Overcoming Organizational System Blindness with Systems Thinking for Greater Productivity

The benefit of this workshop is to train you to develop a powerful and multidimensional thinking skill set that can help them to identify and remedy chronic, complex problems – by understanding not only the full extent of the nature of the problem, rather why it is happening. Leaders trained in Systems Thinking are better able to use the limited resources strategically for the best results.

• Understand the five types of system blindness in organization
• Recognize recurring patterns, or archetypes in systems – based on the behaviour of the system over time
• Concept map the elements in a system and the flows between those elements
• Identify the causes and effects within a system
• How to engage stakeholders in collaborative action to influence the outcomes of a system
• Apply systems thinking principles from the workshop to current challenges faced in your industry

This workshop is targeted to business owners and leaders working in any industry. Leaders and managers will be equipped to leverage the powerful perspectives and tools of systems thinking to gain a deeper understanding of their situation – and to find the most impactful point of intervention to stop a downward spiral in performance

This is a highly interactive and result-oriented workshop with hands on activities to stimulate the thinking process of the participants. The participants will also be brought through a process of evolution in their thinking methodology such that they should start to see the changes in their thinking process and become solution-centric rather than being problem-centric.

“Very engaging, extensive and relevant examples shared by Daniel to help participants to understand the concepts and applying systems thinking. The workshop can equip participants with multi-dimensional skill sets to address new challenges as a whole through system thinking for optimal solutions.” Sanny, Manager at Tan Tock Seng Hospital Pte Ltd

“Daniel was good at conveying the concepts into real life, applicable scenarios and giving us the resources needed to explore the topic on our own well after the course was over. The course is useful in looking at the soft skills and collaborative aspects necessary for multi-disciplinary work.” Edmund, Assistant Head at A*STAR

“Trainer is approachable and knowledgeable. The course helps broaden perspectives.” Sountharavalli, Senior Executive at State Courts

“Interesting and knowledgeable. Everyone benefits from looking at the big picture instead of just their own individual concerns.” Marianne, Accountant at Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled

“He is very knowledgeable with very practical sharing. Applicable tips to work on making small system thinking changes.” Jesslyn, Snr Assistant Director at MOH

Daniel Theyagu is an ACTA-certified corporate trainer, Associate Adult Educator (AAE) and Licensed Master Practitioner of NLP®. Daniel is also the Senior Managing Partner of Lateral Solutions Consulting LLP (incorporated in 2005). He has a Master in Education [University of Sheffield]; Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from University of Buckingham and Diploma in English from University of London.

Since 1989, Daniel has conducted training for more than 600 organizations with his participants coming from more than 100 countries. He has designed and delivered customize training programs in areas of design thinking, crisis management, performance management, emotional intelligence, creative thinking, critical thinking, systems thinking, business and personal ethics. Daniel’s personal productivity programs have been very well received and has enriched the lives of countless individuals from different walks of life.

Daniel is an adjunct faculty with Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). For more than two decades, Daniel has conducted Career Transition Workshops for SAF and SPF retiring officers and specialists. Daniel has also regularly conducted Design Thinking workshop for Air Force Technical personnel, banking officers and research scientists.

Understand what ‘Systems’ are

• The basics of systems thinking
• A case study of systems thinking in operation

Seeing Systems and Us – understanding the causal loops and archetypes

• Why systems work so well
• Systems Traps and looking for opportunities when systems fail

Creating Change in Systems and in our Structure of thoughts – learning to look at the big picture

• Understanding the Universal structure of thoughts
• Application of the universal structure of thoughts in systems thinking

Working with Systems – Taking action for collaborative problem solving

• Understanding the nature of chronic problem and why it occurs
• Strategies to overcome and manage chronic problems

Systems Approach to problem space and making decision

• Understanding Problem Space

Psychology behind strengthening collaboration by seeing systems

• Individual vs group decision making
• The Hermann Brain Theory
• Creating group dynamics

Avoiding Groupthink and a Mexican Standoff

• What is ‘groupthink’ and how to avoid this?
• How to manage a Mexican standoff

Endgames – Q & A and quiz to identify what has been learnt to manage Returns on Investment