System Archetypes Research Articles

Archetypal representations of dilemmas concerning invasive alien species management—A case of invasive Lantana camara in the protected areas of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India

AbstractThis multi‐site case study on the invasive alien plant Lantana camara in protected areas of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India, addresses the reasons for inadequate institutional responses from stakeholders in managing the species despite the seriousness. The study uses thematic analysis and qualitative systems approach. The themes are converted into a qualitative‐system‐dynamics model and are then abstracted into system archetypes. The study identified three major themes: the dilemma involving stakeholders, the dilemma of alternative and commercial use of Lantana, and the Lantana management conundrum. The study translated these dilemmas into four generalisable archetypes: ‘drifting goals’, ‘modified‐shifting‐the‐burden’, ‘fixes‐that‐fail’ and ‘substitution rebound’. The latest is a novel contribution to the systems literature. Practically, the study helps understand the recurring undesired behavioural patterns in invasive species management and suggests policy and governance changes to tackle them. The study also points towards building stakeholder relationship protocols, focussing on fundamental solutions and having clear Lantana management targets.

Navigating knowledge management systems in Indonesian Financial Institutions: a systematic literature

Financial institutions employ sophisticated knowledge management systems to disseminate company information, aligning with their organizational objectives, vision, and mission. The present research seeks to elucidate the archetype of the knowledge management system deployed, its consequential impacts, and the potential impediments encountered during its operational phase. The empirical data was sourced from many scholarly articles centered on knowledge management systems within financial institutions. A systematic literature review (SLR) approach underpins the methodology of this study. The survey data were descriptively analyzed using population, comparison, outcomes, and context (PICOC) parameters. An analysis of seven pertinent articles identified five distinct knowledge management system archetypes, their respective influences on the organizations, and five principal challenges that obstructed seamless implementation. Based on the findings, the meticulous review of scholarly articles centered on adopting knowledge management systems within financial services enterprises has illuminated the existence of five distinct knowledge management system paradigms. Each model is intricately woven into the institutions’ organizational structure and cultural ethos.

Integrating System Spatial Archetypes and Archetypical Evolutionary Patterns of Human Settlements: Towards Place-Based Sustainable Development

Effectively managing the diversity and complexity of human settlements is pivotal in tackling the sustainability challenges we face in the Anthropocene. Conceptualizing a city’s human settlement as a unified social–ecological system and investigating its system archetype and evolutionary pattern offer a promising approach to understanding sustainability challenges within specific spatio-temporal contexts. This study introduced a novel approach to assessing and characterizing human settlements using a spatio-temporal two-tier structure archetype analysis for human settlement systems. Applying inductive clustering to an integrated dataset, we identified five typical human settlement systems for 2019 and eight change patterns (2001–2019) in the Yangtze River Delta region. By linking inductively recognized human settlement systems into deductive categories of human-nature connectedness and associating inductive change patterns with deduced phases within the adaptive cycle, we defined five system spatial archetypes and three archetypical evolutionary patterns, revealing the typical interaction between them. This enabled us to understand sustainability challenges for each interaction, formulating seven tailored solutions to promote place-based development in human settlements. Generally, our approach showcases considerable potential in uncovering human settlement challenges, ultimately contributing to addressing these challenges at the local level within the broader context of global sustainability issues.

Systems archetypes to investigate the unintended consequences of telehealth in rural Australia: A systems thinking approach to telehealth evaluation and policymaking.

As an alternative model of delivery to standard care, telehealth offers a promising solution to health access issues faced by rural and remote communities in Australia and worldwide. However, research typically focuses on its expected benefits and pitfalls, with little to no consideration of its unintended consequences and factors influencing its better utilisation. Drawing on systems thinking and informed by complexity science, we propose using systems archetypes-systems thinking tools - as a magnifying lens to investigate potential telehealth unintended consequences or outcomes. We conceptualise telehealth implementation in rural and remote Australia as a sociotechnical system whereby the interactions between its various agents shape telehealth implementation and, in turn, are shaped by it. When introducing new policies or interventions to any system, these interactions often lead to outcomes other than those initially planned or intended. Although systems archetypes cannot necessarily predict these outcomes, they are valuable for helping anticipate unintended, unforeseen outcomes and facilitating discussions about them to mitigate their negative impact and maximise their benefits. Outcomes are not necessarily adverse; they can also be positive. So, investigating such outcomes will minimise their negative impact and maximise their benefit. Our method was to review existing research and a selection of complexity and systems informed frameworks. Then, we assessed systems archetypes. And how they can be utilised to investigate unintended consequences. A worked example of what an unintended consequence in the implementation of telehealth in rural and remote Australia is presented.

