Systems Thinking

A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked. A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work. You have to start over with a working simple system.

– John Gall (Systemantics: How Systems Really Work and How They Fail)

When systems look broken, it’s often because the function they’re really trying to serve is not what we think. Companies, schools, hospitals, politics, ..