Thinking systemically
Debuted as Thinking about FOSS, systemically at FOSSY 2023. Presented as Thinking about technology, systemically at Python Goiânia, Encontro ADAs, DevFest Cerrado 2023.
Abstract #
Technology is not an isolated field — it exists within political, social, and economic systems. Its concepts, models, abstractions were and continue to be built through the cultural lenses of its founders and subsequent creators and maintainers; its structures were inherited from spaces inaccessible for many. To promote true transformation within the free software space, we need to avoid the traps of reductionism and dogmatism by adopting a new approach: systems thinking. We'll examine the problems with conventional thinking in technology, discussing how it fails the most vulnerable, and work towards new strategies for change.
Written form #
Published as Think systemically.
Slides #
My slides are available in both English and Brazilian Portuguese. (Warning: Both links will open a PDF file.) Thank you for listening to my talk!
Sources of inspiration and recommended reading #
Go to #
- Casey Reeves' posts on accessibility on Linux
- Introducing Systems Approaches by Martin Reynolds and Sue Holwell
- Systems of Systems by Tatiana Mac
- Profit Without Opression by Kim Crayton
- Mastering systems thinking in practice
- Cybernetic Revolutionaries: Technology and Politics in Allende's Chile by Eden Medina
- Systems thinking for developers
Casey Reeves' posts on accessibility on Linux #
Casey does a wonderful job at listing some of the reasons why, in our opinion, accessibility on Linux has been getting worse. It inspired me to think about my own experience with giving up on Linux for a proprietary OS, and write and talk about it at FOSSY.
→ Read it here!
Introducing Systems Approaches by Martin Reynolds and Sue Holwell #
I read this chapter for the first time when I took an Information Systems Engineering course in university–it's a great introduction to the fundamentals of systems thinking and thinking about systems, citing some of the most influential work out there in the field. It greatly inspired this talk.
Systems of Systems by Tatiana Mac #
Another source of inspiration for this talk, Tatiana's offers an even broader perspective on systems within systems within systems. It's definitely worth all those 44 minutes and 22 seconds of your attention!
Profit Without Opression by Kim Crayton #
Kim's work is absolutely wonderful, and it takes unsettling and provoking new systems thinking to a whole new level. I highly recommend this book, and following Kim on social media as a whole.
→ Buy it here!
Mastering systems thinking in practice #
My main point of contact with systems theory and practice was in academia, but I found this wonderful course online with an open syllabus that also teaches some of the fundamentals of systems thinking. You can read its contents without signing up if you wish.
Cybernetic Revolutionaries: Technology and Politics in Allende's Chile by Eden Medina #
This is the book that introduced me to Stafford Beer's work even before I took my mandatory Information Systems Engineering courses. It does a great job of covering the fundamentals of cybernetics from different worldviews, and it's definitely worth reading.
→ Buy it here!
Systems thinking for developers #
Resources on systems thinking specifically for developers. They have even more resources listed on their website, and you should check it out!