SYSTEMS THINKING RESOURCES
THE ICEBERG MODEL OF A SYSTEM
The Iceberg Model of a System
The iceberg model of a system is a really useful way to map out the elements of a system we are wanting to positively change by understanding both the visible and invisible forces that show up as negative/dysfunctional outcomes or negative/dysfunctional behaviors.
Have a systemic view of the forces at play allows us to intervene much more effectively as we can go after changes at the root cause level rather than merely band-aid’ing the outcomes.
The iceberg is a graphical representation that depicts the visible and easily recognizable elements of a system (represented by the tip of the iceberg above the waterline of the ocean) while the underlying, complex, and less observable forces or elements are represented as the bulk of the iceberg underwater.
The metaphor is used to emphasize that there is often much more to a system than what is immediately apparent and that a deeper understanding of the system is necessary to understand its behavior.