The Most Important Distinction Between a Systems-oriented Approach vs. and Event-oriented Approach
There are some
major differences between the event-oriented and the systems-oriented approach
within intelligence analysis. The most important difference between a
systems-oriented approach versus an event-oriented approach is the nature of
the problem cause. The conventional, or
event-oriented approach, relies on a more static and exogenous approach; this
deals with outside forces. In comparison,
the systems-oriented approach is much more dynamic approach which deals with endogenous
or internal feedback, problems. By expanding on this we are able to determine
that the systems-oriented approach looks at the long-term effects of a problem
while the event-oriented approach looks at the long term effects on a
problem. As we all know, real-life
events are not static; life is much more hectic, ever-changing, and involve
many more outside forces. Therefore,
systems-oriented approach is the more appropriate of the two in most instances.
The Greatest Challenge to Practicing Systems Thinking as an Intelligence Analyst
Personally,
the greatest problem that I will have to deal with when using system-oriented
analysis will be to think about the event in the system-oriented way instead of
the event-oriented approach. Instead of focusing on the event as itself, outside of any other factors, I will have to view the event as an mechanism within the entire system. In the
past, I have used the event-oriented approach and believe that it may take some
time in order to focus on and use the system-oriented approach.
