Abstract for: Why Systems Thinking is an Essential Competency in the Science of Failing Well

For many, intelligent failure sounds like an oxymoron. But any failure preceded by careful thought that does not cause unnecessary harm and generates useful learning is indeed intelligent. The path toward success is paved with intelligent failures. At the same time, too many failures happen because people assume simple, linear forms of causality. Applying the basic principles of system dynamics – including the ever-present potential for fixes that fail, vicious cycles, and unintended consequences – to understanding the phenomenon of failure suggests that system awareness is a crucial competency for succeeding in an uncertain world. Complex interdependencies are a fact of 21st-century life, leaving us vulnerable to complex failures. A silver lining in system awareness is that it reduces the burden of blame and shame when things go wrong.