Cosmic conversation: Systems thinking models
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In this Fireside Chat, Isabel Evans and Joep Schuurkes explore the power of Systems Thinking and how various models can help testers and quality professionals navigate complex software ecosystems.
Isabel and Joep break down key Systems Thinking concepts, discussing how they apply to real-world testing challenges and decision-making. Through a very engaging conversation, they highlight the importance of seeing software as an interconnected system rather than isolated components.
From mental models to causal loops, the conversation dives into practical frameworks that testers can use to improve problem-solving and communication across teams. Whether you're looking to enhance your strategic thinking or make better-informed testing decisions, this session provides valuable insights into leveraging Systems Thinking for higher-quality software.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the fundamentals of Systems Thinking and its relevance to software testing
- Learn how to apply different Systems Thinking models to identify risks and improve test strategies
- Gain practical insights into using mental models and causal loops to analyse complex testing challenges
Resources
- Isabel’s presentation at EuroStar
- Nobody Ever Gets Credit for Fixing Problems that Never Happened - Nelson P. Repenning and John D. Sterman
- Joep’s post on social media: a simple example of Systems Thinking: “If everyone is in meetings all the time, no one has time to prepare (for) the meeting, so the meetings are less effective, so there are more and longer meetings, so everyone is in meetings all the time. 🎠”
- Better testing, worse quality - Elisabeth Hendrickson
- "Human Factors Methods for Design: Making Systems Human Centred" by C P Nemeth
- "Soft Systems" by Checkland and Poulter in "Systems Approaches to Making Change: A Practical Guide" (2020)
- Thinking in Systems - Donella H. Meadows (book)
- The ETTO Principle: Efficiency-Thoroughness Trade-Off - Erik Hollnagel (book)
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Some books that are about disrupting thought patterns which help with breaking vicious circles:
- E de Bono "Six Thinking Hats"
- M Bonifer & J Shternshns "Ctrl Shift"
- T Katan "Creative Trespassing"
- L Hyde "Trickster Makes This World"
- C Duhigg "Power of Habit"
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