Theories Of Analytical Thinking

Some people tend to think in a linear fashion, that is, A causes B which causes C. Systems thinking recommends that we introduce circular feedback, that is, what if C can cause A? What if a combination of B and C can cause A?

Analytical thinking on the other hand, suggests that we split the whole into parts to understand how the whole works. Dr. Russell Ackoff, an American organizational theorist, points out that this is how we were taught in school. Complex subjects were broken down into themes to aid understanding.

This mode of thinking does not work for all situations. Logical thinking also implies that we adopt a chain of reasoning: if A, then B. This mode of thinking always starts with a premise and arrives at a conclusion. Logical conclusions

It involves constantly re-assessing your position for credibility, regardless of your worldview.

Karl Wiegers, in the piece, The Six Blind Men and the Requirements, cited the story of six blind men who each touched the same elephant but described it differently. Their perspectives weren’t wrong, but their insights combined to provide an accurate description of the elephant.

The point is, interacting with different stakeholders can reveal different perspectives to a problem. A systems thinker would incorporate all these perspectives to get a full picture of the situation.

Why Exactly Is Systems Thinking Necessary in Business Analysis?

One of the central tenets of systems thinking is the need to understand how events relate to one another instead of studying them in isolation. A practical example is this:

Fraud has been committed in your organization, and you have been brought in to find out how it happened. You discover that:

1) Processes were not being monitored or audited.
2) Collusion amongst staff encouraged fraudulent practices.
3) Access control features of the system were weak, and staff had access to system features they didn’t

• Did collusion amongst staff prevent process monitoring and implementation of effective access control features?
• Did a combination of all these factors lead to fraud?

Systems thinking allows the analyst to focus on the interaction between events. It is an approach to problem solving that views individual problems as part of a bigger phenomenon. So, instead of reacting to specific events, the analyst should look at ALL of the circumstances surrounding an event. An event should thus not be seen as occurring in isolation.

Systems thinking allows the analyst to consider different viewpoints or worldviews when designing solutions for complex human activity systems or resolving messy situations. Analysts often deal with many people with differing worldviews, all potentially valid and proffering different ways to handle a problem. Understanding where stakeholders are coming from can help the BA proactively identify potential resistance to certain system features and nip them in the