Systems Thinking Research Articles

Systems Thinking and Sustainability—A Workshop at 5th ACRICE

Systems Thinking and Sustainability—A Workshop at 5th ACRICE

Communicating educational innovation projects in Latin America mediated by the scaling of complex thinking: Contribution of the UNESCO-ICDE Chair in Mexico

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair in the open educational movement for Latin America aims to promote scientific, technological, entrepreneurial, and innovative development. In Mexico, face-to-face bootcamps occur every two years, where prototypes of high-value solutions for education are developed using design and active learning methodologies, with the aim of scaling complex thinking and sustainable development. In the 2023 edition, 94 academicians from 12 countries participated (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Spain, the Dominican Republic, and the United Kingdom). Experts from Tecnológico de Monterrey, the Open University, the University of Leeds, and Siemens Stiftung supervised the process. This article presents the prototyped proposals and the results of applying the Play2Train4C methodology, enabling participants to develop educational innovation projects under the paradigm of complex thinking. The results indicate that (1) the participants managed to prototype ten proposals validated by experts and (2) their perceptions of their systemic, critical, scientific, and innovative thinking (sub-competencies of complex thinking) improved by the end of the bootcamp. The conclusion was that the UNESCO Chair boosted solution-building skills for the complex problems arising in Latin America and enabled key agents in education to improve their complex thinking skills for quality education, as promulgated by sustainable development goal 4.

Applying Systems Thinking to Research into Risk Factors Influencing Earthmoving Equipment Operation Safety in Construction Sites

Earthmoving operations in the construction process are complex environments that involve interactions between equipment, the workforce, and materials within an overarching construction plan. Over the past two decades, researchers in construction have focused on improving the safety of construction earthmoving equipment due to their omnipresence in the construction environment. Although previous studies have explored safety risks and the causes of accidents involving construction earthmoving equipment, their approaches were common and lacked a comprehensive perspective. Hence, this systematic literature review applies Rasmussen’s (1997) risk management framework using a systems thinking approach to identify and classify the risk factors influencing earthmoving equipment operation safety in construction sites. Utilizing a multistep methodology, this research first identifies 38 risk factors pertinent to earthmoving equipment operations and then classifies them based on systems thinking. Social network analysis (SNA) is employed to analyze the data. The results show that most research on earthmoving equipment safety focuses on monitoring construction sites, but very little on government and regulatory roles. When considering the interdependencies of risk factors, safety training is the most important factor, followed by the largely overlooked earthmoving machinery characteristics and manufacturer’s performance. The results of this review inform both the research community and industry practitioners regarding the less-understood aspects of earthmoving equipment operation safety and future research directions.

Breaking Silo Thinking within the South African Water-Energy-Food Nexus via Systems Thinking and Simulation Workshops

Despite their inextricable interlinkage commonly known as Water-Energy-Food nexus, the current disconnect in policy development and management of the water, energy, and food resources threatens their security of supply. The security of these basic human needs is aggravated by the cross-cutting role of climate change which impacts their availability. These apprehensions suggest that contemporary methods are required to improve and enhance integrated approaches and systems in the management of the food, water, and energy sectors within the discourse of climate change. This study applied Systems Thinking methodologies to foster collaboration amongst key stakeholders within Eskom, electricity generating sector in South Africa. This was done through several simulation workshops held amongst these value chain sectors. The workshops have demonstrated the ability of these systems to enable stakeholders to apply the “nexus thinking” approach in managing the sectors of water, food, energy, and climate change within the power utility. The study concluded by recommending application of this simulation within the policy development and other key sectors to enable a broader application of nexus thinking.

Implementation of Ethnoscience to Improve Elementary School Students' Critical Thinking Ability in Science Learning

This study discusses the importance of integrating ethnoscience into elementary school education to enhance students' understanding of local culture as well as their interest and motivation in science. The ethnoscience approach, which connects scientific knowledge with culture and local wisdom, can make learning more meaningful and relevant to students' daily lives. The research method used is empirical juridical with a descriptive qualitative approach through interviews and documentation. The results of the study show that ethnoscience-based learning can improve students' critical, creative, and systematic thinking skills, as well as foster a love for their culture and environment. The implementation of ethnoscience in the Indonesian education curriculum not only increases students' science literacy but also helps them apply scientific knowledge to solve real-life problems. Therefore, the development of ethnoscience-based learning models and methods is essential to support students' interest and academic achievement in science.

