We live in a world where problems are increasingly intertwined, dynamic and complex. In order to understand and act wisely in such systems, systems thinking has become an increasingly important way of thinking. But understanding a system does not mean that we automatically create solutions. That is why we also need a complementary approach: solutions thinking.
One way of thinking helps us see the patterns. The other helps us influence them. Together they create a powerful whole, especially in a time when we can also amplify our thinking energy with AI and new tools.
What is systems thinking?
Systems thinking is a way of thinking that is about seeing wholes rather than parts, relationships rather than isolated actors, patterns rather than events. It helps us understand why problems arise and why solutions do not always work as we think.
By mapping causal relationships, feedback loops and dependencies, we can avoid only treating symptoms and instead identify the underlying structures that need to change. Systems thinking is particularly important in complex societal challenges such as climate, health, education or social justice.
But systems thinking itself is not a method for solutions. It is a method for understanding.
What is solutions thinking?
Solutions thinking is the complementary approach that focuses on possible ways forward, based on the understanding we have built up. It is not about jumping straight to a solution, but about actively thinking about solutions as a way to investigate, test, and develop.
Solutions thinking means that we train ourselves to:
- See opportunities in complexity, rather than getting stuck in the weight of the problems.
- Create prototypes and proposals early, to get feedback from reality.
- Shifting perspectives: “What if we tried this?” instead of “Why doesn’t it work?”
It is therefore a practical and generative way of thinking, where ideas are seen as seeds for learning rather than ready-made answers.
When thinking becomes an ecosystem
In practice, systems thinking and solutions thinking need each other. Systems thinking thrives on doing, otherwise it risks staying in analysis and complexity paralysis. Solutions thinking thrives on context, otherwise it risks becoming solutions to the wrong problem.
Together they function as two different lenses: one sees the landscape, the other sees the paths forward.
If we also add a third perspective, design thinking, which places great emphasis on empathy, user-centeredness and iterative creation, we get a trio of thoughts that reinforce each other:
- Systems thinking helps us understand why the world works the way it does.
- Solutions thinking helps us think constructively about how things could be different.
- Design thinking helps us translate that into concrete value for real people.
Cognitive flexibility and choosing your way of thinking
We rarely practice changing ways of thinking. But it is a crucial ability in complex tasks. By learning to recognize when we need a systems perspective, a solutions perspective or a user perspective and being able to shift between them, we not only become more creative, we become more precise.
We save mental energy when we can choose the right tool for the right situation. We don’t get caught up in the solution rush too early. We don’t get stuck in analysis for too long. And we can communicate more clearly because we know which perspective we’re speaking from.
Thinking together with AI and finding the right question for the right perspective
As we use AI in our work, it also becomes more important to understand how we formulate questions. A prompt to an AI is an expression of a certain way of thinking, and the mindset we use affects the answer we get.
Example: Imagine that we’re working on a sustainability problem in a city.
- If we ask the AI: “What are the biggest environmental challenges in the city?” then we’re in systems thinking, we want to understand the whole and the underlying structures.
- If we ask: “How can we reduce plastic use in stores?” then we’re in solutions thinking, we’re looking for practical ways forward.
- If we ask: “How do residents experience the stores’ environmental work?” then we’re in design thinking, we’re looking for understanding of the users’ perspectives.
By recognizing the differences in question types, we can use AI as a thinking partner, rather than just an answer generator.
From thought structure to thought movement
In a complex world, one mindset is not enough. We need a thought movement where we move between understanding, idea, empathy, and action. Solutions thinking gives us the power to do, systems thinking gives us the wisdom to understand, and design thinking gives us a compass towards real benefit.
And in that interaction, not only does our problem solving become better. We ourselves become better thinkers.
