A Language for Learning
Language has a subtle, yet powerful effect on the way we view the world. English, like most other Western languages, is linear—its basic sentence construction, noun-verb-noun translates into a worldview of "A causes B."
This linearity predisposes us to focus on one-way relationships rather than circular or mutually causative ones, where A influences B, and B in turn influences A.
Unfortunately, many of the most vexing problems confronting managers and organizations are caused by a web of tightly interconnected circular relationships.
To enhance our understanding and communication of such problems, we need a language more naturally suited to the task.
Elements of the Language. Systems thinking can be thought of as a language for communication about complexities and interdependencies.
—5th Discipline Fieldbook
