Concept of System Thinking, Sustainability Challenges - Coursework Example

System Thinking is Critical in Developing Solutions to Sustainability Challenges Name Institution Course Date System Thinking is Critical in Developing Solutions to Sustainability Challenges Organisations today are faced with a lot of environmental, social and business risks. Sustainability is one of the major concerns for organisations (Maani and Cavana, 2007). The concept of sustainability has evolved overtime and has gained significance among companies. Some sustainability issues that companies are trying to solve include wicked problems such as climate change, environmental pollution and societal challenges. In order to promote sustainability and enhance performance, organisations should acquire a culture of learning (Maani and Cavana, 2007). Business entities with learning abilities are capable of creating desired organisational results. System thinking is said to be the centre of organisational learning. Employees who embrace system thinking in finding answers for wicked problems and designing strategic plan for sustainability tend to improve their directorial learning skills. System thinking is said to be an effective mode of assisting companies follow a proper learning path. A key question is whether system thinking would be an effective solution to sustainability issues (Maani and Cavana, 2007). This paper will highlight the contribution of systems thinking in designing solutions for sustainability challenges. The paper will first detail out the concept of system thinking. It will then describe how system thinking is used in looking for sustainability solutions. The essay will use an example of a wicked problem; placing a price on carbon in order to enhance the viability of the significant of system thinking in establishing solutions for sustainability issues. A system can be defined as the interconnectedness of elements or components that forms a unified whole (Bosch, Maani and Smith, 2007). For instance things like people, economies, and animals make up a system and cannot be thought apart from the whole systems in which they are found. On the other hand, system thinking is considered a vital part for the accomplishment of sustainability in business. System thinking assist people understand and get hold of the complexity of the world in which they live and embolden them to think in relation to relationships and context (Bosch, Maani and Smith, 2007). Thinking strategically among people requires the shift of perception. Such shift is not an alternative but a movement along a continuum. With any system, the context of a whole is different from the sum of different parts (Maani and Fan, 2008). Therefore, by focussing on the whole rather than the parts, an individual can understand the connections and relationships between different elements. In addition, in systems, the relations between parts of a whole is often more important than the individual parts. For instance, an ecosystem is not only an assembly of species, but it entails the interactions between living things. In today’s world, it is hardly impossible to carry out business operation without coming across the term “sustainability”. Resolving modern sustainability challenges require more than just a strategy (Bosch, Maani and Smith, 2007). It entails shifting from the so called linear way of thinking to a systems viewpoint. This tends to bring thoughts and behaviour that are congruent to the law of sustainability. Therefore, system thinking can be thought to be a trans-disciplinary perspective of seeing interrelationships and not static snapshots. Maani and Fan (2008) has argued that critical thinking is the means by which practitioners can be conceptualized and made to act in a way that supports integration of social, economic as well as environmental scopes of sustainability. According to Maani and Fan (2008), the implementation of system thinking assists to influence the management complexity in relation to other initiatives. The issues of sustainability are often complex, rigid and are changing constantly making them require the advancement of effective mental framework in an even of rapid social, political as well as economic changes (Confino, 2012). Mental models are images found deep within people that tend to have an impact on how people understand the world around them and how they take action. As seen earlier, the business environment is changing fast that have put pressure on companies to be innovative in order to survive in the ever-growing economy (Confino, 2012). Making effective and rational decisions prove to be more difficult in achieving success. System thinking is important in providing a framework of decision making, which enable an organisation deal with changes in business environment. System thinking is the shift in the traditional way of organisation decision making as it is inadequate in this dynamic world (Minger, 2006). If the interaction of parts in examined, a larger pattern often emerges which enable us make decisions that are aimed at changing the pattern. Today, strategic leaders are faced with the issue of using the organisation’s open system aptitudes to react to the present and future sustainability challenges (Minger, 2006). Leaders are most of the times overwhelmed by the amount of environmental and social