The dynamics of sustainability transitions: An archetype for transformation

The dynamics of sustainability transitions: An archetype for transformation

Mapping fine-resolution nested social-ecological system archetypes to reveal archetypical human-environmental interactions

Mapping fine-resolution nested social-ecological system archetypes to reveal archetypical human-environmental interactions

Social Affinity Flow Theory (SAFT) and New Insights into the Systems Archetypes of Escalation and Tragedy of the Commons

Social Affinity Flow Theory (SAFT) is a new theoretical framework based upon Constructal Law (Bejan & Zane, 2012) and explains how this law uniquely operates within human social systems, whether within small groups, non-profits, multinational corporations, or societies. We investigate the relationship between SAFT, systems thinking, and the two archetypes of Tragedy of the Commons and Escalation, two frameworks that have proven useful to leaders and decision-makers. SAFT expands the applicability of the two archetypes and uncovers new insights with implications for multiple domains of human activity, including the practice of management.

Understanding the complexity of the Indonesian fresh mango industry in delivering quality to markets: A systems thinking approach

Understanding the complexity of the Indonesian fresh mango industry in delivering quality to markets: A systems thinking approach

Dark sides of social entrepreneurship: Contributions of systems thinking towards managing its effects

AbstractSocial enterprises are seen as innovative towards solving societal problems, but little research exists on possible negative aspects, the so‐called dark sides. In this study, the emphasis is on dark sides of social entrepreneurship, how they are managed, and how systems thinking can contribute towards managing these effects. Dark sides of social entrepreneurship can take many forms, like unethical or insincere motives and unintended outcomes like the negative impact on the well‐being of founders and employees, but they are also a call for a critical reflection on the role of the government in society and the economic system social enterprises have to operate in. This paper aims to contribute to the dark side theory of social entrepreneurship by linking system archetypes to themes of dark side thereby stressing how management strategies act as balancing feedback loops to mitigate or prevent dark sides. A qualitative research was conducted by interviewing 21 respondents who play an important role in the world of social entrepreneurship in Belgium. The results show that dark sides of social enterprises manifest itself mostly in the form of trade‐offs and financial, business, and management related issues. Taking over the habits of profit‐oriented companies emerged as a new dark side element. Management strategies include anchoring goals, transparency, obtaining external views, changing the system, and above all reflection. The latter is an important first step to become aware of these issues to be able to change the negative dynamism of these dark sides.

How to Incorporate System Archetypes into Water Conflicts Analysis: Application in Euphrates, Nile, Zambezi, and Lake Kivu Transboundary Basins

This paper introduces and fleshes out a systemic method designed to develop a holistic understanding of states’ behavior in transboundary water conflict and cooperation. Such an approach leverages causality analysis to capture the deep structural characteristics that shape the hydropolitics dynamics and may lead to the evolution of destructive behaviors with severe consequences. The paper does so by using the concepts of the system archetype. The system archetype analysis offers insight into the underlying structures from which the dynamics of hydropolitics emerge over time—cycles of conflict and cooperation. The approach provides riparian states with a diagnostic tool to recognize patterns of destructive behaviors in the management of shared water resources and warning signs that are usually too long overlooked. Using four case studies from different continents, this paper shows how a systems archetype approach is useful for developing a big-picture understanding of the hydropolitical problem, its dynamics, and potential resolution pathways. The systemic lessons learned from these case studies can be used in other contexts, helping policymakers anticipate the destructive and constructive dynamics leading to conflict and cooperation.

An exploration of the causal structure underlying crowdfunding: theoretical findings and practical implications

PurposeCrowdfunding (CF) is a digital-financial innovation that, bypassing credit crisis, bank system rigidities and constraints of the capital market, is allowing new ventures and established companies to get the needed funds to support innovations. After one decade of research, mainly focused on relations between variables and outcomes of the CF campaign, the literature shows methodological lacks about the study of its overall behavior. These reflect into a weak theoretical understanding and inconsistent managerial guidance, leading to a 27% success ratio of campaigns. To bridge this gap, this paper embraces a “complex system” perspective of the CF campaign, able to explore the system's behavior of a campaign over time, in light of its causal loop structure.Design/methodology/approachBy adopting and following the document model building (DMB) methodology, a set of 26 variables and mutual causal relations modeled the system “Crowdfunding campaign” and a data set based on them and crafted to model the “Crowdfunding campaign” with a causal loop diagram. Finally, system archetypes have been used to link the causal loop structure with qualitative trends of CF's behavior (i.e. the raised capital over time).FindingsThe research brought to 26 variables making the system a “Crowdfunding campaign.” The variables influence each other, thus showing a set of feedback loops, whose structure determines the behavior of the CF campaign. The causal loop structure is traced back to three system archetypes, presiding the behavior in three stages of the campaign.Originality/valueThe value of this paper is both methodological and theoretical. First, the DMB methodology has been expanded and reinforced concerning previous applications; second, we carried out a causation analysis, unlike the common correlation analysis; further, we created a theoretical model of a “Crowdfunding Campaign” unlike the common empirical models built on CF platform's data.

