WGU D372: INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEMS THINKING | 100% VERIFIED
EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | LATEST 2026/2027 VERSION (PASS
GUARANTEE)
1. What is the primary focus of systems thinking?
A. Analyzing individual components in isolation
B. Understanding how parts interact within a whole system
C. Maximizing efficiency of single processes
D. Reducing complexity by simplifying problems
2. Which of the following best defines a system?
A. A collection of unrelated parts
B. A single process with a defined output
C. A set of interconnected elements that produce a behavior over
time
D. A linear sequence of actions
3. What is a feedback loop in systems thinking?
A. A direct line from input to output with no return path
B. A mechanism by which a system's output influences its own input
C. A method for eliminating errors in a process
D. A one-time measurement of system performance
4. A reinforcing (positive) feedback loop tends to:
A. Stabilize the system around a goal
B. Dampen change and return the system to equilibrium
C. Amplify change, leading to growth or collapse
, D. Eliminate delays in the system
5. A balancing (negative) feedback loop tends to:
A. Accelerate growth indefinitely
B. Seek a goal or desired state and resist deviation from it
C. Create exponential change
D. Increase system complexity
6. Which term refers to the quantity that accumulates or depletes over time
in a system?
A. Flow
B. Stock
C. Feedback
D. Archetype
7. What is a 'flow' in systems thinking?
A. The current inventory level
B. The rate that changes a stock over time
C. A connection between two separate systems
D. A static measurement of capacity
8. What does 'emergence' mean in a systems context?
A. A planned outcome from a predefined process
B. Properties arising from system interactions that no individual
part possesses
C. The removal of redundant system elements
D. The gradual reduction of system complexity
9. Which of the following is an example of a mental model?
A. A physical flowchart printed on paper
B. A set of assumptions and beliefs about how the world works
C. A database of historical performance data
D. A formal mathematical equation
,10. What is a system archetype?
A. The founding document of a system
B. A recurring pattern of system structure and behavior
C. The physical boundary of a system
D. A one-time system failure event
11. The 'Tragedy of the Commons' archetype describes what situation?
A. Individual actors overuse a shared resource, degrading it for
everyone
B. A single entity monopolizes a resource
C. Two competing reinforcing loops cancel each other
D. A system that stabilizes after rapid growth
12. In a causal loop diagram, an arrow with a '+' sign indicates:
A. The two variables move in opposite directions
B. The two variables move in the same direction
C. One variable has no effect on the other
D. A time delay exists between the variables
13. In a causal loop diagram, an arrow with a '−' sign indicates:
A. The two variables move in the same direction
B. One variable decreases the other to zero
C. The two variables move in opposite directions
D. A positive feedback loop exists
14. What is 'leverage' in systems thinking?
A. A financial ratio used in accounting
B. A point in the system where a small change can cause large shifts
in behavior
C. The total energy output of a system
D. The speed at which a stock fills
, 15. Which thinker is most associated with the development of system
dynamics?
A. Peter Senge
B. Jay Forrester
C. Donella Meadows
D. Russell Ackoff
16. Donella Meadows is best known for which contribution to systems
thinking?
A. Creating the balanced scorecard
B. Authoring 'Thinking in Systems'
C. Developing lean manufacturing
D. Pioneering behavioral economics
17. What is the goal of a thermostat in systems terms?
A. To maximize temperature
B. To act as a reinforcing loop
C. To maintain the room temperature at a set point via a balancing
loop
D. To eliminate all stocks in the system
18. What does 'system boundary' refer to?
A. The maximum output a system can produce
B. The decision about what to include and exclude when studying a
system
C. The physical walls surrounding a factory
D. The limit of a computer simulation
19. What is 'delay' in a systems context?
A. The complete halt of system activity
B. A lag between a cause and its effect in the system
C. The time taken to complete a single task
D. The removal of a feedback loop
EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | LATEST 2026/2027 VERSION (PASS
GUARANTEE)
1. What is the primary focus of systems thinking?
A. Analyzing individual components in isolation
B. Understanding how parts interact within a whole system
C. Maximizing efficiency of single processes
D. Reducing complexity by simplifying problems
2. Which of the following best defines a system?
A. A collection of unrelated parts
B. A single process with a defined output
C. A set of interconnected elements that produce a behavior over
time
D. A linear sequence of actions
3. What is a feedback loop in systems thinking?
A. A direct line from input to output with no return path
B. A mechanism by which a system's output influences its own input
C. A method for eliminating errors in a process
D. A one-time measurement of system performance
4. A reinforcing (positive) feedback loop tends to:
A. Stabilize the system around a goal
B. Dampen change and return the system to equilibrium
C. Amplify change, leading to growth or collapse
, D. Eliminate delays in the system
5. A balancing (negative) feedback loop tends to:
A. Accelerate growth indefinitely
B. Seek a goal or desired state and resist deviation from it
C. Create exponential change
D. Increase system complexity
6. Which term refers to the quantity that accumulates or depletes over time
in a system?
A. Flow
B. Stock
C. Feedback
D. Archetype
7. What is a 'flow' in systems thinking?
A. The current inventory level
B. The rate that changes a stock over time
C. A connection between two separate systems
D. A static measurement of capacity
8. What does 'emergence' mean in a systems context?
A. A planned outcome from a predefined process
B. Properties arising from system interactions that no individual
part possesses
C. The removal of redundant system elements
D. The gradual reduction of system complexity
9. Which of the following is an example of a mental model?
A. A physical flowchart printed on paper
B. A set of assumptions and beliefs about how the world works
C. A database of historical performance data
D. A formal mathematical equation
,10. What is a system archetype?
A. The founding document of a system
B. A recurring pattern of system structure and behavior
C. The physical boundary of a system
D. A one-time system failure event
11. The 'Tragedy of the Commons' archetype describes what situation?
A. Individual actors overuse a shared resource, degrading it for
everyone
B. A single entity monopolizes a resource
C. Two competing reinforcing loops cancel each other
D. A system that stabilizes after rapid growth
12. In a causal loop diagram, an arrow with a '+' sign indicates:
A. The two variables move in opposite directions
B. The two variables move in the same direction
C. One variable has no effect on the other
D. A time delay exists between the variables
13. In a causal loop diagram, an arrow with a '−' sign indicates:
A. The two variables move in the same direction
B. One variable decreases the other to zero
C. The two variables move in opposite directions
D. A positive feedback loop exists
14. What is 'leverage' in systems thinking?
A. A financial ratio used in accounting
B. A point in the system where a small change can cause large shifts
in behavior
C. The total energy output of a system
D. The speed at which a stock fills
, 15. Which thinker is most associated with the development of system
dynamics?
A. Peter Senge
B. Jay Forrester
C. Donella Meadows
D. Russell Ackoff
16. Donella Meadows is best known for which contribution to systems
thinking?
A. Creating the balanced scorecard
B. Authoring 'Thinking in Systems'
C. Developing lean manufacturing
D. Pioneering behavioral economics
17. What is the goal of a thermostat in systems terms?
A. To maximize temperature
B. To act as a reinforcing loop
C. To maintain the room temperature at a set point via a balancing
loop
D. To eliminate all stocks in the system
18. What does 'system boundary' refer to?
A. The maximum output a system can produce
B. The decision about what to include and exclude when studying a
system
C. The physical walls surrounding a factory
D. The limit of a computer simulation
19. What is 'delay' in a systems context?
A. The complete halt of system activity
B. A lag between a cause and its effect in the system
C. The time taken to complete a single task
D. The removal of a feedback loop
