Systems Thinking for Design – FAQs
(Pls check the list and add questions that have not been included. Each question should be in
one row. Add rows to the table if required)
Roll No. Session Question
EDM24 4 What is “Difference” as a
principle of complex networks?
EDM24 4 In a system consisting of a
number of parallelly operating
parts, there may be a number of
merge nodes and burst nodes in
the discovery matrix, which may
result in a normal distribution
curve. Does this necessarily mean
that the system approach is
missing or uselessly considering
something?
EDM24 4 In considering a holistic view of
the system, we may drag in
certain elements that are pre-
established, such as Govt. policies
and foreign policies, which may
either facilitate or constrain our
function. Do we consider these as
environments as we cannot do
much to change them? How
about stakeholder’s
interest/needs?
EDM 24 4 How do we gauge the variety of
Responses and Stimuli for a
system? Can you give us an
illustration?(Principle 18)
Response
“Difference” is key idea in
cybernetics. It is the difference
between a desired state and an actual
state that triggers feedback action.
Information is also defined as “a
difference that makes a difference”
The degree distribution is an indicator
of the nature of model that we have
developed, and possibly the real-
world problem that we are modeling.
It can be used to check if our model is
reasonable or not. The word ‘random
network’ only suggests that there is a
possibility that any node may be
connected to any other node.
However, when we are modeling a
real-world problem this will not be
the case unless the key elements are
too abstract. Most real world
networks are somewhere between
random and power
distribution. There is nothing useless.
you only refine the parameters of the
model based on additional
information. this is an ongoing
process
Yes, you could treat them as
environment unless of course you are
doing the study for a government.
Those outside the system can have
needs from the system and can
introduce policies that can affect the
system. It is important to consider
these. a bank wanting to introduce a
mobile app needs make it compliant
with RBI guidelines because RBI is in
some ways a custodian of customer
interests
The needs of stakeholders typically
represent the external stimuli. Your
alterables are your responses to those
stimuli. the question is whether the
few set of alterables that you have at
your disposal as a company or
 product can satisfy all the
expectations of stakeholders. the key
is to design alterables that can meet
multiple needs or recognize the
pattern in the needs and address
them.
CED2 6 how are cybernetics and artificial Neural networks is a subset of
neural network connected or cybernetics. Cybernetics is about
related? control and communication in living
things and machines. Observations
about how living things regulate
themselves, exhibit goal directed
behaviours have inspired ways to
control machines by building the
concept of feedback in machines.
Information processing is one of the
key elements of communication and
control (or cybernetics). It can help in
improving effectiveness of control
and communication. Brains store and
process complex information by
relying on network structure among
billions of neurons. If we need to build
machines that can sense and respond
to external stimuli, then they also
need to have internal information
processing capabilities. So, having
artificial neural networks inside a
machine helps in the overall process
of control and communication.
group-9 5 In visual Visual map (or concept map) is a
map, should we refine or expand visual representation of the data in
our problem area? the discovery matrix. The map should
help see some patterns that may not
be obvious while looking at a matrix.
In discovery phase, you may add new
elements to the matrix/map and
expand the problem space. As you
move closer to diagnosis, you could
use the map to define the boundary.
group-9 4 How to make relations b/w key In the matrix, we are essentially trying
elements in matrix? to see if there are any cause-effect
dependencies between the elements
(not time or structural). You may ask
“will a change in element A change
element B?” Next, you can look at the
polarity - is it a positive or negative
reln. In the matrix we should avoid
asking “does A precede B”? That will
result in a time dependency graph. If
we ask “is A a subset of B” or “is A a

5 Difference b/w problem of
roup-9 interest & domain of interest?
group-7 3 how to differentiate b/w
environment and boundary?
5 what is inferred from random and
power law distribution graphs?
6 How to take positive and negative
feedback loops?
particular type of B” then we get class
diagrams (typically used in object
oriented modeling) or in Entity-Reln
diagrams. We are not interested in
structural mapping here. We are only
interested in the functional relations
among elements / entities.
Domain of interest could be say
“banking” or “mobile
communications”. Problem of interest
is the issue you are interested in. For
instance, “digital banking” or “Mobile
Payment”.
It is the boundary that separates the
system from its
environment. Boundary could be an
element or a line that distinguishes
the system elements from the
environmental elements. For
instance, in human body, skin is the
boundary element that separates the
organs from the external
environment. Access Control could be
a boundary element. In certain cases
you may not have a particular
element, but draw a line to segregate
system elements from environmental
elements.
