Most times a lot of companies try to cut costs in areas related to research, it is up to you to convince them about how this could be beneficial to them. A way to do this is by involving stakeholders early and having them participate in some of the processes as well, this builds interest as to what they have to gain, also as much as possible explain preferably with numbers how your process can cut down cost and increase returns.

React to Event

Once we know what triggers certain patterns and inner desires for users to do things, we can better react to the actual event. The thing that is causing problems, and come up with a viable solution. Rather than acting on our first instinct, or basing solutions on assumptions. If we keep doing this, we would realize that we are realizing products to non-existent problems.

Questions to consider when using the Iceberg model

1. Does the iceberg model enable you to see things more broadly? If so, how would this fresh viewpoint be beneficial?

2.  Think about the idea of “leverage” points for entry. These are the moments in a system where intervention could result in systemic change. Does the new entry point the exercise reveals encourage you to take action?

3. What problems have you encountered that the Iceberg Model would be useful for analyzing?

In Conclusion

The Iceberg model of systems thinking can be applied to all aspects of solving problems if you can imagine everything below the event as an independent system. The transformation lies in the thinking that created the structure, that drove the pattern, that caused the event.

Avoid simply reading the text without performing any research. Use the framework in your projects. Even if you believe you have the situation under control, asking yourself these questions and considering the various scenarios will help you become more prepared for unexpected complications.

We can learn to pinpoint the underlying causes of the issues we face — the systems that underlie the behavior — when we train ourselves to look beyond the obvious. As a result, improve your problem-solving skills and, more crucially, develop solutions based on inner desires or strive to embrace empowering mental models. 

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