In the context of system thinking, self-imposed and system-imposed limits refer to the constraints that affect the functioning of a system. Self-imposed limits are those that are deliberately set by the system's operators or managers. For example, a fishing company might set a limit on the number of fish they catch each year to ensure sustainability. On the other hand, system-imposed limits are those that are inherent to the system itself and cannot be controlled by the operators. For example, the finite amount of fish in the sea is a system-imposed limit. Understanding these limits is crucial in system thinking as it helps in making informed decisions that ensure the long-term sustainability of the system.

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The input that is most important to a system is the one that is most limited, such as oil or fish in the previous examples. These limits can easily be misidentified ("We'll harvest more each year if we double our fleet of ships"). Any physical entity with multiple inputs and outputs will be surrounded by layers of limits. These limits can be self-imposed such as a pace of harvest. If they aren't, they will be system-imposed, such as a finite resource that runs out completely.

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Thinking in Systems: A Primer

How do you avoid wasted time, money, and resources from short-sighted decisions? When you think in systems, you can learn to recognize the relationshi...

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