Covey´s seven habits and the systems approach: a comparative analysis

This paper advances the premise that the best seller book by Stephen Covey: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and the systems approach share common-principles and philosophy. Indeed, each of the seven habits-be proactive; begin with the end in mind; put first thing first; think win/win; seek first to understand, then to be understood; synergize; and sharpen the saw-is related to some principles and/or steps upon which the systems approach is based. Given the notoriety that Covey´s book has achieved in the public, the comparison of Covey´s philosophy to the philosophy of the systems approach can help improve the understanding of systems engineering