Systems Thinking - Time to Step into a New World

This is the first of series of short articles exploring the need for the greater use of Systems Thinking by leaders and organisations in order to respond effectively to the increasing complexity and rate of change in the world around us. This is both of deep personal interest to me but also an opportunity to draw attention to the launch in Jan 2022 of the world's first executive education course in Critical Systems Thinking. This is organised by the Enlightened Enterprise Academy and features Dr Michael C Jackson OBE, a world leader in the field of Systems Thinking and author of the highly acclaimed book 'Critical Systems Thinking and the Management of Complexity' published in 2019.

Why are there so many crises?

Wherever we look there seems to be crises erupting around the world. Climate change, economic instability, political polarisation, rising social inequalities and deteriorating mental/ physical health are constantly in the news. Individual organisations and institutions are more frequently involved in crises and scandals as they struggle to cope with a changing world around them. We are in the midst of a "meta crisis" in which the old world view and the ideas and frameworks that sustained them are no longer able to bear the weight of what is unfolding in the present and what our future depends upon.

Globalisation and digital technology have given us complex global supply chains, just-in-time manufacturing, digital market places, algorithmic trading as well as radical new forms of mass communication and social media. Optimising for speed, scale, efficiency and performance has led to the acceleration of change, growing interconnectedness but also the emergence of new systemic fragilities arising from unexpected shocks e.g. Covid, Brexit etc. Meanwhile social expectations are changing quickly be it of the businesses and institutions that serve them, the the nature of work or the accountability of organisations to the society and the planetary ecosystem they are part of.

Critical Systems Thinking

The old models and levers of leadership, management and control are incapable of dealing with this greater level of complexity. With greater volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) comes the need for new forms of leadership, organisational design and ways of working. Ones that are able to recognise and adapt to changing contexts and circumstances at the appropriate speed and level of organisational learning. This means moving beyond linear, short term, siloed and top-down ways of working to ones that are more systemic, distributed and human-centred. Ones in which the organisations are able to define and deliver their purpose such a way that the whole is greater than the sum of the siloed parts.

Fortunately there has been a growing body of theory and practice in the area of systems thinking over the last century. As the mechanical Newtonian view of the industrial era has given way to a greater understanding of quantum physics, biological and social phenomena a whole new body of complexity science has grown in its wake. Cybernetics, System Dynamics, Viable Systems Model and Soft Systems Methodology are just a few of powerful new approaches developed to address particular types of system challenges. Critical Systems Thinking is a new approach developed by Mike Jackson that seeks to assist practitioners to recognise different types of systems challenges and apply the most appropriate systems thinking approach to addressing these challenges.

In conclusion, there is therefore an urgent need for new skills. Skills and knowledge that can aid leaders and teams to apply the best of systems thinking to the particular challenges and opportunities faced by their organisations. Shockingly there is little or no comprehensive systems thinking courses being taught at University or available through executive coaching channels. This is a huge gap that needs to be filled. It is this need that the Enlightened Enterprise is seeking to fill through its collaboration with Professor Mike Jackson. Take advantage of learning practical insights directly from one of the world's leading systems thinking experts. DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE and check for details of AVAILABLE PROGRAMS AND START DATES.