The Fifth Discipline

The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization by Peter Senge is built on systems thinking, the application of formal systems theory. Formal systems theory became popular in the biological sciences in the 1950s. The basic premise is that all things operate in a system and are never stand alone objects. In addition, all systems are composed of sub-system and are part of super-systems which operate by the rules of systems theory. Applying the assumptions and rules of formal systems theory involves systems thinking.

Along with systems thinking, Senge suggests the following disciplines or areas of the learning organization: personal mastery, mental models, building shared values, and team learning. Systems thinking is the "fifth discipline" and, thus, the name of the book.

Some gems from The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization include:

"When placed in the same system, people, however different, tend to produce similar results."

"Today's problems come from yesterday's 'solutions.'"

"Virtually all natural systems, from ecosystems to animals to organizations, have intrinsically optimal rates of growth."

"Systems thinking is a discipline for seeing wholes."

"Reality is made up of circles but we see straight lines."

"I would suggest that the fundamental 'information problem' faced by managers is not too little information but too much information. What we most need are ways to know what it important and what is not important."

"Only mediocre people are always at their best."

"The greatest unexplored territory in the world is the space between our ears. Seriously, I am certain that learning organizations will find ways to nurture and focus the capabilities within us all that today we call 'extraordinary'."

"Leader's worth is measured by their contribution to other's mental models."

"People do not focus on the long term because they have to, but because they want to."

"The committed person doesn't play by the 'rules of the game.' He is responsible for the game. If the rules of the game stand in the way of achieving the vision, he will find ways to change the rules. A group of people truly committed to a common vision is an awesome force. They can accomplish the seemingly impossible."

This book includes excellent examples of models of systems. The ideas you can get from reviewing the different representations of problems model with systems thinking is worth the price of the book.