The theoretical foundations of Systems Thinking originate from the General Systems Theory developed by Ludwig von Bertalanffy and have also become dominant in the social sciences since the second half of the 20th century.
According to this approach, social, ecological and economic processes are interconnected, dynamic systems, where every intervention also affects other elements.

The systems approach to social innovation emphasizes that problems do not exist in isolation, but in interconnected networks.

Effective interventions therefore do not respond to a single cause, but rather manage complex interactions – through feedbacks, adaptations and learning processes.

The methodological tools of Systems Thinking – such as causal loops, impact maps or stakeholder systems analysis – are particularly suitable for interpreting urban systems, climate adaptation programmes or participatory governance models.
This theory can form the philosophical basis of the entire body of knowledge: urban innovations can be understood if we treat social, technological and environmental dimensions as an integrated system.