Started Thinking in Systems, connections with technology leadership approaches

August 15, 2025

Thinking in Systems by Donella MeadowsThinking In Systems: A Primer by Donella H. Meadows (2008) has been on my to-read list for a long time. I finally decided to start reading it while traveling, and I am not disappointed. I know it’s popular for people to say they are “systems thinkers,” which I think often means “I try to think about how the different parts of the system in which I work fit together.” But there is a whole body of knowledge about system dynamics, a whole way of thinking about how feedback loops affect connections of stocks and flows, and so far, I’m really enjoying how accessible Meadows is making her introduction.

Thinking back to her wonderful essay Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System, it made me realize that a lot of management/leadership advice centers at different “levels” within Meadows’ hierarchy. For example, OKRs might be at the level of Parameters; Team TopologiesTeam Topologies: Organizing Business and Technology Teams for Fast Flow by Matthew Skelton & Manuel Pais (2019) might be at the level of Information Flows; Project to ProductProject to Product: How to Survive and Thrive in the Age of Digital Disruption with the Flow Framework by Mik Kersten (2018) might aspire to the level of Paradigms. I’ll reflect more on this as I’m reading and see if it goes somewhere.

Tags: systems thinking, leadership, books