System's Thinking

Question 1

explain systems thinking

Answer 1

looks at the big picture, emphasizing the interactions and relationships between components

key points:
- holistic view
- interconnectedness
- feedback loop
- non-linear

Question 2

explain reductionist thinking

Answer 2

breaks down the big picture into smaller, manageable parts to understand each in isolation

key points:
- analytical view
- simplification
- linear cause and effect
- specialization

Question 3

identify the steps in systems analysis using systems diagrams

Answer 3

1. key influences or interventions
2. relative strength of impact
3. interactions
4. feedback loops
5. bottlenecks
6. leverage points

Question 4

explain the meaning of interactions between factors

Answer 4

• refers to the ways in which different elements or components influence each other within a system
• understanding how different parts work together helps us predict outcomes and make better decisions

Question 5

explain the meaning of leverage points

Answer 5

points in a system where a small shift in one thing can produce big changes in everything

Question 6

explain the meaning of bottlenecks

Answer 6

points in a system where constraints or limitations exist, hindering the flow or effectiveness of the overall system

Question 7

identify and explain uses of systems thinking in public health

Answer 7

systems thinking in health helps us understand how things are connected, find and solve problems, plan many solutions together, and look at the whole picture for better and lasting health improvements

1. understand how things connect
2. find and fix problems
3. do many together
4. see the whole picture

Question 8

One Health

Answer 8

a way of thinking that says human health, animal health, and the health of the environmental are all connected

Question 9

discuss One Health as an example of systems thinking

Answer 9

• it understands that what happens to one part can affect the whole system

example: if an animal gets sick, it can impact people too; so One Health brings doctors, vets, and environmental experts together to prevent and solve health problems for everyone, considering how everything is connected

Question 10

positive feedback loop

Answer 10

increases the effect of the change and produces instability

Question 11

negative feedback loop

Answer 11

reduces the effect of change and helps maintain balance