Systems Thinking Archetypes
What is an Archetype?
Go to the Archetypes Overview Chapter
We are using a classification system of archetypes that have the following eight categories.
The Tragedy of the Commons
Multiple parties enjoying the benefits of a common resource do understand the impact they are having on sustaining resource. As a result, they make selfish short-term decisions. Eventually, this resource is exhausted, resulting in the shutdown of the activities of all parties in the system.
Go to the Tragedy of the Commons Chapter
Fixes that Fail
A quick-fix solution is rapidly implemented to address the symptoms of an urgent problem without understanding the root cause of the problem. This quick fix sets into motion unintended consequences that are not evident at the start, but cause problems to the longer-term viability of the system.
Go to the Fixes that Fail Chapter
Limits to Growth
A given effort initially generates positive performance. However, over time the effort reaches a constraint that slows down the overall performance no matter how much energy is applied.
Go to the Limits to Growth Chapter
Shifting the Burden
A problem is addressed by a short-term and fundamental solution. The short-term solution produces side effects that affect the fundamental solution. As this occurs, the system's attention shifts to the short-term solution or to the side effects.
Go to the Shifting the Burden Chapter
Drifting Goals
As a gap between goal and actual performance is realized, the conscious decision is to lower the goal. The effect of this decision is a gradual decline in the system's performance.
Go to the Drifting Goals Chapter
Growth and Underinvestment
Growth approaches a limit potentially avoidable with investments in capacity. However, a decision is made to not invest, resulting in performance degradation, which results in a decline in demand validating the decision not to invest.
Go to the Growth and Underinvestment Chapter
Success to the Successful
Two or more efforts compete for the same finite resources. The more successful effort gets a disproportionately larger allocation of resources to the detriment of the others.
Go to the Success to the Successful Chapter
Escalation
Parties take mutually threatening actions, which escalate their retaliation attempting to "one-up" one another.
Accidental Adversaries
Go to the Accidental Adversaries
Technology
Technology offers some unique case studies in systems thinking. We have added several technology oriented case studies into their own chapter.