change. This places leaders in situations that are beyond their skills and expertise. Therefore, if a decision is to be made, decision makers rely on their own analysis, evaluations and interpretations of information (Minger, 2006). System thinking can assist leaders in making rational decisions in issues affecting business enterprises such as sustainability issues. Sustainability has since evolved since it was first seen in the year 1960. It commenced with regulatory acquiescence as well as public concerns with regard to pollution (FAO, 2008). In these new times, sustainability has led to various corporations taking responsibility for conducting efforts to create both social and environmental good. The new phase in the progression of sustainability includes group effort to approach critical issues and look for solutions in terms of systems (UNESCO, 2008). Responses will progressively depend on both cooperation and coordination therefore, as we move frontward, we will observe disruptive organizational improvement together with the revolutions in technology required to influence dramatic change (Minger, 2006). Within an organization, it is very difficult to enforce an environmental strategy by lowering the duty to one department working in a silo (Minger, 2006). An environmental strategy impacts development of new products retention of employment, demand of customers as well as reputation of corporations. Thence, isolation of environmental strategy to just a few of these areas might be ineffective (Jackson, 2003). According to some scholars, touching into the trend of system thinking is considered a cultural revolution as reflective as the industrial revolution. Currently, companies come into contact with environmental concerns and hence are frequently exposed to risks related to their business and hence environmental management is prioritized (Minger, 2006). If the present trend observed such as growth in the global population, industrialization, pollution as well as depletion of resources continues to be unchanged, the limit to this growth may be impeded leading to sudden and uncontrollable reduction in the population as well as the industrial capacity (Jackson, 2003). The interest of sustainability matter should offer a competitive advantage for business enterprises (Kline, 2014). On the other hand avoidance of sustainability matter by organisations triggers a lot of debate against businesses which may affect their success. System thinking has been used in combining technologist and environmentalist views regarding sustainability development. Today’s business challenges are very complex and ever-changing and thus require holistic and multi-disciplinary systems framework for sustainable solutions (Kline, 2014). There are many initiatives that have been carried out in order to solve sustainability challenges. However, many of them have failed to modernize sustainability development. Solving sustainability challenges successfully require learning. Improving organisational leaning skills can enable an organisation plan for sustainability development (Betts, Fan and Holden, 2003). Organisational learning assists people to understand present reality (Betts, Fan and Holden, 2003). And system thinking is considered a framework for understanding such reality. By understanding reality through system thinking, people are able to improve their ways of viewing things. System thinking therefore represents a tool for the evolution of sustainability (Templeton et al., 2002). The components of making a system change include clear mapping which ensures that people involved share a vision and provide a picture of interconnection of elements that has never been seen. System thinking also involves working as a whole where there is collaboration among different entities with common language and shared trust (Hung, 2008). And as seen earlier, the major component of system thinking is thinking differently. A wicked problem is an issue that has the ability to yield different changing solutions and influences social, economic as well environmental issue at the same time. One wicked sustainability problem is placing a price on carbon as a result of climate change. The world’s current challenge is gas emissions in the air that poses major threats to the environment and the society at large (Los Angeles Times, 2016). The emission of gases in the surrounding has increased global temperature that poses a significant threat in the maintenance of ecosystem. Climate changes are considered one of the most critical system problems faced by the community today. Today, most of the activities carried out by man use fossil fuels and other climate-altering gases (Los Angeles Times, 2016). In the context of system thinking, it is important to solve more than one challenge at a time by tackling numerous interconnected issues at the same time. System thinking encourages the address of systems and not symptoms. Climate change issue should be resolved by use of system thinking approach (Press Release, 2015). One way that has been used in solving the issue of climate change is advocating for a price on carbon. System thinking approach argue that, in order for this to be possible and effective, leaders around the world in governmental, non-governmental and agencies should unite together to solve a common issue (Press Release, 2015). Leaders