Fig. 1 provides a depiction of the manner in which the Balancing Loop and Reinforcing Loop can, and are likely to, evidence more complex System Archetypes in play.

Systemic Perspective:

“Viewing the world with a Systemic Perspective means getting beyond the cause and effect mentality to realize events are simply more involved. Once one learns to consider relationships, and then look to the behavior over time of those relationships, and finally to the systemic structure that is the real foundation of the behavior over time, one has managed to get to a Systemic Perspective.

When one realizes that the most sensible answer to “Why does it rain?” is “Because it rains.” and all the interrelations between the two that make that true, then they definitely attained a Systemic Perspective.”

Stumbled upon a course by Jay Forrester on MIT OpenCourseWare entitled “System Dynamics Self-Study” given over both Fall 1998 and Spring 1999. Of note, the software Vensim is linked for free. Further info is here. I mostly make use of MATLAB for modelling but there is definitely some good information in general.

Might be better to pick a systems theory book oriented to your field of inquiry to introduce concepts as this contains some modelling given its a dynamic focus. Doing modelling is very importantly naturally, at the least for visualization, but is necessary for dynamics.

Since the course was originally developed for outside professionals, however, and even claims that it is suitable for K-12 as well as CEOs and executives, it’s certainly worth a look.