Random graphs are cases where any
element has an equal chance of
getting connected to any other
element. The degree distribution will
be a normal curve. Networks where a
few nodes have a large number of
connections compared to the rest
exhibit power law. Such graphs are
sensitive to changes in the key nodes.
If the most important node is
removed, then the network can
collapse. On the other hand, such
nodes can be critical in information
diffusion. You can see this in twitter
or facebook. Some people when they
tweet, depending on their position in
the network can have maximum
impact.
first identify cycles in the discovery
matrix / visual map. Then assign
polarity to each link in the cycle. if the
total number of -ves is an odd

6 How do these loops affect our
system behaviour?
5 what is the role of constraints in
stakeholders matrix?
edm03 While designing a product for a
wide base of consumers of varied
socio-economic conditions, how
is designer to choose the class to
whose needs he should cater to,
more importantly?
esd 16 4 What do we infer from random
network,scale free network and
small word network
edm 38 4 what is meant by clustering
coefficient and degree
distribution
number, then it is a negative
feedback. otherwise, positive.
If the feedback loops contain the
functional elements that we wish to
control, then we need to see whether
they are subject to negative or
positive loops. For example, if we
wish to control the pollution to a
certain level, then there have to be
some negative feedback loops around
the element “pollution”. If they exist,
but the situation is not under control,
then we have to ask whether the loop
is ineffective due to delay or error and
introduce the necessary correction. If
there is a positive loop around
pollution, then we have to see if it is
going up or down. if it is going down,
then good. otherwise, we have to try
to find ways to weaken the positive
loop or introduce negative loops.
We live in a world of constraints.
Stakeholder analysis helps identify
such constraints and factor them into
solution design. Constraints like in the
Naval Dockyard example can point to
what is the unique challenges in a
particular situation. Sometimes, just
working on overcoming some
constraint could lead to a new idea.
like in the Industrialization example it
can point to potential sources of
innovation.
The organizational contexts and prior
work of the organization typically set
some boundaries. However, when we
look at it from New Product Devp or
as an entrepreneur the scope is
wider. The social importance of the
problem and the business potential
typically help in narrowing down to
issues worth focusing on.
Answered earlier
Pls refer to the papers on the website.
Degree distribution tells you the
distribution of nodes with certain
number of linkages. Clustering

g17 Should a common boundary be
drawn based on various
attributes, or do we categorise
them?
edm 18 4 What is meant by scale free
network? what is the main use?
evd 20 4 what is homeostasis? what is its
role in cybernetics?
evd2 3 what is transitive relation of
systems?how it helps?
g17 Is there a restriction on the
indegree of an environment?
g17 Is need based product design
always successful
coefficient tells you about the level of
interconnectivity in the matrix.
Boundary is not a ‘class’ - we are not
grouping elements. We are asking
what is inside the system that I can
control, what is outside the system
that I cannot control. I need to design
my system elements to be able to
respond to the external factors and
their variations.
Scale free networks essentially exhibit
power laws.They can grow in size very
quickly by adding elements and
connecting them to the most densely
connected element. This idea can be
used to expand the scale of activity.
homeostasis is the negative feedback
process. it is a term used in biology to
represent processes that exhibit
stable behaviours. Homeostasis is a
key concept of cybernetics.
Cybernetics is about control and
communication. Cybernetics is also
concerned with other types of
feedback processes.
If A influences B and B influences C,
then A and C are said to be in a
transitive relation (indirectly
connected through B). It helps in
seeing patterns of connections
between ideas and problems and
check whether our ideas can influence
multiple problems.
No
To a large extent since there is a
customer to test and improve the
product and there is a possibility of
extracting some commercial value
which can in turn sustain further
innovation. Technology based
innovations also succeed, but a
majority of them also fail and run the
risk of closing further innovation
when the firm has no more resources
to invest.
g17 5 In a technical problem different
stakeholders crop with different
views of analysis and how do you
narrow down and get the
important ones.
GROUP23 5 What is the role of complex
systems and why is it necessary
to classify the key elements into
different network properties?
group 23 6 what is the use of feedback loop
for leading innovation after the
objectives(through stakeholder
analysis )are made.
esd 1 4 For a viable system , why should
Variety of Response ≥ Variety of
stimulus?
mfd10 6 If a system is extremely dynamic
in nature does that means it is
too complicated or is it
complex?How is modular
approach implemented in
dynamic system/network?
One strategy is to use maps and
models to see if these are really
different views or only different
shades of a more integrated view.
