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In order to get a handle on the complexity in our lives, we can trust our gut feelings, apply best practice methods, or try to analyze the individual situations at hand.

Gut feelings are limited to perception, experiences from the past and present feelings. They posit a risk that you shouldn't take when making critical decisions. Best practice methods also stem from the past and are seldom applicable to individual situations at hand.

Systems theory focuses on the analysis of complex situations. Tools and methods-such as system dynamics, systems thinking, agent-based modeling (ABM), neural networks, operations research (OR) and last but not least mind mapping (cp. Tony Buzan) and concept mapping-help us to handle complexity in a more practical way.

According to studies, we come up against a mental barrier as soon as we are presented with the dynamic interplay of more than four factors.

4FaktorenGrenzeOriginal2.pdf

Mind mapping and concept mapping-which only visualize situations without analyzing them-are therefore not very helpful.

Most theories, methods and tools have proven to be too complicated to be used by planners and decision-makers.

However, the MODELER changes this, and allows everyone to do the following:

• Visualize complex challenges, facilitated by visual thinking and creativity
• Gain insights from rough assumptions through the unique qualitative modeling feature
• Model quantitatively using system dynamics without the need of extensive training

Many challenges require that we not only visualize and analyze a given situation, but first reflect upon which crucial factors must be included in our model, so that we can interpret the results afterward. KNOW WHY Thinking-a systems theory that was developed by Kai Neumann-is a much more practical alternative to other theories, such as Stafford Beer.s Viable System Model (VSM), Talcott Parson.s AGIL concept, Frederic Vester.s cybernetics approach, Spiral Dynamics, etc. VSM, for example, describes a successful system as one that works like an organelle. This, however, cannot explain why systems that do not work the way cells do are successful. "KNOW WHY" can!

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