Why is systems thinking so important?
Top A: Sustainable transportation solutions for the future will undoubtedly need to function as seamless systems for the total convenience and pleasure of the public or, in the case of goods for optimal logistics. Therefore, right from the outset, new transportation solutions must be considered as part of an overall system. This adds extra levels of complexity to the design and development of future transportation. Fortunately there are effective methodologies to deal with this, particularly by adopting systems thinking. Systems thinking considers how a complex entity operates as a whole and how it interacts with its surrounding environment. This way of thinking helps to identify emerging patterns, cycles and structures in the whole system rather than just focusing on the individual subsystems. The successful realization of a complex national transportation network will require a full understanding of how the individual systems interact to create a seamless whole.
