Systems thinking · 3/6

Recognize feedback: how change returns

Distinguish reinforcing and balancing processes.

About 15–20 minutes. The following cases are fictional.

Record your first judgment

Backlog increases pressure, checks are reduced, rework rises and feeds the backlog.

My initial judgment, confidence and reasons

Understand the judgment process

Trace an increase around a closed path. If the return amplifies the change it is reinforcing; if it counteracts it, balancing.

Balancing does not guarantee stability, nor reinforcing unlimited growth. Multiple loops, capacity limits and delays affect behavior.

Checks you can perform

Find a closed path.
Trace one disturbance along every link.
Check its returning direction.
State conditions, capacity and other loops.

Guided practice

Backlog rises → more staff → more completions → less backlog. Which process is this?

My analysis and checking plan

Explore the explanation

Balancing: the return counteracts the initial backlog increase. Staffing delays and training affect its behavior.

Apply it in a new context

Word of mouth brings customers who create more word of mouth. Must this be beneficial?

My independent response

Compare after attempting

It can reinforce either good or bad experiences. Capacity and service quality must also be represented.

Preserve an intervention record

What changed your judgment? What still supports it? When will you review?

An R or B label alone cannot predict a time trajectory.

Check whether you supplied inspectable evidence, a feasible next step and intervention conditions. Revealing an answer is not mastery.

Source and scope

Daniel H. Kim — Causal Loop Construction: The Basics

The source provides conceptual or methodological background. Cases, steps and exercises are authored here; they are not the original experiment or evidence of this course’s effectiveness.

I have completed this section; uncheck to undo

Completion is a personal record, not proof of mastery or certification.