Analysis of the Implementation of Re-Thinking Strategic Leadership in MSMEs for Sheet and Bed Cover Products in the City of Bandung

MSMEs in the bed linen industry often face challenges in increasingly tight market competition and changing consumer dynamics. To remain relevant and competitive in an ever-changing market, MSME leaders need to rethink their leadership strategies. Rethinking in this context includes re-evaluating business models, marketing strategies, production processes, and relationships with customers. MSME leaders need to consider new strategies that enable them to face challenges and exploit opportunities in the bedsheets industry. Based on the results of observations and in-depth interviews with MSME owners who produce bed sheets and bed covers in the Bandung area, it is clear that most of the MSME players who produce bed sheets and bed covers, especially the owners, in this case who are the leaders, have implemented re-thinking strategic leadership, especially those in the bed sheet business who produce on a large scale. . Re-thinking strategic leadership in this case means that MSME bed sheet and bed cover players have re-evaluated business models, marketing strategies, production processes and relationships with customers. MSME owners of bedsheet and bedcover products in Bandung have adopted various strategies to understand and adapt to the rapidly changing business environment. They use e-commerce and social media platforms, prioritize environmentally friendly products, adopt health protocols during the pandemic, and adjust production processes according to environmental regulations. Their strategic leadership drives adaptation through market research, product innovation, sales channel diversification, improved customer service, operational efficiency, collaboration, pricing flexibility, and human resource development. Additionally, they apply long-term thinking through SWOT analysis, market trend monitoring, competitor research, and data analysis. Team collaboration and engagement are also enhanced through cross-functional teams, open communication, shared goals, and collaborative rewards. Technology and innovation are encouraged with training, support systems, feedback loops, and innovation awards. Systemic thinking and leadership development is carried out through outreach, training, open communication, and feedback. These MSMEs also have risk awareness with appropriate risk analysis and risk mitigation as well as regular performance measurements for evaluation and strategy adjustments. MSME leaders are also considering new strategies that will enable them to face challenges and exploit opportunities in the bedsheets industry. MSME leaders in the bed linen industry have implemented strategic leadership to direct their business in a direction that is in line with the company's vision and mission. Strategic leadership involves making smart decisions, identifying market opportunities, managing risks, and developing long-term strategies. Even though the results obtained, not all MSMEs producing bed sheets are as expected.

Circular Economy Matrix Guiding Manufacturing Industry Companies towards Circularity—A Multiple Case Study Perspective

AbstractManufacturing companies struggle with overwhelming expectations, disruptions and trends sweeping over their business environment. The evident climate change, together with rising sustainable development goals, is forcing companies to discover their environmental impact, in addition to the more familiar economic one. The transformation from a linear economy to a circular economy (CE) reduces waste and improves resource efficiency through the deployed R-cycles, such as recycle, reuse and repair. This transformation is feasible for multinational enterprises because they can allocate sufficient resources for their strategic development goals. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), any additional investment must be carefully assessed and planned. Thus, SMEs need support and tools to select their next development investments. Generally, maturity models help companies find their status (compared to others) and identify the most important development areas and actions. This paper presents the CE maturity matrix, which comprises five maturity levels mapped with seven linear manufacturing value chain phases. The matrix was piloted with nine manufacturing industry companies, four of which were from Finland, one from Italy, one from Germany and three from Ireland. The CE matrix interview results showed that none of the interviewed manufacturing industry companies remained at the linearity level. The most common levels varied between systemic material management and CE thinking. In the interviews, over 40 CE actions were identified as the argument for a company reaching a CE maturity level. The transition towards sustainable manufacturing has already started but will require efforts to accelerate and to engage companies to proceed.

Design of Warehouse Information System for KCM Division Using Javascript

Increasingly advanced technological developments force business people to be adaptive, especially when there is an increase in production. The KCM division, one of the PT XYZ business units operating in the media sector, experienced increased production. This causes the production equipment to be borrowed irregularly, and information on the warehouse of production equipment is also difficult to find. The Warehouse Information System is the solution to this problem. This research aims to create a warehousing information system that records all information on borrowing production equipment, fulfills warehousing information needs, and solves several existing warehousing problems. This research method is an experimental one-shot case study designed with the Framework for the Applications of System Thinking (FAST) and using simple, easily accessible, and free tools, namely Google Spreadsheet and Javascript coding. The results of this research are that the KCM division's warehousing information system that has been created has been tested to be 100% capable of meeting information needs for borrowing production equipment and resolving existing warehousing problems based on system tests that have been carried out. It is recommended that this system be further developed in future research to overcome minor errors in coding.

