth exploration of exercises and … Continue reading →

The AI team take a deep dive into a paper presented at the 11th International Conference on System of Systems Engineering, Kongsberg, Norway, in 2016 which examines systems engineering principles through a case study of a “Widget” system. It explores the iterative nature of problem-solving within the system lifecycle, illustrating how solutions to initial problems can create new challenges. The author highlights the interplay between “what’s” (requirements) and “how’s” (solutions) and how unforeseen issues, such as unexpected vibrations … Continue reading →

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 Barry Richmond’s The ‘Thinking’ in Systems Thinking which introduces seven essential skills for effective systems thinking. The text explains these skills—Dynamic Thinking, System-as-Cause Thinking, Forest Thinking, Operational Thinking, Closed-Loop Thinking, Quantitative Thinking, and Scientific Thinking—providing detailed definitions and examples of each. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of these skills and their application in building and using models to understand complex systems. The book advocates for a holistic approach, moving beyond simplistic cause-and-effect thinking to … Continue reading →