The digitalization of the economy and society continues unabated. Generative artificial intelligence, especially ChatGPT, has triggered a new wave of digitalization since its availability in November 2022. In addition to new technologies such as generative AI, companies and their IT function are still busy with the transformation of applications and IT infrastructure into the cloud, the expansion of capabilities in data analytics, the agilization of application development, new regulatory requirements, the increase in IT security and the shortage of skilled workers. Furthermore, many companies are developing new digital business models that place new demands on the IT function. Social developments, such as sustainability and diversity, are also leading to new challenges for the IT function. The pace of change in companies is also accelerating. The complexity that IT management must deal with has grown in recent years and continues to grow at a rapid pace. Traditional IT management models and IT operating models, such as ITIL or COBIT, are not able to cope with these challenges. Against this backdrop, this contribution discusses whether and how systems thinking can be an integral part of future IT management models and IT operating models and can help deal with the increased complexity brought about by digitalization.