{"id":19,"date":"2026-06-24T10:52:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T09:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/?page_id=19"},"modified":"2026-09-22T10:00:29","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T09:00:29","slug":"astip-resources","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/study\/qualifications\/systems-thinking-in-practice\/astip-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"ASTiP Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Applied Systems Thinking in Practice Resources<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resources available online<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Members of the Systems group at the OU had a significant influence in piloting what is now the University-wide Open Research Online (ORO) &#8211; making OU research publications freely available online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We have also had a long tradition of developing resources that may be used by others externally in pursuit of supporting the application of systems thinking in practice, particularly on OpenLearn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Badged Open Course<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A freely available open online 8 week course (approximately 3 hours\/week) called&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/science-maths-technology\/mastering-systems-thinking-practice\/content-section-overview\">Mastering Systems Thinking in Practice<\/a>&nbsp;introduces systems thinking in practice at postgraduate level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Diagramming Tutorials<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/money-management\/management\/guide-diagrams\">Guide to diagrams\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0Simon Bell, Kevin Collins and Andy Lane<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Systems diagramming for teaching. Karen Shipp and ASTiP colleagues (based on module T552 Systems Thinking and Practice: Diagramming). Systems thinking practitioners at the OU have supported and developed the use of a range of diagramming techniques as the principal tools through which visual modelling and communication can occur. The following diagramming techniques each have videos providing animated tutorials \u2013 one video describing\u00a0<em>What<\/em>\u00a0the technique is and at least one other video describing\u00a0<em>How<\/em>\u00a0to draw the diagram (two separate videos for\u00a0<em>drawing<\/em>\u00a0multiple cause diagrams are available using two separate case studies).The \u2018How to draw\u2019 tutorials for Spray, Rich picture, and Systems map listed below are all related to a South African case study with a short summary on the link\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/science-maths-technology\/computing-ict\/diagramming-development-1-bounding-realities\/content-section-1\">Working for Water Programme (WWP) case study<\/a>. This case study relates to the whole set of diagramming resources found in item 3 below: \u2018Systems diagramming for development\u2019. For item 2 you may like to read the short summary of the case study before looking at the first three tutorials listed below.The animated tutorials<ul><li><strong>Spray diagrams:<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=O5lOpeS_Uho&amp;list=PLar-D-A84stimMPthLYYIxSn6JgsQk2A7&amp;index=1\">What are they<\/a>\u00a0(5:39) and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tWOADPVdCh4&amp;list=PLar-D-A84stimMPthLYYIxSn6JgsQk2A7&amp;index=2\">How to draw<\/a>&#8230;WWP (3.00)<\/li><li><strong>Rich pictures<\/strong>:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xAJbrgHAXVg&amp;list=PLar-D-A84stimMPthLYYIxSn6JgsQk2A7&amp;index=3\">What are they<\/a>\u00a0(4.05) and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=PB5oDiupY1I&amp;list=PLar-D-A84stimMPthLYYIxSn6JgsQk2A7&amp;index=4\">How to draw<\/a>&#8230;WWP (2.26)<\/li><li><strong>Systems maps<\/strong>:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kLCrfNbwcPw&amp;list=PLar-D-A84stimMPthLYYIxSn6JgsQk2A7&amp;index=5\">What are they<\/a>\u00a0(4.19) and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=BDKeUi8Db3s&amp;list=PLar-D-A84stimMPthLYYIxSn6JgsQk2A7&amp;index=6\">How to draw<\/a>&#8230;WWP (6.52)<\/li><li><strong>Influence diagrams<\/strong>:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IY6F0f8hHMI&amp;list=PLar-D-A84stimMPthLYYIxSn6JgsQk2A7&amp;index=7\">What are they<\/a>\u00a0(0.53) and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=FCGvM4wuOYU&amp;list=PLar-D-A84stimMPthLYYIxSn6JgsQk2A7&amp;index=8\">How to draw<\/a>&#8230; Company profits and some differences with multiple cause diagrams (7.29)<\/li><li><strong>Multiple cause diagrams<\/strong>: What are they (3.00) and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1IiI496IAlM&amp;list=PLar-D-A84stimMPthLYYIxSn6JgsQk2A7&amp;index=10\">How to draw:1<\/a>&#8230;Drawing from scratch (3.00),\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=LgS2126ER4s&amp;list=PLar-D-A84stimMPthLYYIxSn6JgsQk2A7&amp;index=11\">How