# The Systems Thinking Guy...
! [ rw-book-cover] (https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1820423088627953665/Vp1ljKFz.jpg)
URL: https://twitter.com/CassiusKiani/status/1886421932083695723
Author: @CassiusKiani on Twitter
## AI-Generated Summary
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## Highlights
> The systems thinking guy is a genius.
> His unique approach to solving problems transformed the U.S Government, WHO, and General Electric.
> As a designer, I've helped hundreds of business using his methods.
> Here’s his framework to fix any problem:
>  ([View Tweet](https://twitter.com/CassiusKiani/status/1886421932083695723))
> Dr. Ackoff's core idea: Most problems arise because we treat systems as isolated parts.
> But the real magic happens when we look at interactions:
> - Why a process flows the way it does.
> - How one change impacts the whole system.
> Systems thinking demands 1 key mindset shift: <video controls><source src="https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1886421945648074752/pl/aXyfPkhyz3s2lbEX.m3u8?tag=14&v=f79" type="application/x-mpegURL"><source src="https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1886421945648074752/vid/avc1/480x270/XDb07gx94AA7wr2p.mp4?tag=14" type="video/mp4"><source src="https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1886421945648074752/vid/avc1/640x360/znaXMlw02DsrWhAT.mp4?tag=14" type="video/mp4"><source src="https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1886421945648074752/vid/avc1/1280x720/7IbOPtHnk0iorTv4.mp4?tag=14" type="video/mp4">Your browser does not support the video tag.</video> ([View Tweet](https://twitter.com/CassiusKiani/status/1886421984231542962))
> Stop asking “What’s wrong?”
> Start asking “What’s the system causing this behavior?”
> Ackoff believed the root of most failures is treating symptoms, not systems.
> Fixing one part without seeing the whole often makes things worse.
>  ([View Tweet](https://twitter.com/CassiusKiani/status/1886421999591018621))
> His famous analogy: Think of a car.
> If you take the best parts from a Ferrari, a Lamborghini, and a Tesla, will you create the ultimate car?
> No. The parts won’t function as a cohesive system.
>  ([View Tweet](https://twitter.com/CassiusKiani/status/1886422014547947941))
> Ackoff’s insights can be applied in every part of life:
> - Business: Optimize workflows, not departments.
> - Health: Focus on lifestyle, not just symptoms.
> - Relationships: Improve communication dynamics, not individual actions.
> Everything is interconnected.
>  ([View Tweet](https://twitter.com/CassiusKiani/status/1886422034730934476))
> Ackoff used the Iceberg Model to explain problems:
> Most people only see the tip of the iceberg: Events
> - Traffic jams
> - Burnout at work
> - Product failures
>  ([View Tweet](https://twitter.com/CassiusKiani/status/1886422050547589364))
> Systems Thinkers go deeper:
> 1. Patterns: Recurring issues
> 2. Structures: What’s enabling the patterns
> 3. Mental Models: Beliefs driving behaviors
> Let’s use the burnout padamic as an example:
>  ([View Tweet](https://twitter.com/CassiusKiani/status/1886422065407987931))
> Most solutions focus on:
> - Time off
> - Wellness perks
> But systems thinkers ask:
> - What patterns cause burnout? (Overwork, lack of autonomy)
> - What structures allow it? (Poor workload management)
> - What beliefs drive it? (Hustle culture)
> Fix the system, not the person.
>  ([View Tweet](https://twitter.com/CassiusKiani/status/1886422081337991633))
> Ackoff didn’t believe in fixing problems—he believed in design systems that prevent them.
> "The best way to manage change is to design a system that makes change unnecessary."*
> Reactive leadership = endless problemsolving
> Systems leadership = sustainable progress
>  ([View Tweet](https://twitter.com/CassiusKiani/status/1886422096613609648))
> Systems have "leverage points" : small shifts that create massive impact.
> Ackoff emphasized:
> - Changing mental models (beliefs)
> - Aligning incentives
> - Designing feedback loops
> A tiny change in the right place transforms the output.
> Always identify your leverage.
>  ([View Tweet](https://twitter.com/CassiusKiani/status/1886422111394386201))
> Apply Systems Thinking in your life:
> - Identify a recurring problem.
> - Find patterns, structures, and beliefs behind it.
> - Test changes that improve the system.
> "We fail more often because we solve the wrong problem than because we get the wrong solution to the right problem."
>  ([View Tweet](https://twitter.com/CassiusKiani/status/1886422126577795548))
> If you enjoyed this, then follow me [CassiusKiani](https://twitter.com/CassiusKiani) for insights on how to design products and ventures.
> Please also jump back to the top and repost the first post if you found this useful. ([View Tweet](https://twitter.com/CassiusKiani/status/1886422138762211362))