Second, if the views are
fundamentally conflicting then you
need to make a choice which means
some will be happy and others will
not be. A third strategy is to live with
the conflict for sometime to see if
some new piece of information
emerges that can resolve the conflict
or some nodes disappear.
Complex systems principles is a body
of knowledge that has been extracted
by analyzing a number of natural
phenomenon that exhibit high degree
of coherence and complexity.
We try to model a situation in terms
of elements and relations and then
analyze the model (matrix) to derive
inferences. This is a general strategy
in most engineering work. What is
different here is how we leverage
principles of complex systems to
study larger chunks of information
and not isolated pieces.
Feedback loops can tell you whether
the system has the ability to change
or not. Objectives need to have
feedback loops around them to
realize them or move in that
direction.
Otherwise, the system will not be
viable. If you cannot handle cold and
do not have appropriate clothing then
it is difficult to survive cold weathers.
If the system is able to survive under
different conditions, then it has
complexity. Complicated systems will
struggle to survive as they will waste
lot of internal energy. Understanding
the network structure and clusters
can point to potential strategies for
driving modular product
architectures. I will discuss this in the
ISM session.
group 8 4 How can we relate cybernetics to
waste management?
4 why should we increase
complexity for better problem
understanding? when compared
with systems theory?
6 How negative feedback loops will
impact our problem
statement.Will it effect on
problem definition….?
5 How could we differentiate the
structure and function/behaviour
from our visual map…?
group 25 6 how to assign a polarity of the
edm 20 cycle..?
edm 10 6 how to verify loop of a system is
stable or not ..?
esd13 6 What are the chances of
augmented cognition being
simulated using the principles of
Cybernetics?
Can waste management be a self-
regulating system when its
environment is constantly generating
waste?
We are essentially increasing the
amount of information we process
and hold so that new connections
could emerge and point to new
interpretations.
It depends on what your problem
statement is. If you problem
statement is to stabilize or control
some parameter, then you need to
know its status and have negative
loops to control it.
typically, entities / classes will
represent structural elements. For
example if our problem of interest is
engineering education, then factors
such as number of students, number
of faculty, lab infrastructure, teaching
content etc. will represent structures.
Factors that represent the state of the
system will represent
function/behaviour. For example,
overall brand/culture of the
institution, performance of students,
research output of the faculty, level of
industry interaction, etc will represent
behavior. Structure is also called as
FORM.
Already discussed above
It should be a negative feedback loop,
and there should be no errors or
delays.
Not sure I understand the question.
However, there is a connection
between cybernetics and learning.
One can identify three feedback loops
in a learning process. Learning HOW
(and becoming more efficient at
achieving known objectives), Learning
WHAT (i.e., questioning if we are
pursuing the right objectives), and
Learning WHY (questioning our own
values, which is a more reflexive
thinking about why we are doing what
we are doing).
ced 27 6 How does the increase of positive
or negative feedback loops affect
the system?
ced 06 6 while assigning polarities to
relations involving stakeholders,
how can we say that the
stakeholders are increasing or
decreasing?
ced 06 6 Should the whole loop have positive or
negative polarities?/
can a loop have relations with both the
polarities?
edm16 6 what should we be understanding from
critical intervention points?
evd 16 6 Can positive loops also
stabilise/balance the system?
can loops with delays also contribute to
the stability of the system?
esd 07 6 Do the relations always have to form a
loop?
Discussed above. Positive feedback
loops tend to move the system away
from equilibrium and push the system
to reorganize itself structurally.
Negative feedback loops attempt to
maintain stability and system
structure.
Some attribute or need of the
stakeholder may change. For example
if you have put Govt as a stakeholder,
you may actually mean Govt Policy as
the element.
Each link has a polarity. A loop is a
set of linkages and therefore has an
overall polarity. If there are odd
number of negatives in the loop,
then it is a negative feedback loop.
One loop can only be of one type.
But one variable could be part of
two different loops, which may have
different polarities - example one
loop is negative and the other
positive.
Elements that hold potential for
changing many other factors in a
holistic and desirable manner
Positive loops can only destabilize
the system - which can be good or
bad.
Negative feedback loops can have
delays. Delays may affect the time
taken to achieve stability. Example,
your thermostat takes time to
recognize the temperature or the
time taken to communicate this info
to the condenser could be long. this
will have an impact on how quickly
you can cool the room.