to draw:2<\/a>&#8230;Technology and food supply (4.55)<\/li><li><strong>Causal loop diagrams<\/strong>:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=PTv_dL-eiIs&amp;list=PLar-D-A84stimMPthLYYIxSn6JgsQk2A7&amp;index=12\">What are they<\/a>\u00a0(4.08) and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s5cTxF5af4c&amp;list=PLar-D-A84stimMPthLYYIxSn6JgsQk2A7&amp;index=13\">How to draw<\/a>..Global climate change (3.52)<\/li><\/ul>A further\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=B2EAzLh6uGY&amp;list=PLar-D-A84stimMPthLYYIxSn6JgsQk2A7&amp;index=14\">Integrated animated tutorial (aviation expansion)<\/a>\u00a0provides a case study situation of interest demonstrating an integration of diagramming techniques outlined above (11mins 10sec)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Systems diagramming for development. Martin Reynolds and ASTiP colleagues (based on module TU872: Institutional Development: conflicts, values and meanings): rich picture, spray, systems map, influence, multiple cause, cognitive mapping using the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/science-maths-technology\/computing-ict\/diagramming-development-1-bounding-realities\/content-section-1\">Working for Water Programme (WWP) case study<\/a>. WWP\u00a0actively addresses the impoverishment of black South Africans where 14 million South Africans currently have no or inadequate water supplies\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/science-maths-technology\/computing-ict\/diagramming-development-1-bounding-realities\/content-section-0\">Diagramming for development 1 &#8211; Bounding realities<\/a>: rich picture, spray diagram, systems map<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/science-maths-technology\/computing-ict\/diagramming-development-2-exploring-interrelationships\/content-section-0\">Diagramming for development 2 \u2013 Exploring interrelationships<\/a>: influence, multiple cause, cognitive mapping.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/money-management\/management\/leadership-and-management\/managing\/systems-explained-diagramming\">Systems explained: Diagramming<\/a>\u2026 four short video clippings on business management diagramming<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Short introductory material on Systems thinking<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/money-management\/management\/leadership-and-management\/managing\/introducing-systems-thinking\">Introducing Systems Thinking- 1<\/a>\u00a0teaching and case studies\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/science-maths-technology\/computing-ict\/systems-thinking-and-practice\/content-section-0\">T551: Systems thinking and practice<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/systems.open.ac.uk\/materials\/T552\/\">T552: systems diagramming<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/money-management\/management\/leadership-and-management\/managing\/camelford-case-study\">Camelford case study: systems thinking in action<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/money-management\/management\/leadership-and-management\/managing\/systems-action-docklands-light-railway\">Docklands light railway: systems thinking in action<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/money-management\/management\/leadership-and-management\/managing\/systems-action-electrolux\">Electrolux: systems thinking in action<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/money-management\/management\/leadership-and-management\/managing\/systems-action-hard-questions-soft-answers\">Hard questions soft answers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/money-management\/management\/leadership-and-management\/managing\/introducing-systems-thinking\">Introducing Systems Thinking \u2013 2\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0audio, video and modelling\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/body-mind\/systems-practice-practice\">Management systems: Geoffrey Vickers, Evan Davis<\/a>, and Russell Ackoff<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/money-management\/management\/leadership-and-management\/managing\/what-system-boundaries-and-biases\">What is a system? Boundaries and Biases: Peter Checkland<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/money-management\/management\/leadership-and-management\/managing\/make-your-own-systems-model\">Make your own systems model \u2013 making your own multiple cause diagram<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sample course material from Postgraduate modules on Systems Thinking in Practice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sample course resources from core STiP module TB871 Making strategy with systems thinking in practice;\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Free course on OpenLearn derived from TU811\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.edu\/openlearn\/science-maths-technology\/strategic-planning-systems-thinking-practice\/content-section-overview\">Strategic planning: systems thinking in practice\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Introduction chapter to TB871 core Reader: Reynolds, M. and Holwell, S. (2020).