So why create a virtual presence for Systems Soundbites?

Simply because it’s clear that there is a lot of interest in systems thinking but also that there appears to be a need for someone with a casual or passing interest to find an entry point.  There are lots of excellent resources for people to discover systems thinking but no simple entry points.  The idea to create a, hopefully, accessible entry point was inspired by Barry Verdin and Andi Roberts taking part in couch to 5km during the COVID-19 situation in 2020.  The thought process was that it is rare for people to go straight into running a marathon (or even 5km) if they have been inactive and one successful approach is to achieve the end goal though a series of achievable steps. 

Systems soundbites isn’t supposed to be a definitive guide to systems thinking or have all, or any, answers.  Think of Systems Soundbites as the little chunks of cheese that you get in deli’s and supermarkets to give you a taste of a new cheese in order to tempt you to buy a bigger piece.

My background in Systems Thinking started when I was a child (a long time ago in a galaxy, far, far away) when I read an Usborne book on computer programming which used an example of making a cup of tea to explain programming.   This gave me an insight into the fact there was more to making a cup of tea than I had first thought.  From there I studied Business Information Systems as an undergraduate at Liverpool John Moores University, which included studying Soft Systems Methodology, the Viable Systems Model as well as other systems thinking tools and methods.  As part of the course I was fortunate enough to take part in a research project under Stafford Beer which formed part of the development of team synergy and the book Beyond Dispute.  In recent years I have chosen to study an M.Sc. in Systems Thinking in Practice and am currently undertaking a PhD in Systems Science at the University of Hull. More information about me can be found on Wikipedia.