Systems Thinking - Wicked Problems, Clear Solutions

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Systems Thinking provides a strategic toolkit that helps your staff to think holistically, spot hidden patterns and solve complex challenges at the root.

Course code

N/A

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 day

Fees

£200 per delegate

Start date

November 2025

Course overview

Start date: 19 November 2025

Systems Thinking provides a strategic toolkit that helps your staff to think holistically, spot hidden patterns and solve complex challenges at the root. Systems Thinking strengthens organisations to manage interdependence and rapid change. It is applicable across a range of business areas, including strategy, policy, planning and project management.

  • Understand how Systems Thinking methods can be an invaluable approach for leaders, executives and managers.
  • Examine how this approach can support organisations to maintain their resilience as they adapt and respond to internal and external problems.

Why you should study this course

In today's interconnected world, organisations face complex challenges that require innovative solutions. Whether you are a leader, manager, or professional aiming to enhance your decision-making skills, this course offers an exciting opportunity to learn how to tackle a variety of complex problems using systems thinking approaches.

This one-day course could provide a pathway into other CPD courses on leadership, management and innovative business practices. It may also provide a stepping stone towards further study such as the open framework, apprenticeships or related degree programmes.

Learning objectives

  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the philosophy and provenance of Systems Thinking within a theoretical and applied context.
  • Critically assess and evaluate how different Systems Thinking methods can inform decision makers in comprehending and addressing long-term internal and external problems.
  • Evidence a sophisticated use and understanding of the methods devised by Systems Thinking Practitioners and their application in a broad range of modern organisations and industries and how they can be utilised to resolve contemporary social, economic and cultural challenges.
  • Evaluate models and critically test their suitability as sources of possible interventions
  • Critically reflect on the practical, methodological and ethical challenges Systems Thinking Practitioners must contemplate when designing a research plan.

Course detail

Systems Thinking is a powerful approach for tackling complex challenges, especially in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. The ability to adapt, respond and build resilience through structured methodologies can be a game-changer for leaders and organisations.

This course offers an exciting opportunity to deepen strategic problem-solving skills and industry-specific adaptability.

Modules

Course content

  • Seeing the Whole: Understanding Interconnections: thinking in systems to improve strategic planning and spot unintended consequences.
  • Feedback Loops and System Behaviour: exploring the factors that create stability and change in complex systems
  • Challenging Assumptions and Mental Models: examining the hidden beliefs that shape decision-making. Using systems thinking collaboratively with stakeholders.
  • Leverage and System Change: discover how the right intervention in the right place can produce outsized results and why small problems can have wide-ranging effects on systemic outcomes.

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

The course will be delivered as a one-day workshop on the Coventry University campus. Learn about different models and techniques of systems thinking and apply them to case examples of complex problems. Groupwork, presentations, Q&A, digital tools, simulation and reflection may be used to give you an engaging and effective learning experience.

Who should apply for this course?

Systems Thinking enhances professional skills in strategic thinking, problem-solving, planning and innovation in practice.

Using Systems Thinking tools enables recognising patterns, underlying connections and complex causality to identify recurring challenges, improving decision-making, risk assessment and focusing prediction of outcomes.

It is therefore useful to professional people in policy making, project management, operational management and leadership roles across all economic sectors.

How to apply

The fee for 2025/2026 is £200 per delegate.

Apply now

Businesses may want to explore the option of running the course solely for their employees with the potential for the course to be adapted to meet any business needs. To discuss such requests, please email EIOEnquiries@cusltd.co.uk

  • Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University. 

    1Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

    2UK and international opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    3Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

    For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

    4Facilities

    Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2025/2026 contract is available on the website. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.