How can we understand and manage complex systems in a world where everything is interconnected? The doctoral course Systems Theory is an interdisciplinary research education course that equips you with tools to analyze, reflect on, and apply systems theory perspectives in your own research – regardless of discipline.
A course for all PhD students
Since 2013, Lars-Ola Bligård and Cecilia Berlin from the Division of Design & Human Factors at the Department of Industrial and Materials Science have offered the doctoral course Systems Theory within the framework of the graduate school Human-Technology-Design. The course is aimed at PhD students from all research fields and provides a broad introduction to the diversity of systems theory – from classical systems theory and cybernetics to socio-technical systems, environmental systems analysis, and game theory.
“Systems theory is not a single theory, but a whole way of thinking. It’s about using different ‘lenses’ to view the world and understand wholes, relationships, and boundaries in complex contexts,” says Cecilia Berlin, assistant course coordinator.
The course was most recently offered in spring 2025, with 12 PhD students participating from four Chalmers departments, one from the University of Gothenburg, and one from KTH.
The importance of boundaries
Sofie Peters, a PhD student at Chalmers’ Department of Technology Management and Economics, participated in the latest instance of the course. Her research focuses on shifting healthcare from hospitals to homes. For her, the importance of defining boundaries was one of the most significant insights: to analyze a system, there must be a clear boundary between the objects being studied and the outside world.
“The boundary can be open or closed, but it must be clear – otherwise your study object risks growing out of control. If I’m studying mobile teams in a hospital, should I include the relationships between staff and patients? Their scheduling? Procurement routines for the teams’ equipment? Maybe look back in time to compare with previous procurements? Or upward in the hierarchy, to legal guidelines for procurement? But wait – I’m reading about the Public Procurement Act, and I was supposed to study mobile teams?”
Interdisciplinarity in practice
The course is built around seminars, exercises, and writing assignments that continuously connect theories to the PhD students’ own research. Each seminar introduces a new theory, followed by group discussions and reflections. Participants then write short essays relating the theories to their own research areas.
“The course serves as an excellent introduction to the subject, and I believe every participant encountered at least one systems theory that was relevant to them and that they, through the assignments, tried to apply and can now continue working with,” says Sofie Peters.
One of the course’s strengths is the meeting of different perspectives. Participants come from widely varying disciplines – from healthcare innovation and sustainability to AI and urban planning. This creates a dynamic learning environment that fosters new insights into both one’s own and others’ research.
“As course coordinator, it’s always interesting to read the assignments and see how participants try to apply different systems theories to their own research,” says Lars-Ola Bligård.
He emphasizes that while not all theories and models fit everything or everyone, it’s clear that the systems theory perspective helps participants gain greater clarity in their research areas. Systems theory developed in one field can be successfully applied in another – fully in line with the foundational idea of general systems theory.
“The original idea behind general systems theory was that researchers from vastly different fields should be able to discuss their work regardless of the recipient’s level of detailed knowledge in the field. We believe that the ability to adopt a systems perspective helps PhD students make themselves understood, no matter who is listening. I’ve personally benefited greatly from systems theory when acting as an opponent or grading committee member at dissertations – everyone benefits from zooming out from detailed understanding to its place in a larger context,” says Cecilia Berlin.
Who can participate?
The course is open to all interested PhD students and is regularly offered during the spring term every other year (odd-numbered years). Teaching primarily takes place on-site at Chalmers, and PhD students from the departments of Industrial and Materials Science and Computer Science and Engineering at Chalmers have priority for course spots.
- Teaching Fellow, Design & Human Factors, Industrial and Materials Science
- Associate Professor, Design & Human Factors, Industrial and Materials Science