How should we solve a problem? Generally, what we commonly do, is to react based on what’s visible. For example, if we eat too much food, and we do not exercise, we will gain weight. The solution to this problem, looking solely at what happened, is eating less and exercising more. But that’s a wrong approach. In the world of systems thinking, we’ll ask this: “Why am I overeating and not exercising? What’s the real reason?” Figuring out what actually created the problem in the first place, and acting based on this realization, is what makes the iceberg model of systems thinking so damn efficient.
There are many more ways to solve a problem, of course. But what makes the iceberg model so graceful is the relentless desire to understand what’s behind the curtain. What’s the real reason something happened. And what you can do about it to make a change.
If you’re new to this concept – systems thinking that is – let’s get you up to speed.
There are systems everywhere. And everything is connected. Not just our phones in the monstrously big network we call the Internet. But our actions. Nature. Our relationships with other people, and a lot, lot more.
A simple action that we consider insignificant can cause huge complications along the way. Or, as is often cited, “a butterfly flapping its wings can cause hurricanes.”1
The point of this metaphor is to portray how something small can cause a huge change.
And this is generally true for evertyhing and everyone. Something you do can cause good, or bad things, in other areas of your life simply because of the way things are connected.
That’s the essence of systems thinking. Everything is linked in one giant system. For instance, if you don’t treat your children well, they will grow up careless of others and afraid of exploring different ideas and concepts, but they’ll have a little idea of why that is. Eventually, they might even transfer the initial “education” received by you to their own successors.
Or, to give you another example, if you’re unable to figure out what are the weak spots in your organization, you’ll continue to invest in the wrong products which will lead to weak outcomes and financial losses.
By understanding and applying the concept I’m about to present, you’ll stop treating individual events. Stop looking solely at the cause. Instead, you’ll start to dig deeper. Ask questions that will help you unravel the relationships between elements, how they work (or don’t work) together, spot patterns, and finally figure out the root cause of the problems you’re facing.
What Is The Iceberg Model of Systems Thinking?
The iceberg model of systems thinking is a way of understanding the origin of a problem. Not simply reacting base on an event, on what’s visible, but going beneath what’s apparent and unraveling the motivations that caused the problem to exist in the first place. By applying a four-step model, you reach the core issue and find a better fix.
The iceberg is the perfect metaphor for the problems we’re experiencing daily because what’s visible, is often deceiving. You see a pile of ice floating above the water and, you’d think, “That’s not too big, we can simply go past it.” But as we all know, thanks to movies like Titanic, the ice beneath the water will tear your ship which will lead to a dramatic chase around the deck, boats, violinists playing music around screaming people, diamonds, and eventually the most infamous ship disaster in history, but let’s not digress.
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- This is most commonly used to explain the so-called butterfly effect. In short, a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a later state.
- Obviously, it’s a bit more complicated than that, but I believe you get my point.
- You can learn here about the general use of mental models.
- I know. That’s easier said than done. The amount of work that needs to be done will take you months, years in some cases. I’ve written plenty on the topic of self-discipline. Check it out.
- The following articles helped me create this piece of information: Connecting Systems Thinking and Action by Ed Cunliff; Iceberg Model Untools by Adam Amran; A Systems Thinking Model:
The Iceberg by Ecochallenge.
