Episode 1: What Is Systems Thinking?

About this episode

The episode explores how leaders can effectively address complexity through systems thinking.

Series 3 of Evolving Enterprises begins with a deep dive into how leaders can deal with complexity by using systems thinking. As we begin series 3, Mary Beth Hosking interviews Professor Martin Parr to explain why organizations often confuse solutions with problems — like CEOs demanding “AI because everyone else has it” rather than asking what problem they really need to solve. We unpack how systems thinking works: starting with perceived problems, exploring root causes, analyzing pressures f...

People in this episode

Host: Mary Beth Hosking

Guest: Professor Martin Parr

Topics covered

• systems thinking
• leadership
• complexity
• organizational problems
• root causes

Keywords

• systems thinking
• leadership
• complexity
• organizational issues
• problem-solving

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Evolving Enterprises

More episodes of Evolving Enterprises: Stories of Growth Transformation

• E7: Lily Pender · October 28, 2025 · 25 min
• E6 Chris Walters · October 6, 2025 · 19 min
• E5: Professor Eddie Obeng 2 · September 16, 2025 · 19 min
• E4: Professor Eddie Obeng 1 · September 9, 2025 · 17 min
• E3 embedding AI into a business · September 8, 2025 · 21 min
• Episode 2: Why Systems Thinking, and Why Now? · August 27, 2025 · 22 min