In systems thinking, increases in understanding are believed to be obtainable by expanding the systems to be understood, not by reducing them to their elements. Understanding proceeds from the whole to its parts, not from the parts to the whole as knowledge does.
Russell L. AckoffA problem never exists in isolation; it is surrounded by other problems in space and time. The more of the context of a problem that a scientist can comprehend, the greater are his chances of finding a truly adequate solution.
Russell L. AckoffTo manage a system effectively, you might focus on the interactions of the parts rather than their behavior taken separately.
Russell L. Ackoff