Sustainability through Soccer: Systems-Thinking in Action

Sustainability through Soccer: Systems-Thinking in Action

Instructor: Leidy Klotz

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

7 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV

Share it on social media and in your performance review

There are 4 modules in this course

This course takes learners on a journey through a progression of systems-thinking and sustainability concepts. Using the beautiful game of soccer (also known as football in many parts of the world) as an analogy, we'll work together to illuminate real-world interdependencies (such as between climate change and human rights), building the chain of concepts in a fun, accessible way. Soccer/Football nerds and newbies alike will be entertained and, ultimately, rewarded with the epiphanies that come from seeing in systems more clearly.

Those who complete the course will: create examples of systems parts, boundaries, and behaviors related to sustainability (and soccer/football); practice evaluating the sustainability of systems they care about using several complementary methods; generate ideas to improve the sustainability of a system they care about; and explain a mindset shift that would enhance the sustainability of a system they care about.

This section explains who I am, why I'm using soccer as a metaphor, systems and reductionist thinking and sustainability. This section also outlines the main parts of a system (elements, flows, stocks, feedback loops, and purpose).

What's included

8 videos3 readings3 assignments2 discussion prompts

8 videosTotal 20 minutes

Why soccer?2 minutesPreview module
The Black Panther and The Sacred Monster4 minutes
Overlooked System Elements2 minutes
Physical Flows1 minute
Information Flows2 minutes
Stocks2 minutes
Feedback Loops2 minutes
Purpose2 minutes

3 readingsTotal 40 minutes

Why me?10 minutes
Systems-Thinking for Sustainability15 minutes
System Parts: Elements, Flows, Stocks, Feedback Loops and Purpose15 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 86 minutes

Reflection: How can you be successful in this course?30 minutes
Reductionist and Systemic Thinking, Sustainability and Soccer30 minutes
System Parts: Elements, Stocks, Flows, Feedback Loops and Purpose26 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Elements of a System10 minutes
Feedback Loops10 minutes

Our approach to sustainability depends on how we define our system boundaries. What must we consider? What can we leave out? And, what can we reasonably infer from the perspective we define? We will also dive into system behaviors in this section. With parts and boundaries defined, we can detect system-level behaviors and discover how they affect sustainability.

What's included

10 videos4 readings2 assignments4 discussion prompts

10 videosTotal 23 minutes

Space2 minutesPreview module
Time2 minutes
Detail2 minutes
Inputs and Outputs2 minutes
Insight1 minute
Interdependence2 minutes
Thresholds2 minutes
Self-Organization2 minutes
Resilience2 minutes
Emergence1 minute

4 readingsTotal 60 minutes

System Boundaries15 minutes
Level of Detail15 minutes
System Behaviors15 minutes
Interdependence15 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

System Boundaries30 minutes
System Behaviors30 minutes

4 discussion promptsTotal 40 minutes

Space Boundaries10 minutes
Level of Detail10 minutes
Threshold Crossing10 minutes
Resilience10 minutes

To evaluate sustainability in our systems, and check our progress, there are properties to consider and methods to apply. Once we define and evaluate our systems, then we’re ready to create systems that are more sustainable.