Systems Thinking and Design

This trans-disciplinary course aims to provide students with a conceptual toolset to bridge disciplinary modes of thinking. It introduces systems thinking frameworks as mental devices to illuminate and critically interrogate key concepts, assumptions, frameworks, and modes of engagement. Through these frameworks, it explores the multi-faceted nature of sustainability and the role of information systems and technology design in addressing it. Students will explore and contrast so-called hard, soft, and critical systems thinking approaches and their historical evolution. We use systems thinking games, collaborative modelling, and case studies to explore the role of systems design in social, environmental, and economic sustainability and we discuss roles and responsibilities for information professionals in this space.  

Exclusion: INF1005H/INF1006H Systems Thinking, Systems Design