ABSTRACT Addressing today's interconnected challenges requires moving beyond linear thinking. Although theoretical taxonomies of systems thinking (ST) exist, there is a need to empirically validate how these concepts manifest in academic practice. This study employs science mapping (VOSviewer tool), utilising bibliometric data from 7119 Scopus documents (1974–2024), to visualise the field's intellectual structure and evolution. We identify core problem domains (where ST is applied) and solution domains (methodologies, tools and modes of inquiry). Findings show ST applications operate on a continuum from micro‐level organisational issues to macro‐level socioecological ‘wicked problems,’ empirically validating systemic characteristics such as complexity, emergence and resilience. Correspondingly, the solution domains encompass a diverse toolkit aligned with distinct complexity types: structural and technical approaches (e.g., system dynamics, systems engineering) for analysing dynamic behaviour, and soft and critical approaches (e.g., soft systems methodology, critical systems thinking) for navigating ambiguity and power dynamics. Temporal analysis reveals a ‘renaissance of modelling,’ where quantitative tools are increasingly integrated with participatory engagement. This research offers a data‐driven map of the ST landscape, highlighting the trend toward methodological pluralism valuable for researchers and practitioners.
Hu et al. (Sun,) studied this question.