OUR STORY
About STSI™
Systems thinking has been praised for decades as the solution to complexity. It appeared in leadership books, boardrooms, classrooms, and global reports—even ranked among the Top 10 future job skills.
But when most people tried to use it, the experience was frustrating. Definitions conflicted, frameworks multiplied, and results rarely matched the promise. In fact, research revealed that only 12% of the most popular approaches had any scientific evidence of existence or effect. The idea was inspiring—but the path to results was unclear.
The Breakthrough
Cabrera Research Lab felt that same frustration 35 years ago. But instead of adding another model or buzzword, they went back to first principles:
What is thinking? What does it mean to be systemic? Can it be measured? Can it be trained? Does training have a measurable effect?
That pursuit produced a body of empirical research that revealed the hidden grammar of both systems and thinking—showing they share the same underlying structure in how information is organized. From this foundation emerged O-Theory, DSRP Theory, and the Big 6 Pareto Moves, and the TQ™: a scientifically validated model for how to see, organize, and improve thought itself.
For the first time, systems thinking could be mathematically defined, empirically measured, and reliably trained. It moved from an confusing philosophical debate to a disciplined scientific pursuit.
The Standard
The Systems Thinking Standards Institute (STSI™) was created to do what the field had never done before: set reliable a global standard for systems thinking that is universal, empirical, measurable, and practical—so that anyone, anywhere, can raise their TQ™ and their impact.
STSI’s mission is to move systems thinking from inspiration to implementation, from theory to practice, from promise without proof to practice with results.
The Practice
From that science came Training C∆MP—a daily mental fitness protocol that delivers outsized results. Six simple cognitive moves provide 80% of the benefit with 20% of the effort, and research shows that consistent practice can improve clarity, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence by up to 551%.
Instead of jargon and hand-waving, you now have a CanDo™ pathway—a measurable progression that moves you into the top 1% of systems thinkers. To think systemically is to think at the highest level—to unite analytical, creative, critical, and emotional intelligence into one coherent capability.
The Vision
This is the shift: from buzzwords to standards, from promise without proof to practice with results. STSI’s vision is bold but inevitable: to make systems thinking so useful, so practical, and so accessible that raising 8 billion people above the global standard becomes reality.
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The Four Essentials
The Science of Systems Thinking (evidence) Without science, there is no reliable practice, no credible standards, and no earned voice.
The Practice of Systems Thinking (application) Without practice, science stays in the lab and standards are irrelevant.
The Standards of Systems Thinking (credibility) Without standards, the field lacks credibility and the authority to guide others.
The Voice of Systems Thinking (influence) A voice without evidence, practice, and standards is just noise—credibility must be earned before influence is deserved.
STSI Science Board
The STSI™ Science Board is the scientific and evaluative authority behind the Global Systems Thinking Standard (STS)™. Composed of leading systems scientists, translational researchers, cognitive theorists, applied practitioners, and learning and performance experts, the Board rigorously vets and approves every model, protocol, and practice for inclusion. Each must meet our four Science Board Pillars: Practical usability, Empirical grounding, Measurable outcomes, and Universal applicability.
The Science Board safeguards the integrity, evidence base, and global relevance of our standards, which include Systems Thinking Standards (STS)™, Systems Thinking Educational Standards (STES)™ Accreditation, Systems Thinking Enabled Performance (STEP)™ Accreditation, and the Professional Systems Thinker (PST)™ Credential.
Together, these standards are advanced through STSI’s four core services: The Global Standards of Systems Thinking, The Voice of Systems Thinking, The Practice of Systems Thinking, and The Science of Systems Thinking. STSI™ is dedicated to ensuring that systems thinking is not just influential, but scientifically credible, measurable in its effect, universally accessible, and practically transformative worldwide. In partnership with STSI™ Foundation—501(c)(3) nonprofit—we make systems thinking accessible worldwide through partial and full scholarship programs.
The Four Pillars
Practical Our standards must be usable in real-world contexts—protocols anyone can apply, anywhere.
Empirical Every model must be grounded in data and scientific evidence, not opinion or untested theory.
Measurable Skills and outcomes must be quantifiable, so progress and impact can be tracked and improved over time.
Universal Standards must be simple, adaptable, and applicable across contexts, disciplines, and cultures.
STSI Foundation
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We believe the science of thinking should be available to everyone, because when more people think systemically, everyone wins.
STSI Foundation (501(c)(3)) expands access through scholarships and outreach. Donations are tax-deductible and used exclusively for charitable programs. Learn more →
Our Partners
STSI works with world-class partners to advance the global standard of systems thinking. Together, these partnerships amplify the Voice, Practice, Standards, and Science of Systems Thinking—making the standard practical, accessible, and actionable across disciplines and industries.
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