Sustainability of Systems Thinking and Practice in Organisations

Abstract

The perils of being ignorant of the world’s complexity are evident throughout human history, and never more so than in this last century. A good example lies in the uncontrolled logging allowed by governments in pursuit of jobs and tax revenues, but which ignore the huge costs incurred in extinction of species, erosion of soil, landslides and destruction of villages and their people, fouling and sedimentation of water bodies, mass exodus to overpopulated cities, and hunger for food, shelter and mental and spiritual peace. The very frequency of situations like these emphasises the necessity of seeing organisms and organisations in ways which envisage as many of the consequences of their internal and external interrelationships as possible, so as to permit non-damaging and beneficial interventions, and preparation for amelioration of unavoidable, undesirable effects. Currently entrenched ways do not offer that hope.