Digital Twins-Based Cognitive Apprenticeship Model in Smart Agriculture

Applying digital technologies in education has been proven to have several positive impacts on teaching and learning. Digital twins have the potential to revolutionize education by offering immersive and interactive learning experiences. They can simulate virtual environments, enabling students to conduct experiments, practice techniques, and observe outcomes in a safe and cost-effective setting, particularly when access to physical laboratories is limited or expensive. This work proposes a learning management model that applies cognitive apprenticeship learning theory as a framework for learning digital twins to enhance the programming of a smart agriculture system and computational thinking skills. The model consists of three parts: input, learning process, and output with feedback. The input phase includes setting learning objectives, analyzing learners, determining learning content, planning learning activities, and utilizing a digital twin virtual laboratory space for experimenting in the development of a smart agriculture system. The learning process involves engaging students in programming and problem-solving tasks by offering expert guidance and support in computationally solving problems. The achievement of learning outcomes and practices is included in the output and feedback sections. After evaluation, five experts in this subject agreed that the learning management model was at the most appropriate level.

Необходим ли системный подход для социогуманитарных исследований?

There are two points of view on the systemic approach and its use: according to the first, this approach is conceived as universal, suitable for any disciplines and practices, according to the second, it includes a specific objectivity, should grasp the features of a certain field of knowledge. In order to choose one of them, the author analyzes on the basis of two cases (“The Critique of Pure Reason” by I. Kant and the works of G.P. Shchedrovitsky) the formation and features of the systemic approach, showing that it is the design of an object of study in a special epistemic situation. Its feature is, on the one hand, the presence of several objects that describe the proposed object, on the other hand, the belief in the existence of an ontology and laws in accordance with which this object can be designed. The systemic approach in this version (as the configuration of various objects and the design of an object based on this process) is compared with humanitarian and socio-humanitarian research and development (A.S. Pushkin’s personality research and the successful Donor project), which make it possible to do without systemic ideas and thinking. They are replaced by methodology and research in the subject. The author draws attention to the fact that the ideas of identifying and searching for the integrity, nature and boundaries of the phenomenon under consideration, taking into account connections and influences, the correlation of synthesis and analysis, and a number of others that are today referred to as a systemic approach, were developed meaningfully (in other non-systemic concepts and languages) throughout the entire history of the development of philosophy, methodology and science. As a result, it turns out that it is necessary to distinguish between the methodology of a systemic approach and other methodologies that allow systemic problems and tasks to be solved, so to speak, non-systemically.

Developing systems thinking to address climate change

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the presence of systems thinking after an educational proposal on climate sustainability based on reflection and video creation. To evaluate this competency, an evaluation rubric was constructed. Design/methodology/approach This research is a case study with a mixed approach. It was carried out with 82 future teachers of Primary Education, making content analysis of the videos made. For the design of the rubric, a specific review of the literature was conducted. Findings The results showed that trainee teachers can identify, relate and understand interconnected processes, but have difficulties in thinking temporally or in understanding the hidden dimensions of the system. The results reveal how the development of systems thinking in the Climate Change framework is a complex learning process. The rubric created allowed us to systematize the evaluation by making it possible to assess the subskills involved. Originality/value To improve the development of systemic thinking, using real data linked to the consequences of this problem and ICT applications that foster an approximation to future realities is suggested. In addition, conscious and fair decision-making should be promoted on the basis of a transformative education that favors this thinking in interaction with other key competences in sustainability. The innovative rubric allows the evaluation of systemic thinking skills for the study of climate change, conceptualized from the interrelationships of the natural, social and economic dimensions and from its implications for life, on different geographical and temporal levels.

Information System Model and Key Technologies of High-Definition Maps in Autonomous Driving Scenarios.

Background: High-definition maps can provide necessary prior data for autonomous driving, as well as the corresponding beyond-line-of-sight perception, verification and positioning, dynamic planning, and decision control. It is a necessary element to achieve L4/L5 unmanned driving at the current stage. However, currently, high-definition maps still have problems such as a large amount of data, a lot of data redundancy, and weak data correlation, which make autonomous driving fall into difficulties such as high data query difficulty and low timeliness. In order to optimize the data quality of high-definition maps, enhance the degree of data correlation, and ensure that they better assist vehicles in safe driving and efficient passage in the autonomous driving scenario, it is necessary to clarify the information system thinking of high-definition maps, propose a complete and accurate model, determine the content and functions of each level of the model, and continuously improve the information system model. Objective: The study aimed to put forward a complete and accurate high-definition map information system model and elaborate in detail the content and functions of each component in the data logic structure of the system model. Methods: Through research methods such as the modeling method and literature research method, we studied the high-definition map information system model in the autonomous driving scenario and explored the key technologies therein. Results: We put forward a four-layer integrated high-definition map information system model, elaborated in detail the content and functions of each component (map, road, vehicle, and user) in the data logic structure of the model, and also elaborated on the mechanism of the combined information of each level of the model to provide services in perception, positioning, decision making, and control for autonomous driving vehicles. This article also discussed two key technologies that can support autonomous driving vehicles to complete path planning, navigation decision making, and vehicle control in different autonomous driving scenarios. Conclusions: The four-layer integrated high-definition map information model proposed by this research institute has certain application feasibility and can provide references for the standardized production of high-definition maps, the unification of information interaction relationships, and the standardization of map data associations.

