Now available!

From IT Revolution

Using tools from statistical process control, systems thinking, and economic theory, Elisabeth Hendrickson and Joel Tosi show you how to identify real problems and find the levers that create lasting change.

Learn to spot critical illusions that derail delivery, build causal diagrams that reveal system dynamics, separate signal from noise, visualize trade-offs, and build cultures that learn instead of repeating mistakes.

Whether you’re a developer tired of death marches, a CTO struggling with predictability, or a PM wondering why everything takes longer than planned, this book provides systems thinking skills for software organizations.

Cover of Signals and Levers by Elisabeth Hendrickson and Joel Tosi

Advance Praise for Signals & Levers

“I have no doubt that Signals & Levers will be considered the definitive entry point into this fantastic body of knowledge.”

—Gene KimWSJ bestselling author of Vibe Coding, The Phoenix Project, and Wiring the Winning Organization

Signals & Levers is incredibly useful for our field. The novel approach to unfolding and contextualizing insights and leading us through system-informed practices makes this an observability practice book for organizations to learn and respond more effectively to the forces shaping outcomes.”

—Ruth MalanPrincipal Architecture Consultant, Bredemeyer Consulting

“We have long known that systems thinking is the key to solving complex problems, yet its practical application has remained elusive. As AI’s impact grows rapidly, the need for this book is more urgent than ever. It transforms an abstract discipline into a powerful toolkit for anyone building today. A must read.”

—David AndersonArchitect and author of The Value Flywheel Effect

“Programmers are rarely taught how to think about complex systems in a systematic way. This book offers tools for doing that—for distinguishing signal from noise, for identifying feedback loops, and most importantly, for communicating with colleagues more effectively.”

—Greg WilsonThird Bit