The Personal MBA

Master the Art of Business

A world-class business education in a single volume. Learn the universal principles behind every successful business, then use these ideas to make more money, get more done, and have more fun in your life and work.

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Chapter 9: Understanding Systems

"You do ill if you praise, but worse if you censure, what you do not understand."

Leonardo da Vinci, inventor, artist, and polymath

Businesses are complex systems that exist within even more complex systems – markets, industries, and societies.

A complex system is a self-perpetuating arrangement of interconnected parts that form a unified whole.

In this chapter, you’ll learn common elements of all systems, how environmental factors influence the function of systems, and the ever-present nature of uncertainty and change.

Key Ideas in Chapter 9


Next Chapter:

Analyzing Systems


The Personal MBA

Master the Art of Business

A world-class business education in a single volume. Learn the universal principles behind every successful business, then use these ideas to make more money, get more done, and have more fun in your life and work.

Buy the book:


About Josh Kaufman

Josh Kaufman is an acclaimed business, learning, and skill acquisition expert. He is the author of two international bestsellers: The Personal MBA and The First 20 Hours. Josh's research and writing have helped millions of people worldwide learn the fundamentals of modern business.

More about Josh Kaufman →