Interconnectedness of Health and Economy in Post-COVID-19: A Systems Thinking Approach to Synergies, Trade-Offs, and Policy Responses in Nepal.

This study addresses the economic challenges posed by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with a specific focus on Nepal. Employing a Systems Thinking approach, the study develops a comprehensive model that integrates macroeconomic interventions, exploring the trade-offs and synergies among various economic sectors. The interconnectedness of health, economic, and policy domains highlights the need for a holistic understanding of the pandemic's effects. An exploratory research design was used. The model introduces three primary subsystems-import, local demand, and local production-illustrating their interdependence. The causal loop diagram depicts the implications of fiscal and monetary policies on the economy, emphasizing the synergy and trade-offs resulting from policy interventions. Findings reveal the significant economic impact of the pandemic on Nepal, leading to its negative growth rate in FY 2020/21, the first time Nepal has experienced this in the last two decades. The results show that both intended and unintended consequences are observed following the adoption of fiscal and monetary policy that aimed at minimizing the spread of virus suggesting a complex nature of relationship among the policy variables. The fiscal policy induced negative consequences on the increasing loan, slow revenue growth, while positive feedbacks are observed on increased investment opportunities, and boosting of local economy. The monetary measures yielded unintended consequences on the rising land prices, surge in share market. The study concludes by emphasizing the crucial role of informed policymaking in navigating the complex landscape, offering insights for creating a resilient and sustainable post-pandemic future.

Exploration of Teacher Perspectives on the Integration of Sustainable Development Goals and Systems Thinking in Chemistry Learning

Exploration of Teacher Perspectives on the Integration of Sustainable Development Goals and Systems Thinking in Chemistry Learning

Real-World Experiences in Higher Education: Contributing to the Developing a Systems Thinking Paradigm

Background: Systems thinking has been proposed as a means to address complex and wicked problems. Systems thinking involves moving beyond looking at an issue from a static perspective and seeing interrelationships between parts and wholes. Students will be better prepared to handle the complexity of the world if they develop a systems thinking paradigm. Yet, little research exists on how individuals develop a systems thinking paradigm. Purpose: This phenomenological research study focuses on “What real-world experiences contribute to developing a systems thinking paradigm?” Methodology/Approach: Phenomenological interviews were conducted with 11 faculty affiliated with the University of Florida School of Natural Resources and the Environment. Data were coded using Colaizzi's seven-step approach. Findings/Conclusions: The essence of the study was that real-world experiences contribute to developing a systems thinking paradigm. Fieldwork, laboratory, and research experience develop the knowledge needed to understand the concept of complexity. Immersive academic experiences create opportunities for people to interact with others who have varying perspectives. Nonacademic work in the real world gives people a holistic view of the system. Implications: It is recommended that faculty focus on incorporating real-world experiences into their pedagogy and obtain support to create these opportunities.

Environmental, social, and economic challenges to forest-based micro-entrepreneurship: a comparative case study in Finland

Countries worldwide, especially Nordic countries, have proposed a forest-based bioeconomy to halt systemic risks, such as climate change, and to create socioeconomic welfare. Entrepreneurs operating in various business sectors and regions face several complex challenges in this regard. However, the challenges faced by forest-based micro-entrepreneurs have not been addressed across various regions using systems thinking. This comparative case study aimed to identify the environmental, social, and economic challenges faced by forest-based micro-entrepreneurs and the spatial features of these challenges—their scale, interactions, and prevalence—in two different regions in Finland: Lapland and South Karelia. These regions’ economies rely heavily on the recreational value of nature and on the large-scale pulp and paper industries, respectively. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with micro-entrepreneurs from various sectors, such as forestry, logging, tourism, and natural products. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The framework used enabled a deeper spatial understanding of the challenges experienced by forest-based micro-entrepreneurs. The micro-entrepreneurs in the two case regions had great similarities in terms of themes related to trust, workload, and labor shortage. This may hinder the implementation of new practices in regional forest-based bioeconomy development. Future quantitative studies could validate the identified challenges for further policy development.

