Systems Thinking in Action: Exploring the Fifth Discipline
Finland
Description :
Systems Thinking is a useful way to have a conversation as it establishes a common language between people (e.g. management and developers). It creates a common understanding of the problem, the desired system optimization goal, and it reveals the (turning) knobs to optimize the system.
In this workshop, we will explore the world of Systems Thinking and Systems modeling.
Most organizations don’t struggle because people lack ideas. They struggle because problems are misunderstood, oversimplified, or solved in isolation.
Systems Thinking changes that.
It provides a shared language across roles — from developers to managers — to understand:
- what is really going on,
- why problems persist,
- and where meaningful change is possible.
As Peter Senge describes it, Systems Thinking is the “fifth discipline” — a key capability for becoming a true learning organization.
From Theory to Daily Work
This is not a theory-heavy workshop. It is about applying Systems Thinking directly to your real business challenges.
You will learn how to use Systems Thinking in:
🔄 Team & Organization-Level Retrospectives
Move beyond “what went wrong last sprint” and uncover:
- systemic causes behind recurring issues
- hidden dependencies and bottlenecks
- why improvements don’t stick
🧩 Problem-Solving in Product Development
Whether it’s:
- long lead times
- poor product quality
- unclear priorities
- or constant firefighting
You will learn how to:
- model the problem
- identify leverage points
- and design more effective interventions
🏢 Organization Design & Decision-Making
Understand how structure, roles, and policies influence outcomes:
- Why do teams remain dependent?
- Why does coordination dominate delivery?
- Why do local optimizations hurt the whole?
Systems models make these dynamics visible and discussable.
Augmented Thinking with AI
A unique aspect of this workshop is the use of an AI agent to support systems modeling.
You will explore how AI can help to:
- quickly draft system models
- challenge assumptions
- generate alternative perspectives
- and accelerate learning cycles
👉 Not as a replacement for thinking — but as a powerful thinking partner.
What You Will Gain
- A practical method to analyze complex problems
- The ability to facilitate better retrospectives and workshops
- Tools to connect symptoms to root causes
- Confidence to tackle organizational challenges systematically
- Experience in combining human insight with AI-supported modeling
How We Work
You won’t just learn concepts.
You will bring your own real problems and work on them step by step.
With guidance, you will:
- build your own system models
- test assumptions
- and leave with concrete insights you can apply immediately
Who Should Attend
This workshop is for:
- Scrum Masters & Agile Coaches
- Product Developers & Product Owners
- Managers & Leaders
- HR & Organizational Development
Whether you are new to Systems Thinking or already familiar with it —
this workshop will help you move from understanding to real application.
Why This Matters
Most improvement efforts fail because they treat symptoms.
Systems Thinking helps you see the system behind the symptoms —
and act where it actually makes a difference.
You will find Systems Thinking as a Thinking tool in LeSS here,
Learning Objectives
After this workshop, you will be able to:
- Understand and apply Systems Thinking in real organizational contexts
(e.g. dependencies between teams, quality vs. speed trade-offs) - Build and interpret system models
by identifying key variables, feedback loops, and interactions - Distinguish between local and global optimization
and recognize how local decisions impact the overall system - Differentiate correlation from causality
and avoid common misinterpretations in problem-solving - Facilitate collaborative systems modeling sessions
across roles (e.g. developers, managers, stakeholders) - Apply Systems Thinking in retrospectives and problem-solving workshops
to generate actionable and sustainable improvements - Leverage AI as a support tool in systems modeling
to accelerate insight generation and challenge assumptions
Agenda :
Introduction to Systems Thinking
- Social Systems and Why Systems Thinking?
- When to use Systems Thinking?
- Global versus local optimization
- Correlation versus Causality
Applying Systems Models to real-life scenarios
- Finding variables
- Syntax of interactions
- How to find related variables
- Tools for physical meetings
- Tools for online meetings
- Useful hints
through
- Guided puzzles
- Exercises with provided puzzles
- Discovering variables in a new puzzle
- Modeling your own problems and puzzles
- 🔥 NEW: How to use AI in Systems Thinking and Modelling🔥
- Q&A
Details :
Wolfgang is a passionate, energetic, inspiring, and authentic coach with 20+ years of experience in large-scale Lean and Agile Global Product Development. He is a Certified LeSS Trainer and LeSS Coach, a Systems Thinker, a Scrum Master, and has been a certified trainer for Creating Agile Organizations. His learning started in 2005 when he was introduced to Scrum and Agile for the first time. He coached organizations in their LeSS adoption from 2007 onwards and in 2010 a SAFe adoption. Systems Thinking and Systematic Problem Solving workshops are just some of his favorites. 
He has 10+ years of experience in Program and Project Management, including the successful commercial launch of products. Further, he has many years of experience as a Development Manager for Program Management at the Business Unit and division level within Nokia, as well as at the company level at Nokia Siemens Networks.
His 3+ years Round-The-World journey on a motorcycle with his dogs has sharpened his problem-solving skills and he started to practice the art of mindfulness.
Besides his long experience in telecommunication with Nokia/Nokia Siemens Networks, his latest assignments were in organizations like insurance, digital automation, retail, automotive, pump systems, electromechanical as well as electro-mechatronical product development organizations. In October 2020 he founded kai kaku Oy in Finland and he continues to provide training and coaching to organizations worldwide.
Price: 495 EUR
Early Bird Price: 595 EUR (End Date: )
Additional Price Information: All prices are without VAT. Group discounts available. Inhouse classes on request.