Systems Wisdom
Showing posts with label Systems Wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Systems Wisdom. Show all posts

Three Characteristics of Information Management System

The systematic view of Information Management helps the management understand information management as a dynamic living system making business impact on the daily basis.

A system is a group of interacting, interrelated, or interdependent elements forming a complex whole. A system has a purpose to perform a set of functions to achieve well-defined goals. A system which is composed of interacting and interdependent pieces has a specific structure which is defined by its components and processes - the interrelationship between components. Managing information and the information position of an organization is what ought to be called Information Management. Information Management is a system with interdependent processes, technologies, and a set of interdisciplinary practices for moving the business to a dynamic, iterative, integral and interactive digital flow.

Information Management is a living open system: Information is one of the most invaluable business assets which can create or multiply the business value and maximize its return on investment. An information system is a business-centric system that deals with information management for collecting, storing, processing, and delivering information, knowledge or services to ensure that the right people can get the right information to make the right decisions in a timely manner. Information systems are logically independent of technology. Information-technology is a specific subset of that emphasizes the various tools, techniques and other means through which the business achieves the aims of that information-system. The information system is open so that information can flow in and out frictionlessly. Information systems incorporate both ends and means, they are continuously open to new information from the dynamic business environment and are able to circulate information within the system seamlessly and respond to changes continuously.

The information system is more than the sum of its parts: Information Management puts the effort of valuing information independent of its association to the value of related tangibles, to ensure information reliability and consistency. Information Management system is a system that manages information, which is a pervasive concept and mostly depends on humans to define which kind of information that is relevant and how to refine it to achieve its business value. The system as a whole is more than the sum of its parts. Identify system/subsystem input/output boundaries for a system, system interaction, data collection on subsystem input or output, modeling and analysis of the system or subsystems, as well as external variables to the system that can and cannot be controlled. Information structure and management is system oriented, it needs to be fully integrated into the business system, increase common understanding and communication, to ensure that the whole is superior to the sum of pieces.

People as emergent property: Every system is like three sides of a con, this side, that side and the integrative relationship between them. Information management is a system which has an emergent property of individual human beings making sense of experiences in time and place. The key point is to make sure the 'system-of-interest' is defined to establish the boundary and the properties that interact with the environment. Generally speaking, people are the critical element in the system. Systems are complex and do include people. People are considered as indivisible entities, so consider people as systems as well. Information Management system intersects with other management disciplines as well. For example, Information Management systems have potential to improve the quality of people management. Sometimes when the systems are broken, outdated or have severe defects, it decreases productivity, effectiveness, and efficiency either individually or collectively

Information is permeating into every corner of the business and every perspective of human society right now. It becomes the "nerve system "of the digital business in the modern world. The systematic view of Information Management helps the management understand information management as a system with a set of interdisciplinary practices for moving the business to a dynamic, iterative, integral and interactive digital flow and a high-responsive, high intelligent digital organization.
Read More

Discover What is at the Heart of the Problem

Discovering the heart of problems starts at the mindset level and takes both strategy and methodologies. 


We live in the world with all sorts of problems, even though we understand all different forms of thinking, the problems facing the planet don't seem to be reducing. Many problems exist because they are either ill-defined or the concept cannot be adequately captured contextually. Trying to fix the wrong cause of a problem will waste time and resources, increase anxiety and even cause chaos. Therefore, the deeper you understand the problem, the easier you could frame the problem, and the better chance you could solve it effectively. But more specifically, how to discover what is the heart of the problem?

Wrap the mindset around the problem: With “VUCA” new normal, problem-solving thought-processes and practices will not be simple for many vexing problems. The more complex the situation is, the more different approaches and role gaming is needed to reach for in-depth understanding. A logical problem-diagnose scenario that crosses all industries is to keep peeling back the layers to discover the root cause. Thus, it’s critical to leverage different thought processes for thinking about the specific issue and common challenges from different angles, and solving problems analytically and systematically. The problem-solving thought processes involve many forms of thinking such as temporal, inductive, deductive, analytical, system, abstract, historical, mathematical, and other forms of logic. Getting input from a broad range of personalities and cognitive difference between people on the particular matter. Collectively, people should bring different perspectives and the boundaries might have changed based on open conversations and continuous debate and brainstorming. You don’t need to always agree with each other, but it’s always critical to gain empathy, capture insight and come up with a fresh perspective on getting to the heart of issues before putting effort to solve it smoothly.

Leverage Systems Thinking to understand the “scope” of the problem: System Thinking is about seeing the inter-connectivity of parts and the whole. It helps to see a complex issue as a larger system with interactive pieces and “conflict” goals; understand the interdependent pieces, provide insight into the emergent properties, gain an accurate understanding of the overall situation and hence, it helps to better defining the real problem structurally. The more complex the situation is, the more important to leverage systems thinking, critical thinking and many other multidimensional thought processes to see underneath the symptoms, dig into root causes of the problem and see around corners without ignoring some pieces of important information. Systems Think helps to focus on relationships between things rather than characteristics of things, understand the outcomes of various relationships/actions in order to solve the problem thoroughly with less side effect. More specifically, leveraging Systems Thinking for problem-solving is about unfolding systemic relationships, telling stories to others, and soliciting their feedback. Systems Thinking practitioners can see the inter-connectivity between the different problems as well as the different part of the problems, diagnose the root cause of either old or emerging problems and solve them effectively.