The Systems Thinking Approach to Strategic Management

This paper presents a review of the field of systems thinking and strategic management The evolution of the areas of interest between systems thinking and strategic management follows similar patterns with more prescriptive developments occurring within the 1960s until 1980s; then, an increasing focus on emergence and transformation emerged in later years. From the review, there seems to exist synergies between multiple strands in Systems Thinking and Strategic Management. Suggestions to facilitate the interaction between both fields are proposed, considering the type of processes to generate strategies and the perspectives employed to visualize the organizations as systems. Hopefully, the paper can contribute to embedding systemic approaches to the strategic management of organizations and society.

The tip of the iceberg: Generalism in undergraduate medical education, a systems thinking analysis.

There is a shortage of generalist physicians globally impacting health equity and access to care. An important way in which medical schools can demonstrate social accountability is by graduating learners interested in careers in generalism. While generalism is endorsed as a matter of principle in medical education, how this translates into curricula is less clear. The aim of this study was to identify how generalism is understood and supported by family physician educational leaders in undergraduate medical education (UME) in Canada. We conducted a qualitative study, interviewing 38 family medicine leaders in UME across all 17 Canadian medical schools. We examined the data with template analysis, informed by the iceberg model of systems thinking. Four themes were identified: (1) Teaching and learning strategies in support of generalism-a consistent range existed across UME curricula; (2) Curriculum patterns-changes in leadership and curriculum reform created positive or negative feedback loops that promoted or hindered initiatives to support generalism; (3) Curriculum structures-organ-system-based curricula and availability of generalist faculty presented particular challenges to teaching generalist approaches; (4) Mental models and ways of knowing-the preponderance of biomedical frameworks of thinking in curricula unconsciously undermined generalist approaches to patient care. UME programmes promoted generalism through a range of teaching activities and strategies, but these efforts were countered by curriculum structures and mental models that perpetuate epistemic inequity between biomedical approaches to medical education and generalist models of care. Novel curricular frameworks are needed to align undergraduate programmes' commitment to social accountability with community-based need.

Leadership in Times of Uncertainty: Proactive Crisis Leadership andStrategic Vigilance among School Administrators in a Selected PrivateHigher Education Institution

This study examines the strategic vigilance and crisis leadership competencies of school administrators, highlighting the critical importance of these skills in navigating the complex and unpredictable landscape of modern education. The analysis covers a range of competencies, including adaptability, communication transparency, global engagement, practical experience, collaboration, ethical decision-making, systemic thinking, and innovation. The study underscores the necessity for school administrators to continuously enhance their skills through practical training and professional development. Key recommendations include fostering a culture of adaptability, improving communication channels, engaging with global best practices, prioritizing ethical decision-making, and promoting continuous learning and innovation. These efforts are essential for maintaining resilience, ensuring operational stability, and achieving long-term success in educational institutions. The results suggest that effective crisis leadership and strategic vigilance are less about inherent traits or background and more about ongoing development and proactive management. This research provides a comprehensive plan for improving leadership strategies, ultimately benefiting students, staff, and the broader educational community.

Fostering systems thinking about socioscientific issues

ABSTRACT Systems thinking is essential for understanding wicked real-world problems and suggesting solutions. This is the case for addressing socioscientific issues (SSI) that involve inter-related personal, socio-political, cultural, scientific, economic and moral dimensions. It is challenging for teachers to support students in adopting and practising systems thinking when they explore SSI. In this study, we tested the extent to which causal loop diagramming (CLD) developed students’ systems thinking. We examined a 2-week teaching unit that used a computer-based CLD tool to foster students’ systems thinking about obesity in a first-year university general education course. Ninety-six students from a variety of majors/disciplines participated in this study. They worked in groups and engaged in reading news, proposing actions while creating causal loop diagrams about factors that contributed to obesity and approaches to tackle the issue. We analysed their pre-, mid-, and post-unit causal loop diagrams (3 × 26 groups) and weekly reflective memos. The data revealed their significant shift towards a systems approach of thinking. The reflective memos showed that the shift was afforded by cycles of construct–revise–use as they created the diagrams. The findings suggest the potential of causal loop diagramming to foster systems thinking in the sense-making and decision-making of SSI.