\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/oro.open.ac.uk\/70335\/\">Introducing systems approaches.<\/a>\u00a0In: Martin Reynolds and Sue Holwell eds.\u00a0<em>Systems Approaches to Making Change: A Practical Guide. 2nd Edition.\u00a0<\/em>London: Open University and Springer, pp. 1\u201323.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Final chapter to TB871 core Reader: Reynolds, M. and Holwell, S (2020).\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/oro.open.ac.uk\/70338\/\">Chapter 7. Epilogue: Systems Approaches and Systems Practice.<\/a>\u00a0In: Martin Reynolds and Sue Holwell eds.\u00a0<em>Systems Approaches to Making Change: A Practical Guide. 2nd Edition.<\/em>\u00a0London: Open University and Springer, pp. 307-321.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sample course resources from core STiP module TB872 Managing change with systems thinking in practice\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Introduction chapter to TB872 first core Reader:\u00a0 Blackmore, Chris ed. (2010).\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/oro.open.ac.uk\/22904\/\"><em>Social Learning Systems and Communities of Practice.<\/em><\/a>\u00a0Springer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sample chapter from TB872 first core Reader:\u00a0 Blackmore, Chris (2010).\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/oro.open.ac.uk\/22905\/\">Managing systemic change: future roles for social learning systems and communities of practice?<\/a>\u00a0In: Blackmore, Chris ed.\u00a0<em>Social Learning Systems and Communities of Practice.<\/em>\u00a0London: Open University and Springer, pp. 201\u2013218.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sample chapter 4 to TB872 second core Reader: Ison, Ray (2017).\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/oro.open.ac.uk\/22901\/\">Chapter 4 The Juggler: A Way to Understand Systems Practice<\/a>\u00a0In: Ison, R. (2017)\u00a0<em>Systems Practice: How to Act. In situations of uncertainty and complexity in a climate-change world. 2nd Edition.<\/em>\u00a0London: Springer &amp; The Open University, pp. 59-85.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Introduction and two sample chapters (ch.10\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/oro.open.ac.uk\/72525\/\">Jay Forrester<\/a>\u00a0and ch.14\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/oro.open.ac.uk\/72526\/\">Russell Ackoff<\/a>) from third supplement reader: Ramage, M. and Shipp, K. (2020).\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/oro.open.ac.uk\/69810\/\"><em>Systems Thinkers (2nd Edn).<\/em><\/a>\u00a0London: Open University\/Springer-Verlag.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sir Geoffrey Vickers Archive catalogue now online!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sir (Charles) Geoffrey Vickers. Geoffrey Vickers (1894-1982) had a varied life as a lawyer, soldier, economic intelligence officer and legal advisor. In the later years of his life he became a prolific writer and speaker on the subject of social systems analysis and the complex patterns of social organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A new online catalogue of the Geoffrey Vickers papers is now available from the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/library\/library-resources\/the-open-university-archive\">OU Archive web pages<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The catalogue is also available from the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.archiveshub.ac.uk\/\">Archives Hub&nbsp;<\/a>website.&nbsp; The Archives Hub is a national gateway to descriptions of archives within UK universities and colleges.&nbsp; As part of the Hub, the Vickers catalogue is now cross-searchable with hundreds of other collections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For further information or to arrange a visit to consult the Geoffrey Vickers collection, contact&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:library-archive@open.ac.uk\">The University Archivist<\/a>, at or on +44 (0) 1908 653378.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Applied Systems Thinking in Practice Resources Resources available online Members of the Systems group at the OU had a significant influence in piloting what is now the University-wide Open Research Online (ORO) &#8211; making OU research publications freely available online. We have also had a long tradition of developing resources that may be used by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"parent":17,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_unity_review_frequency":"","_unity_review_next_due":0,"_unity_review_reset_requested":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-19","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19\/revisions\/20"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}