Making Time for Thinking
Power and control can be nice to have but what we need most is … time to think.
Featured Posts
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The Difference Between Building SYSTEMS vs Building SOFTWARE
Diana Montalion shares why traditional software approaches fall short in today’s complex systems—and how systems thinking offers a better path forward.
Software Systems Aren’t Just Software (with Diana Montalion)
To build truly large software systems, you need to see beyond the code. In this episode of Developer Voices, Diana Montalion, author of Learning Systems Thinking, explores how understanding systems—including people, priorities, and processes—can help developers design better, more adaptive software.
Learning Systems Thinking with Diana Montalion and Lisa Moritz
A live discussion on systems thinking, nonlinear skills, and software resilience
Software Architecture, Design Thinking & Knowledge Flow -- goto
Interview at GOTO 2024 discusses systems thinking in software architecture and how effective knowledge flow shapes organizational dynamics and team performance.
Learning to Respond - Noticing our Reactions
Learning to respond is an essential systems-thinking skill. It begins with noticing our reactions.
Recent Editions
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Welcome
Architecting Systems is not (just) a newsletter -- it's a digital ecosystem of systems thinking tools and practices.
Making Time for Thinking
Power and control can be nice to have but what we need most is … time to think.
The Difference Between Building SYSTEMS vs Building SOFTWARE
Diana Montalion shares why traditional software approaches fall short in today’s complex systems—and how systems thinking offers a better path forward.
Software Systems Aren’t Just Software (with Diana Montalion)
To build truly large software systems, you need to see beyond the code. In this episode of Developer Voices, Diana Montalion, author of Learning Systems Thinking, explores how understanding systems—including people, priorities, and processes—can help developers design better, more adaptive software.
Architecture is Designing Knowledge Flow -- Explore DDD
In the tech industry, we are most interested in knowledge stock: What do you know? What information can you apply easily? Whiteboard tests, for example, assess a candidate's stock of knowledge.
Systems Thinking 2-Day Masterclass -- Explore DDD
This hands-on workshop introduces essential non-linear skills and practices for software professionals.
Qualities of a Well-Functioning System -- Kotlinconf
Keynote discusses the increasing relational complexity in software and emphasizes three essential qualities of well-functioning systems: resilience, self-organization, and hierarchy, which challenge traditional thinking and promote better outcomes through collaboration with the system's inherent properties.
Architecture is Designing Knowledge Flow -- Craft 2025
The tech industry needs to shift from focusing on individual knowledge stock to fostering knowledge flow to make better decisions amidst change. This involves understanding the differences between data, information, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, and recognizing the importance of developing knowledge systems as a core architectural practice.
The Friction Fix: Building Collaborative Relationships Between Teams -- QCon London
In the tech industry, we are most interested in knowledge stock: What do you know? This focus is holding many individuals, teams and organizations back. As relational complexity increases, individual knowledge stock is insufficient. What we need is knowledge flow.
school of systems
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Want to dive into learning, right now? Join the community of systems explorers.
The Systems Library
Learning Resources for Systems Thinkers
Nonlinear skills, practices and approaches for technology professionals building knowledge systems. Recommend your favorites!
Collections & Types
Articles, talks, books, podcasts, courses and more ... organized by themes and practices that nourish and support systems thinking and design.
Discover Experts
Browse resources published by systems experts and find more perspectives to support your learning practice.
SoftwareCrafters Collective
Contribute Your Insight
Converse with other technologists faced with increasing complexity. We learn from each other while practicing the art and science of systems design.
Take Courses
Courses on demand and real-time cohort courses that improve our skills and strengthen our practice.
Practice Together
Informal groups to support a specific practice, like daily writing or pitching your ideas.
Upcoming Events
View Upcoming Events »I keynote at technology events, as well as develop onsite, remote and custom workshops. Here are some upcoming events.
Architecture is Designing Knowledge Flow -- Explore DDD
In the tech industry, we are most interested in knowledge stock: What do you know? What information can you apply easily? Whiteboard tests, for example, assess a candidate's stock of knowledge.
Systems Thinking 2-Day Masterclass -- Explore DDD
This hands-on workshop introduces essential non-linear skills and practices for software professionals.
Qualities of a Well-Functioning System -- Kotlinconf
Keynote discusses the increasing relational complexity in software and emphasizes three essential qualities of well-functioning systems: resilience, self-organization, and hierarchy, which challenge traditional thinking and promote better outcomes through collaboration with the system's inherent properties.
Architecture is Designing Knowledge Flow -- Craft 2025
The tech industry needs to shift from focusing on individual knowledge stock to fostering knowledge flow to make better decisions amidst change. This involves understanding the differences between data, information, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, and recognizing the importance of developing knowledge systems as a core architectural practice.
The Friction Fix: Building Collaborative Relationships Between Teams -- QCon London
In the tech industry, we are most interested in knowledge stock: What do you know? This focus is holding many individuals, teams and organizations back. As relational complexity increases, individual knowledge stock is insufficient. What we need is knowledge flow.
The Friction Fix: Building Collaborative Relationships Between Teams -- QCon London
In the tech industry, we are most interested in knowledge stock: What do you know? This focus is holding many individuals, teams and organizations back. As relational complexity increases, individual knowledge stock is insufficient. What we need is knowledge flow.
Architecture isn't Kubernetes -- NDC London
Architecture, in the systems age, is not (just) Kubernetes. It is is designing relationships between parts (people and tech parts) then adapting those relationship patterns as circumstances change.
Mindshifts: Thriving in the Systems Age -- OOP
In my lifetime, we have experienced the equivalent of 20,000 years of change. Nonlinear change. In many respects, we are the architects of change, yet we seem to do the same things again and again, expecting different results.
4 Day Remote Workshop: Learning Systems Thinking -- DDD Academy
Systems thinking practices that will help you make impactful changes -- despite the emerging complexity of modern systems.