Explore different ways of understanding and doing things: To discover the heart of issues and solve it effectively, digital leaders and professional should change their “we always do things like that mentality" by exploring different ways of understanding and doing things. Think both in macro and micro way, critically and creatively, assume that every problem has multiple solutions, always explore different choices, ask open questions to themselves and others to explore new possibilities. Until the underlying problem is addressed, the symptom or result will continue to return. Thus, people are encouraged to think differently, challenge old assumptions, update their knowledge, pull the necessary resources to experiment with different ways to handle problems, drive improvement, figure out better solutions and make them stick. 

Running a business is an iterative problem-solving continuum: Framing the right problems, assessing the right people with the right mindset and capability, and solving the problem effectively are all critical steps for developing problem-solving competency and improving business performance. There is no panacea for fixing all sorts of business problems. Discovering the heart of problems starts at the mindset level and takes both strategy and methodologies. Problem-solving masters are those individuals or businesses who are equipped with the digital mindset, accumulate sufficient information and knowledge, leverage the powerful digital technologies, avoid pitfalls and roadblocks along the way, build the differentiated business competency, and develop their own set of problem-solving principles, methodologies and practices.
Read More

The Monthly “Problem-Solving Master” Book Tuning: Holistic Problem-Solving Aug. 2019

“Holistic thinking" refers to a big picture mentality, and understand that the whole is often greater than the sum of the parts. 

The purpose of “Problem-Solving Master - Frame Problems Systematically and Solve Problems Creatively“ is to throw some light on how to understand, frame, and solve today’s multilayer, interdependent, and over-complex business problems effortlessly. Digital leaders and professionals should self-aware of their role in problems, show professional maturity, and develop a good reputation as the problem-solver.




                 Holistic Problem-Solving


Holistic Problem-Solving “Holistic thinking" refers to a big picture mentality, and understand that the whole is often greater than the sum of the parts. Holistic thinking is the type of thinking practice that appreciates how underlying complexity generates the features and phenomena of interest to practitioners so that they can work with them accordingly. From the problem-solving perspective, what are the characteristics of situations or problems in which we should adopt holistic thinking? When is the trade-off more beneficial in adopting holistic thinking versus mechanistic thinking or linear logical thinking for improving problem-solving effectiveness?

Three Critical Ingredients in Systematic “Problem-Solving” Formula Fundamentally, running a business is an iterative business problem-solving continuum. Behind every problem is a relationship dynamic out of alignment. In today’s complex business setting, problem-solving usually has a very wide scope and takes an interdisciplinary approach. People have to know how to connect the dots with the hyperconnected business ecosystem, think systematically, holistically and inclusively, comprehend dynamic; master induction or deduction; understand variables, interfaces, and interactions. Here are three critical ingredients in systematic “problem-solving” formula.

Synthesizing Problem-Solving Fundamentally, every job is to deal with problems big or small both from long-term perspectives or on a daily basis. Fixing the wrong cause of a problem is wasting time and energy. There are many thought processes behind problem identification and there are many step-wise approaches to solve problems seamlessly. There is analytical problem-solving - break down the larger problems into small pieces and solve them separately. There is synthesizing problems solving which focuses on understanding the interconnectivity of problems & solutions via a holistic lens. The terms analysis and synthesis come from classical Greek and mean literally "to loosen up" and "to put together" respectively.

Systematic Problem-Solving: Looking out of Problems before Looking into the Problems Problem-solving is about seeing a problem and actually finding a solution to that problem, not just the band-aid approach to fixing the symptom. How you find a solution to any problem depends on your perspective to that problem, but every problem has numerous angles to take into consideration. To deal with many of today’s complex problems, perhaps you need to conduct a systematic problem-solving approach - what Russ Ackoff, an American organizational theorist, used to call "looking out of the problem" as opposed to "looking into the problem," in order to solve problems thoroughly.

Shaping a Holistic View -Seeing both Forest and Trees Holistic thinking involves understanding a system by sensing its large-scale patterns and addressing the big picture. In terms of a holistic viewpoint, one does often need to integrate different stereotyped or mechanistic viewpoints; it is the integration and searches for new viewpoints that are holistic. At times, when you only want to see things from your own point of view, see what you want to see, or, hear what you want to hear, often you miss the point to understand the real problem holistically as well as how to solve it creatively or systematically. Here are three aspects of shaping a holistic view of digital transformation.

The “Future of CIO” Blog has reached 3 million page views with about 5900+ blogs posting in 59+ different categories of leadership, management, strategy, digitalization, change/talent, etc. The content richness is not for its own sake, but to convey the vision and share the wisdom. Blogging is not about writing, but about thinking; it’s not just about WHAT to say, but about WHY to say, and HOW to say it. It reflects the color and shade of your thought patterns, and it indicates the peaks and curves of your thinking waves. Unlike pure entertainment, quality and professional content takes time for digesting, contemplation and engaging, and therefore, it takes time to attract the "hungry minds" and the "deep souls." It’s the journey to amplify your voice, deepen your digital footprints, and match your way for human progression.
Read More
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)