Fisheries restoration: Lessons learnt from four benefit-cost models

Globally, fisheries are in decline and in many parts of the world illegal fishing is a major cause of these declines. Ecological restoration of fisheries needs to be promoted, inter alia through improved enforcement, but, which method is the most successful at improving fish stocks, as well as having the highest economic returns? We compare one open-loop (without feedback) and three closed-loop (with feedback) benefit–cost models representing different restoration interventions aimed at promoting compliance. The hybrid systems methodology has been utilized, combining system dynamics, systems archetypes, mathematical differential equations and economic benefit–cost methodologies. The model is tested with reference to a case study of abalone (Haliotis midae) biomass restoration in the Table Mountain National Park marine area (Zone E), Cape Town. Stocks in Zone E have dropped to below the government’s management threshold for sustainable fisheries of 20 percent of the pre-fished levels, and urgent action is required to restore the stocks. According to the model, all proposed restoration interventions produce stock recovery to 100 percent of carrying capacity, well in excess of government targets of 40 percent. Also, all four models had a net present value of greater than zero, indicating substantial positive net benefits to restoration. Each model had specific management recommendations associated with it- greater involvement by the state, capital investment in restoration, changing poacher behavior and entrepreneurship. Although the Post Keynesian and Institutional model produced the highest net returns to restoration over 80 years (Net present value = US$12.66 million at a 6 % discount rate, 2021 prices), all the models are essentially co-evolutionary models, and have merit over different time periods, compliance rates and assumptions around discount rates. While the case study is developed for abalone the findings of the model are likely to be applicable in a wide range of fishery restoration contexts.

Многоаспектное моделирование ситуаций в задачах обеспечения функциональной безопасности аппаратно-программных комплексов

Functional safety is a latent characteristic of hardware and software complexes (HSC) and is objectively characterized by consumer satisfaction with the HSC behavior. The paper considers an approach to solving project management problems based on the dynamic characteristics analysis of functional safety of conflict situations in the project management system. To analyze situations that arise when managing HSC projects, it is possible to use models known as system archetypes. The information essence of situations and the foundations of multi-aspect modeling are considered. The methodological basis of the research is a combination of dynamic models of parameters that characterize functional safety and structural models, corresponding to conflict situations that arise when ensuring the required level of functional safety. Examples of multi-aspect modeling of situations where manifestations of latent defects act as events are considered. As a result of the research, the information essences of situations are determined, the conceptual foundations of multi-aspect modeling of situations that arise when managing the HSC functional safety are proposed, and the basic stages of building a system of structural and dynamic models of situations at different stages of the HSC life cycle are identified. The results obtained can be used to make decisions about the advisability of making changes to the system structure for ensuring the functional safety of hardware and software complexes.

Integration matters: Combining socio-cultural and biophysical methods for mapping ecosystem service bundles

Ecosystem services (ESs) play an important role in sustainable landscape management. People value ESs in diverse ways encompassing social and ecological domains and we need to bring these different values together. We used social-cultural and biophysical methods to map a diverse set of ESs at two spatial scales in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Norway. The ESs bundled into three distinct social–ecological system archetypes which were similar in their distribution and relative ES values at both spatial scales. The bundles were also well matched to relative ESs values of the Biosphere Reserve zones (core, buffer, and transition) indicating that the bundles capture the social–ecological systems of the zones. We argue that it is important to consider the social–ecological context of the zones to provide sufficient knowledge to inform management. Our work has the capacity to contribute to sustainable land management that takes biocultural values into consideration.

IMPLEMENTING SYSTEM DYNAMICS AND PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH AT THE NEXUS OF PATIENT CARE FACTORS

Ponte Academic JournalFeb 2023, Volume 79, Issue 2 IMPLEMENTING SYSTEM DYNAMICS AND PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH AT THE NEXUS OF PATIENT CARE FACTORSAuthor(s): Maseeha Mahomed Farouk Ansermeah ,Cecile Gerwel ProchesJ. Ponte - Feb 2023 - Volume 79 - Issue 2 doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2023.2.7 Abstract:Purpose: Factors influencing patient care were analyzed in a public health setting in a bid to enhance patient experience and identify areas of health care delivery which could be improved upon. Methods: Patients and members of health care staff were interviewed by means of purposeful sampling. Causal loop diagrams and stock flow diagrams were merged with the use of Systems archetypes under the broad purview of System Dynamics and Participatory Action Research. Results and Conclusion: System Dynamics heuristics unmasked flaws in the system which were then acted upon utilizing Participatory Action Research interventions. Overall there has been a homogenous improvement in understanding the factors which contribute to patient care. Download full text:Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution Username Password

