6 Next steps in practising systems thinking in practice

There are several next steps you could take in exploring systems thinking in practice. You might be interested in looking at the free courses on systems thinking in practice via the STiP hub on OpenLearn, including diagramming. The OpenLearn Systems Thinking Hub is a collection of free resources – articles, videos, audios, and courses – that explore systems thinking in practice (STiP). New learning resources are added regularly.

The Open University’s Systems Thinking in Practice programme involves three nested qualifications: 

• Postgraduate Certificate in Systems Thinking in Practice 
• Postgraduate Diploma in Systems Thinking in Practice 
• MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice 

More details of this programme can be found at Systems thinking in practice page at The Open University.

The following four systems in practice books are co-published by the OU and Springer:

1. Systems Practice: How to Act in a Climate Change World by Ray Ison. You can view some sample chapters.
2. Systems Approaches to Managing Change: A Practical Guide edited by Martin Reynolds and Sue Holwell. You can view some sample chapters.
3. Social Learning Systems and Communities of Practice edited by Chris Blackmore. You can view some sample chapters.
4. Systems Thinkers by Magnus Ramage and Karen Shipp. You can view some sample chapters.

There is also an active Systems Thinking in Practice Alumni LinkedIn group which currently has over 1,400 members.