should join forces to put a price on carbon with an aim of solving climate change issues. Putting a price on carbon is able to propel the economy towards a low carbon use that would reduce carbon pollution that drive global warming. In addition, regulators ought to think about modifications of fiscal systems so as to increase the revenue from prices put on carbon-intensive fuels (Press Release, 2015). This collective approach to providing a tool for reducing carbon emission is an important step in solving climate change. In solving wicked problems, system thinking offers a basis where effective decisions can be made by perceiving the problem differently in terms of the interactions between different elements and understanding that the causes of the success of solving a problem is found within the system (Jackson, 2003). Solving climate change should not awaken other new problems and should aim at solving a problem completely. The reason why climate change is considered a wicked problem is that it does not have an obvious solution as a result of the complexity of the system that makes it difficult for a solution to be established (Brooks, 2006). Before a wicked problem is solved, system thinking would assist in understanding the long-term and short-term effects of an intervention in solving climate change (Minger, 2006). Putting a price on carbon globally is a means by which carbon emission is reduced and is said to have been the product of system thinking approach. In conclusion, a system can be defined as the interconnectedness of the parts that form a whole. System thinking assist people understand the world they live in. It emphases on focus of the whole rather than the parts, which enable an individual understand the connections and relationships between different element. Thinking systematically is considered a fundamental part that assists in finding solution for sustainability challenges. Solving sustainability challenges require more than just a strategy. In order for sustainability for solutions for sustainability challenges to be developed, people should shift their thinking from linear standpoint to system perspective. For instance, one wicked problem facing individuals today is climate change that can be solved by putting a price on carbon. This wicked problem can be solved by addressing the system rather than the symptoms. Don’t get me wrong. System thinking is not the solution to sustainability challenges, what it does is offering the basis where effective decisions can be made by perceiving the problem differently in terms of the interactions between different elements and understanding that the causes of the success of solving a problem is found within the system. Sustainability challenge cannot be eradicated without a shift in perception. To a great extent, system thinking is critical in creating solutions to sustainability challenges. References Betts, F & Rick, H 2003, Organisational Learning in a public Sector Organizsation: A Case Study in Muddled Thinking, Journal of Workplace Learning, 15(6), 280-287. Bosch, O., Maani, K & Smith, C 2007, Systems thinking - Language of complexity for scientists and managers, Improving the Triple Bottom Line Returns from Small-scale Forestry, 18-21 June, 2007, Ormoc, the Philippines. Brooks, A 2006, Enhancing the effectiveness of projects on Cat Ba Island – an evaluation of ten years of international support, IUCN Vietnam Country Office, Hanoi, Vietnam. Confino, J 2012, The Art of Systems Thinking in Driving Sustainable Transformation, the guardian, online access on http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/systems-thinking-sustainable-transformation FAO 2008, Food Summit calls for more investment in agriculture: poor countries need special assistance to weather food price shocks, FAO news room. Hung, W 2008, Enhancing systems-thinking skills with modelling, British Journal of Educational Technology, 39 (6), 1099-1120. Jackson, M 2003, Systems thinking: creative holism for managers, Chichester, UK, John Wiley & Sons. Kline, M 2014, Why Sustainability is the Next Step in Sustainability, The Future, Retrieved from, http://www.inc.com/maureen-kline/why-systems-thinking-is-the-next-step-in-sustainability.html Los Angeles Times 2016, Climate Change, A Wicked Problem, can be tamed with Carbon Pricing, Retrieved from http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-85254287/ Maani, K.E & Fan, A 2008, Systems thinking and organisational learning – Resolving performance measure conflicts in a supply chain, Proceedings of the International System Dynamic Society Conference, Athens, Greek. Maani, K. E. & R. Y. Cavana 2007, Systems thinking, system dynamics: Managing change and complexity, Auckland, NZ, Prentice Hall. Minger, J. C. 2006, Realising Systems Thinking: Knowledge and Action in Management Science, New York, USA, Springer. Press Release 2015, Leaders Unite in Calling for a Price on Carbon Ahead of Paris Climate Talk, Press Release No. 15/473. Templeton, Gary F., Bruce R. Lewis, and Charles A. Synder 2002, Development of a Measure for the Organizational Learning Construct, Journal of Management Systems, 19(2), 175-218. UNESCO 2008, Biosphere reserves: Reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with economic development, [Online access] 17th April: http://www.unesco.org/mab/BRs.shtml Read More