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Research Report

Glossary: Systems thinking as a platform for leadership performance in a complex world

Original authors
Tomas Palaima, Aelita Skaržauskienė
Original source
Baltic Journal of Management
Literature note prepared by
Aziz Shuaib Ausi
Resource type
Literature Note / Review Note
Resource published on AZIZ OS
31 July 2026
Last updated
18 September 2026
Reading time
2 min
Publication type
Research Report
Availability
Open access
About this Summary & Analysis

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Derived from an academic source (private repository).
Palaima, T., & Skaržauskienė, A. (2010). Systems thinking as a platform for leadership performance in a complex world. Baltic Journal of Management, 5(3), 330–355. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465261011079749

Systems Thinking as a Leadership Platform: Key Terminology

The research conducted by Palaima and Skaržauskienė (2010) explores how cognitive competencies, specifically systems thinking, influence leadership effectiveness within complex organizational environments. The following glossary provides definitions for the core concepts utilized in their study.

Glossary of Key Terms

TermDefinition
Cognitive IntelligenceA specific set of intellectual capabilities, including systems thinking, that allows a leader to process complex information and recognize patterns.
CompetencyAn intrinsic personal trait or underlying characteristic that serves as a primary driver for achieving superior performance in a professional role.
Continuous LearningAn ongoing process of acquiring knowledge and adapting behaviors based on new information to improve organizational outcomes.
Dynamic ComplexityA state where cause-and-effect relationships are subtle and the long-term consequences of specific interventions are not immediately obvious.
Dynamic ThinkingThe ability to perceive organizational phenomena as part of an ongoing process rather than as static, isolated events.
Feedback LoopA conceptual mechanism used to describe how actions can reinforce or balance each other through a circular flow of influence.
HolismA philosophical perspective suggesting that a system's properties are best understood as a whole rather than by examining individual components in isolation.
InteractivityThe recognition that various organizational elements are mutually dependent and that changes in one area inevitably impact others.
Leadership PerformanceA multi-dimensional construct measuring a leader's effectiveness across personal, interpersonal, and strategic or organizational levels.
Leverage PointA specific place within a complex system where a small shift in one area can produce significant, enduring improvements across the entire entity.
Mental ModelsDeeply ingrained assumptions, generalizations, or images that influence how individuals understand the world and how they take action.
Process OrientationA focus on the sequences and workflows that link different parts of an organization, rather than focusing solely on departmental silos.
ReductionismAn analytical approach that attempts to explain complex phenomena by breaking them down into their simplest constituent parts.
Systems LogicThe application of reasoning to identify the underlying structures and rules that govern the behavior of a complex system.
Systems ThinkingA framework for seeing interrelationships and patterns of change rather than snapshots, emphasizing the connections between a system's parts.

Source

Authors: Tomas Palaima & Aelita Skaržauskienė Year: 2010 Journal: Baltic Journal of Management DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/17465261011079749

Palaima, T., & Skaržauskienė, A. (2010). Systems thinking as a platform for leadership performance in a complex world. Baltic Journal of Management, 5(3), 330–355. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465261011079749

Citation

Cite the original work (APA 7)

Palaima, T., & Skaržauskienė, A. (2010). Systems thinking as a platform for leadership performance in a complex world. Baltic Journal of Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465261011079749

Verification

This is an authenticated AZIZ OS resource record.

Verification ID
ACADEMIC_DERIVED-2026-00033
Version
v1.0 · r0
Issued
31 July 2026
Resource prepared by
Aziz Shuaib Ausi
Resource status
Literature Note / Review Note
Underlying work
Systems thinking as a platform for leadership performance in a complex world
Original authors
Tomas Palaima, Aelita Skaržauskienė
Original source
Baltic Journal of Management
Provenance status
Verified — legacy verification — authorship recorded from the source before the audit trail existed
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Underlying publication rights remain with the respective copyright holder(s). Refer to the original source for authoritative publication and licensing information.

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