Prepare for MIT xPRO’s System Thinking Certificate with These 6 Free Online Resources

Are you considering enrolling in MIT xPRO’s five-week online System Thinking course but wondering if it aligns with your career goals or if you’re adequately prepared for the curriculum?

We’re here to help. 

Here, we’ll provide free system thinking resources you can review before deciding to enroll. But first, let’s take a quick look at what to expect from the course. 

What to Expect from MIT xPRO’s System Thinking Course

In the System Thinking course, you will:

• Understand the foundations of system thinking and the concepts of emergence, function, and performance
• Identify and describe the relationships among entities in systems applied to your own experience
• Identify how system thinking is applied in technical environments such as logistics & transportation, project management, and computation
• Apply the system dynamic method to understand complex processes
• Create models of systems based on networks and dynamics
• Practice concepts from the course through a project management simulation to apply the concepts learned and engage in activities to contextualize each concept

“One of the characteristics of the 21st century is that we’re investing more in complexity, and things are just getting damn complicated,” says Professor Edward Crawley, one of the MIT lead faculty instructors for the System Thinking course. System thinking helps organizations examine and simplify complexity, recognize patterns, and create effective solutions to challenges. 

6 Free System Thinking Resources 

Here are six system thinking resources to help you decide if further training on system thinking is the best course of action.

1. “The Most Underrated Skill in Management” — MIT Sloan Management Review

Few business questions are more powerful than “What problem are you trying to solve?” Leaders who can formulate clear problem statements get more done with less effort and move more rapidly than their less-focused counterparts. Clear problem statements can unlock the energy and innovation that lies within those who do the core work of your organization.

Read the full article.

2. System Thinking Course FAQs

If you have a specific question about the System Thinking course, there’s a good chance this FAQ page can answer it. From broader questions like “How do I know if System Thinking is for me?” to more practical questions like “Are there any prerequisites to Enroll in System Thinking?”, you’re sure to find the information you need. 

Check out the FAQ page.

3. “MIT xPRO System Thinking Office Hours” — Webinar 

In this live office hours event, the MIT xPRO System Thinking course team provides a brief overview of the five-week online course and takes listeners’ questions.

Watch the webinar. 

4. “System Thinking: The Cognitive Skill of the 21st Century” — Webinar with Professor Ed Crawley  

Watch the MIT xPRO course team discuss the System Thinking course—plus enjoy a special Q&A with Professor Edward Crawley, one of the lead instructors for the course. 

Watch the webinar. 

5. MIT xPRO System Thinking Detailed Syllabus Schedule 

This comprehensive week-by-week schedule of the System Thinking course gives you a sneak peek into what you’ll learn: 

• Week 1: Foundation of System Thinking
• Week 2: Emergence and System Success
• Week 3: Supply Chain and Computational Approaches 
• Week 4: System Dynamics: Tools for Learning in a Complex World
• Week 5: System Dynamics Application: Managing Complex Projects 

See the full syllabus schedule. 

6. “Ask an MIT Professor: What Is System Thinking and Why Is It Important?” — The Curve  

Professor Crawley answers key questions about system thinking: 

• What is system thinking?
• Who uses system thinking, and how might they use it? 
• What pedagogical methods and tools are used to get learners comfortable with system thinking? 
• What challenges do learners face during the system thinking course? 

Read the full article. 

Enroll in MIT xPRO’s Online System Thinking Course 

Still need convincing? Consider these impressive stats from course participants: 

• 100% of participants surveyed intend to apply the skills they learned in their personal/professional lives.
• 62% of learners reported that they were able to apply new skills learned before completing the course.

Take your career to the next level with MIT xPRO’s System Thinking course. Enroll today!