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Cornell University

Systems Thinking at Cornell

The hub of systems thinking research at Cornell University

Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Systems Thinking, Modeling, and Leadership (STML) at Cornell University

Graduate Study in Systems Thinking

2020 STML Fellows did research on the Galapagos Archipelago as a Complex Adaptive System using the Agent Based Approach developed by Dr. Derek and Laura Cabrera of Cornell University

Systems Thinking is one of the most sought after skills of employers and it is a foundational skill in the modern world. The STML Graduate Certification is for graduate students at Cornell who wish to dive more deeply into the systemic issues faced by scientists, practitioners, policy makers, organizational leaders, activists, and social entrepreneurs. The Certificate combines systems thinking, a wicked of complex problem or issue (chosen annually), research methods, and field research and culminates in research presentations and publications. The STML Program focuses on three areas:

  1. Systems Thinking: Developing a systemic analysis of a complex system, issue, problem, or need. We do this through systems modeling and mapping.
  2. Complex Adaptive Systems: Using an “agent based approach” (ABA)1 to policy and/or systemic interventions, we focus on the agents in the system and the simple rules that bring about emergent behavior.
  3. Parallelism: Because the systems we exist in and want to intervene in are Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) or Complex Adaptive Organizations (CAO), we focus on parallelism between the actual system structure and the intervention/recommendations structure.

 

Cohort Examples

In 2020, the STML Fellows conducted field research in the Galapagos Islands; interviewed local, regional, and international stakeholders; and completed an analysis of the Galapagos Archipelago as a Complex Adaptive System using the Agent Based Approach.2

In 2021, due to travel restrictions resulting from Covid-19 pandemic the STML Fellows completed an intensive winter course on research methods and designed, conducted, and analyzed original data on the existence and efficacy of DSRP Theory. This research culminated in a book, The Origin of Ideas,3 and several peer reviewed publications.4

In 2022, due to continued travel restrictions resulting from Covid-19, STML Fellows are designing and conducting research on the analytic tools used by professionals in the policy arena (building off of the previous cohorts’ research on DSRP Theory and the Agent Based Approach). In addition, the Fellows organized the 2022 Annual Systems Thinking Conference at Cornell.

In 2023 Fellows organized the conference and focused on research into how policy makers and others think, or do not think systemically. Their findings pointed to the fact that even when provided with a solution based on direct evidence, they don’t see it as a solution because of binary, linear, root cause thinking.

In 2024 Fellows organized the conference and focused on research on the effect of cognitive moves. They found 250% to 500% increases in problem solving and systems thinking based on a 1 minute treatment of the DSRP cognitive moves.

 

Faculty Directors

Dr. Cabrera Inducted into the International Academy for Systems and Cybernetic Sciences
Dr. Derek Cabrera

An internationally known author and systems scientist, Derek serves on the faculty of Cornell University and the Board of Advisors DSE at the US Military Academy at West Point…more

Dr. Laura Cabrera

An expert in research methods and systems thinking, Laura serves on the faculty of Cornell University where she teaches systems thinking, mapping, and leadership…more

 

[1] Mulyono, Y., Sukhbaatar, U., Cabrera, L. and Cabrera, D. (2021). “Hard” and “Soft” Methods in Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS): Agent Based Modeling (ABM) and the Agent Based Approach (ABA).. In, Routledge Handbook of Systems Thinking, (Eds) Cabrera, D., Cabrera, L. and Midgley, G. Routledge. London, UK.

[2] Brown, S., Kasonde, V., Koo Wilkens, P., LaRose, W., Mukhamejanova, M., Smith, S., Tan, D., Terragnoli, A., Cabrera, D., and Cabrera, L. (2020.) “Sustainability in the Galápagos Islands: A Systems Thinking Approach Reveals the Need for Environmental and Social Balance.” Cornell Institute for Public Affairs Systems Thinking, Modeling and Leadership (STML) Certificate.

[3] Cabrera, D., Cabrera, L., Cabrera, E., Hernandez, O., Sukhbaatar, U., Fuqua, K., Benitez Collante, A.E., Lemaiyan, E., Warugongo, N., Sekyere, A., Silas, D., Thompson, T., Doungpummesr, P. (forthcoming, late 2021) The Origin of Ideas: Empirical Research on the Complexity of Mind and Nature. Odyssean Press. Ithaca, NY.

[4] Cabrera, D., Cabrera, L. (2021) A Summary of Findings from Recent Research on DSRP Theory. Journal of Systems Thinking. (21) 12.

 

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