Skip to main content

Modern Academic Myths

  • Chapter
Systems for Sustainability

Abstract

A set of basic assumptions appears to underlie much current research and teaching using systems thinking. But although these assumptions are frequently deployed to support theories, arguments and debate, it is difficult to detect or establish the empirical evidence or observations that justify them. This lack of evidence is worrying. As Burrell and Morgan (1979) point out, ‘In order to understand alternative points of view it is important that a theorist be fully aware of the assumptions upon which his own perspective is based.’

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Agyeman, S., 1995, Learning to love and leave Ackoff, in Ellis, K., Gregory, A., Mears-Young, B. R. and Ragsdell, G., Critical Issues in Systems Theory and Practice, Plenum, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashby, W. R., 1956, Introduction to Cybernetics, Chapman & Hall: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burrell, G. and Morgan, G., 1979, Sociological Paradigms and Organizational Analysis, Gower: Aldershot.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carson, R., 1965, The Silent Spring, Penguin: Harmondsworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cairncross, A., 1971, Presidential address to the British Association for the Advancement of Science, September.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casti, J. L., 1979, Connectivity, Complexity and Catastrophe in Large Scale Systems, Wiley: Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R., 1973, The pressing need for alternative technology, Impact of Science on Society, 23(4).

    Google Scholar 

  • Coles, M., 1994, Inept buying that costs millions, Independent on Sunday, 6 March.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickson, D., 1974, Alternative Technology and the Politics of Technical Change, Fontana: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, K., Gregory, A., Mears-Young, B. R. and Ragsdell, G., 1995, Critical Issues in Systems Theory and Practice, Plenum: New York.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Flood, R. L. and Jackson, M. C, 1991, Creative Problem Solving, Wiley: Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill, A., 1995, A life-line for those abandoning check-list management, in Ellis, K., Gregory, A., Mears-Young, B. R. and Ragsdell, G., Critical Issues in Systems Theory and Practice, Plenum, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammer, K., 1995, Comparing the criticised concepts of ‘re-engineering the corporation’ with a systems structure for organisational change, in Ellis, K., Gregory, A., Mears-Young, B. R. and Ragsdell, G., Critical Issues in Systems Theory and Practice, Plenum, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jayaratna, N., 1994, Understanding and Evaluating Methodologies, McGraw-Hill: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johannessen, J., 1995, Creative management, in Ellis, K., Gregory, A., Mears-Young, B. R. and Ragsdell, G., Critical Issues in Systems Theory and Practice, Plenum, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malthus, T. R., 1798, An Essay on the Principle of Population as it Affects the Future Improvement of Society, reprinted with notes: 1965, Bonar, J., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, G., 1995, Management systems for evolving networks, in Ellis, K., Gregory, A., Mears-Young, B. R. and Ragsdell, G., Critical Issues in Systems Theory and Practice, Plenum, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meadows, D. H., Meadows, D. L., Randers, J. and Behrens, W. W, 1972, The Limits to Growth: A report for the Club of Rome’s Project on the Predicament of Mankind, Universe Books: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitcham, C., 1995, The concept of sustainable development: its origins and ambivalence, Technology in Society, 17(3):311–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reyes, A., 1995, A theoretical framework for the development of a social accounting system, in Ellis, K., Gregory, A., Mears-Young, B. R. and Ragsdell, G., Critical Issues in Systems Theory and Practice, Plenum, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumacher, E. F., 1973, Blond & Briggs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shelley, M. W., 1818, reprinted 1994, Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus, Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toffler, A., 1970, Futureshock, Playboy, December.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waldrop, M. M., 1993, Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Chaos, Viking: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wargrave, J. N., 1995, Demands imposed on systems science by complexity, in Ellis, K., Gregory, A., Mears-Young, B. R. and Ragsdell, G., Critical Issues in Systems Theory and Practice, Plenum, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, Our Common Future, Oxford University Press: New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fortune, J., Hughes, J. (1997). Modern Academic Myths. In: Stowell, F.A., Ison, R.L., Armson, R., Holloway, J., Jackson, S., McRobb, S. (eds) Systems for Sustainability. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0265-8_22

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0265-8_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0267-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0265-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics