Learning no-code tools is helping me understand more complex topics as well.

Here's an example of how @augustbradley's excellent free Notion course is helping me get a better grasp of Systems Thinking.

Full notes and video here:
https://roamresearch.com/#/app/rroudt-public/page/8IaJARG6Y

(thread)

How to do Systems Thinking

1. Define the inputs, outputs, and movements.
2. Distinguish linear from circular.
3. Look for patterns.
4. Find the feedback loops.
5. Understand the balancing processes.
6. Study the system's interaction with other systems.

1. Define the inputs, outputs, and movements.

- What enters the system from the outside?
- How does the input move around?
- What is finally produced as output by the system?
- Are there bottlenecks?
- What does the build-up at the bottlenecks look like?

2. Distinguish linear from circular.

- What functions are linear?
- What parts of the process are circular?
- Most fundamental parts tend to be circular.

3. Look for patterns.

- Systems tend to be made up of patterns, mostly Fractal Patterns.
- Describe and visualize system patterns.
- Flowcharts are a good tool to describe systems.
- Once you see a pattern in a part of the system, look for echoes of the pattern.

4. Find the feedback loops.

- A feedback loop is a self-magnifying or self-diminishing mechanism in a pattern.
- Anything with exponential growth has a feedback loop.
- Once you see feedback loops, you can see cause and effect.

5. Understand the balancing processes.

- Any system that sustains over time has balancing properties.
- Balancing processes are needed to counteract the feedback loops.
- Look at the balancing processes to evaluate the sustainability of a system.

6. Study the system's interaction with other systems.

- Ask: "What other system is this system part of?"
- Identity the larger system, and repeat the steps above.
- Every system is part of another system, creating an Infinite Loop.