Not necessary. If the system does
not have loops it cannot adapt to
change. Most machines or software
require human intervention since

ced 14 5 How specific do we have to go in
defining our alterables and constraints?
do we have to give them in general, or
specific to each stakeholder?
edm23 6 Can a sub loop of a feedback loop again
be a feedback loop? if it is,how to apply
cybernetics on it?
grp21 6 If we get all positive loops i.e all
positive polarities in feedback analysis
.can we conclude that the analysis is
good/stable ? or worse?
evd19 5 In stakeholders analysis many
stakeholders have connections
between them ie they affect each other
or they have intersections among them
.should we consider them ?
the gain we get from
different stakeholders are also
different, does this give us priority
among them?
they do not have corrective
feedback within them.
Alterables should at least address
the critical needs of your most
important stakeholders. otherwise,
there is no point. You may choose to
draw a boundary and eliminate
some stakeholders and needs that
are not critical from the scope of
your solution.
There can be multiple loops around
any particular key element. There
can be loops within elements of a
loo. For example, if there is a loop
like “discovery-diagnosis-design-
develop-discovery”, you could have
another sub-loop among “discovery-
diagnosis-design-discovery”. The
second loop is a shorter one
compared to the first. It provides
the ability to correct the process
before you go to “developing” the
solution.
A system will only positive loops will
be an unstable system or an
extremely chaotic/dynamic system.
Yes, it is possible that you might
have mis-represented some
polarities or missed some linkages.
You can revisit. But, if you are
convinced there is nothing more to
add, then you should seriously ask if
this represents the real-world
behavior of the problem you are
trying to understand. If that is true,
then introducing some stabilizing
loops could be part of the solution.
You only need to map stakeholders
to Needs. What you need to check is
whether the needs of different
stakeholders are same or different.
If the stakeholders have the same
set of needs, then you should ask
whether you need to distinguish
between the stakeholders or not.
ced42 6 if we get some are negative and some
are positive feedback loops.then what’s
about that system?(i.e.stable or
unstable?)
edm14b025 What are the key factors in deciding
the relative importance of
stakeholders, and how to find the inter-
relationship between stakeholders?
coe14b001 Where are self referential loops
evident?
mdm14b037 Is it possible to discover cliques of
inter-connected elements, and what
can we infer from this? (in case of large
systems)
coe14b002 Can we draw an analogy in between a
systems thinking approach and some
natural system? Can a systems
approach be considered a mimicry of
nature?
mfd14i001 Will classification of needs at the
stakeholder analysis stage prove to be
of any further use?
It depends on the strength of these
loops. If the negative loops are
stronger compared to positive loops,
the system could remain stable and
vice versa. It is difficult to predict
future state of the system in such
scenarios. Therefore, we can resort
to simulation to study their behavior
over time. Sometimes systems
produce counter-intuitive behavior.
These can be unearthed only
through simulation.
Stakeholders can be ranked by their
in-degree. Those with high in-degree
typically will be the important
stakeholders. Stakeholders are
related to each other through the
needs. They may have the same
need or have needs that are based
on the same alterable. When the
dependence is on the same
alterable, but the needs are
different, it can be a source of
conflict.
Self-referentiality is evident in some
living things. They can observe
themselves. Machines typically
cannot.
Cliques represent small groups of
elements that are tightly coupled.
Cliques can protect small set of
elements from external shocks. On
the other hand introducing
interventions within cliques may not
spread far in the system
Systems thinking is about studying
inter-related patterns. Several
systems in the natural world exhibit
such inter-related patterns. The field
of complexity or complex systems
studies such systems in different
domains to tease out common laws
Classification of stakeholders and
needs is intended to help identify
missing elements.
Group At what stage can we relate our
15(batch 1) previous design courses with this one?
What is the larger objective?
Group How dynamic is this approach wrt the
15(batch 1) different stages of product and
problem design life cycle?
Group 15 How do we inculcate the time factor, as
(batch 1) well as the human error factor?
Systems thinking for design is to help
you look at the design process and
problem in a more holistic manner
(over space and time) so that you
can come up with more effective
designs.
The approach is built on the concept
of feedback, which is fundamental
source of dynamics. It gives
flexibility to study problems at
different levels of details and in an
iterative manner. Most design
methodologies can be easily seen as
a subset of this approach
Time is an important element in
problem solving. When you are in
discovery you gather information
about the history of the problem
(past) and how this history has led to
the current state and emerging
trends. When identify the feedback
loops, you can also simulate it to
study how the system might behave
in future. Human error is addressed
by helping you cover different facets
of the problem, interacting with
stakeholders and team members to
gather missing pieces. The social
approach to problem solving is a
way to reduce human error and bias.