Identifying system archetypes in Nigeria’s rice agri-food system using fuzzy cognitive mapping

Identifying system archetypes in Nigeria’s rice agri-food system using fuzzy cognitive mapping

Hydropolitical System Archetypes: Feedback Structures, Physical Environments, Unintended Behaviors, and a Diagnostic Checklist

Hydropolitics is defined as the systematic study of conflict and cooperation in transboundary water basins, affecting around 40% of the world’s population. There has been great advancement in studies endeavoring to explore linkages between hydropolitical drivers and hydropolitical situations in transboundary basins. To add to this, we posit that hydropolitics would benefit from a system thinking approach that has remained less addressed in the literature. For this purpose, considering a transboundary basin as a system, this study is built on the main principle of system dynamics, which implies that a system’s structure determines its behavior. Incorporating system archetypes into hydropolitics can provide a framework for assessing hydropolitical behavior according to the potential structure of archetypes. In this paper, we discuss five hydropolitical system archetypes and their feedback loop structures, the required physical environments, and potential unintended behavior over time. Finally, an example of a diagnostic checklist is presented that will help riparian states recognize patterns of behavior they may face in the future. This paper lays the groundwork for gaining insight into using system archetypes in projecting plausible hydropolitical behaviors and understanding past behaviors in transboundary basins.

Developing a system dynamic plus framework for water-land-society nexus modeling within urban socio-hydrologic systems

Developing a system dynamic plus framework for water-land-society nexus modeling within urban socio-hydrologic systems

Achieving sustainable competitiveness of tourism dynamics with resource-based view

PurposeThis research aims to model the existing system of destination competitiveness, identifies leverage points and develop revised model to achieve sustainable competitiveness.Design/methodology/approachSystem dynamics is used as method of modeling destination competitiveness. Structure of model utilizes 9-factor model as reference. Leverage points are identified using system archetypes. Revised model is built with resource-based view (RBV). Case study was conducted in Samosir, Toba Lake. Data used are secondary data and results of in-depth interviews.FindingsThere are 3 sub-systemic characteristics (archetypes) that hinder competitiveness. They are limit to growth quality gap, fix that fails infrastructure and promotion, tragedy of common lake pollution. Destination was unable to meet tourist expectations. Tourists spending decreased, demand size was small. Industries are unable to increase capabilities. Professionals, entrepreneurs, local workers, supporting industries are less interested in entering industry. Government policies do not match with destination's needs. Lake as main attraction is getting polluted. To achieve sustainable competitiveness, destination must utilize their valuable, rare and inimitable (VRI) resources and capabilities to design unique experiences for tourists, hence sustainable.Practical implicationsGovernment policy should be shifted to prioritizing development of valuable, rare, inimitable and well-organized resources and capabilities of destination, to produce unique tourist experience and achieve sustainable competitiveness.Originality/valueMethods and findings, combining system dynamics, system archetype, 9-factor model and RBV to achieve sustainable competitiveness is novel and can enrich tourism sustainable competitiveness theory/concept.

System Archetypes Underlying Formal-Informal Urban Water Supply Dynamics

Contrary to developed countries, developing countries have been observed to have an increased reliance on a diversity of water supply options to meet their daily demands, where formal supply systems are incapable of fulfilling the daily needs of consumers. In filling a demand-supply gap, informal supply systems are increasingly being associated with issues of long-term sustainability, higher consumer cost, and inequity. Emerging formal-informal dynamics in developing countries require a thorough understanding of complex human-water interactions for policy direction, in order to best support the advancement of urban water sustainability. Accordingly, system archetypes offer a platform to explain the behaviors of complex systems. This paper identifies common system archetypes that define urban waterscapes in the developing world. In this way, Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs) are used to present relationships and identify common archetypes that define the complexity of urban water supply systems in Hyderabad, Pakistan. These archetypes include ‘fixes that fail’, ‘shifting the burden’, ‘limits to growth/success’ and ‘growth and underinvestment’. These archetypes demonstrate that increases in formal infrastructure capacity and the number of informal suppliers to increase supply reliability are symptomatic solutions, restrained by financial and technical resources, and thus have unintended consequences. Further, a number of policy instruments are discussed as leverage points to achieve financial sustainability of formal systems. This paper emphasizes the need of a policy framework for informal supply system in national and regional water policies to ensure its service reliability as a short to medium term solution.