Decision Making and Strategic Negotiation Interest Group (KK DMSN) of SBM ITB, held a Systems Thinking Workshop at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Tadulako, Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Thursday (August 28). Titled “Empowering the Young Generation with System Thinking for K-12 (STEP K-12),” the event aimed to shape collaborative and adaptive leadership characteristics in students using the Systems Thinking approach.
This workshop is a concrete manifestation of SBM ITB’s 2025 community service program, fulfilling the Tridharma (Three Pillars) of Higher Education. The program was designed to respond to the global demand for future leaders possessing high-order thinking skills, such as complex problem-solving, critical thinking, and cross-sector collaboration.
“This activity aims to instill a systems mindset in students so they no longer view problems partially, but holistically. Through Systems Thinking, we want to mold the young generation at Universitas Tadulako capable of shifting their orientation from personal achievement to team success,” said Santi Novani, S.Si, MT, Ph.D., Head of the Organizing Team and Lecturer at KK DMSN SBM ITB.
The Faculty of Economics and Business at Universitas Tadulako warmly welcomed this collaboration. The activity is considered highly strategic for equipping early-year students with a strong leadership foundation before they face increasingly complex and fluid organizational and professional dynamics.
During the workshop, the SBM ITB lecturer team explained that current social and business issues are highly interconnected. Therefore, effective solutions require an understanding of the “domino effect” and the long-term consequences of every decision.
To internalize this concept, the training method went beyond lectures, utilizing an interactive simulation called the “SODA GAME.” Adopted from the MIT Beer Game, this game simulates real-world challenges in a supply chain involving retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and factories.
Students were challenged to devise strategies to minimize operational costs amidst communication barriers and limited information. The simulation results showed a significant transformation; while initially working in silos with high costs in the first round, students successfully improved communication and collaborated effectively in the second round after grasping the principles of systems thinking. DMSN SBM ITB interest group’s delegation present to facilitate this activity consisted of experts in the field, including Santi Novani, Ph.D., Prof. Dr. Utomo Sarjono Putro, Prof. Yos Sunitiyoso, Ph.D., Dr. Eng. Pri Hermawan, Dr. Eng. Manahan Siallagan, Khrisna Ariyanto, M.Eng., Meditya Wasesa, Ph.D., Shimaditya Nuraeni, MSM, and Dr. Valid Hasyimi. The activity was also supported by a team of research assistants, i.e., Tyas Larassati, Hurriyah Mujahidah, Ibrahim Rashid, Amira Khairunissa, Ramahda Nur Alika, and Azizah Mumtazah.
