The power of systems thinking: changing how we see the world | Petri Uusikylä | TEDxVaasa

Global governance systems face paralysis because traditional reductionist analysis fails to address the "wicked" complexity of modern societal problems. Information overload, characterized by 350 billion daily emails and fragmented data, prevents cognitive clarity and pattern recognition. Effective problem-solving requires shifting from linear causal inference—where A leads to B—to systems thinking, which recognizes that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This holistic approach emphasizes understanding the interconnections between components and the emergence of change from interaction patterns. Rather than making hasty, radical interventions with "sticks and carrots," practitioners should adopt the Taoist concept of Wu Wei, or effortless action, by observing a system’s rhythm and energy before applying subtle nudges. Solving contemporary crises demands abandoning the same logic that created them, favoring observation and the connection of disparate data points over reactive regulation.