Introduction to Systems Thinking in Human Factors and Ergonomics and Safety Science

Abstract

There is a critical need in Human Factors and Ergonomics and safety science to apply systems-thinking methods when attempting to understand and respond to complex problems. To set the scene for this book, this chapter introduces systems thinking, complexity and systems theory, and provides an overview of prominent systems thinking theories and models. A case study analysis is subsequently used to compare and contrast a deterministic method and a systems-thinking method when used to identify vulnerabilities in a highly complex system – the Death Star from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. This chapter discusses the subsequently used to compare and contrast a deterministic method and a systems..