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TB871: Block 2 Tools stream references

Posted on by Doug Belshaw

Note: this is a post reflecting on one of the modules of my MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice. You can see all of the related posts in this category. 

Just a quick post to share the books, articles, and other material referenced in the Block 2 Tools stream that I might want to come explore at some point in the future (Open University, 2020)

Carnohan, S.A., Clifford-Holmes, J.K., McKnight, U.S. and Pollard, S. (2020) ‘Climate change adaptation in rural South Africa: using stakeholder narratives to build system dynamics models in data-scarce environments’. To be published in Journal of Simulation [Preprint].

Forrester, J. (1975) ‘Counterintuitive nature of social systems’, in Ramage, M. and Shipp, K. (2020) Systems thinkers, 2nd edn. Milton Keynes: The Open University/London: Springer, p. 105.

Hardin, G. (1968) ‘Tragedy of the commons’, Science, 162(3859), pp. 1243–48.

Hughes, L. (2019) ‘MPs opt by majority of 1 to seek delay to Brexit’, Financial Times, 3 April. DOI https://www.ft.com/content/02492618-5630-11e9-91f9-b6515a54c5b1 (Accessed 20 February 2020).

Jagustović, R., Zougmoré, R.B., Kessler, A., Ritsema, C.J., Keesstra, S. and Reynolds, M. (2019) ‘Contribution of systems thinking and complex adaptive system attributes to sustainable food production: example from a climate-smart village’, Agricultural Systems, 171, pp. 65–75. Available at: http://oro.open.ac.uk/58925 (Accessed: 20 January 2020).

Lane, D (2019) ‘New truths begin as heresies: thoughts on system dynamics and global modelling’, Systems Research and Behavioural Science, 36, pp. 233–43.

Maani, K. and Cavana, R. (2007) Systems thinking, systems dynamics: managing change and complexity. 2nd edn. North Shore City: Pearson Education New Zealand.

Meadows, D.H., Meadows, D.L., Randers, J. and Behrens III, W. (1972) The limits to growth. New York: Potomac Associates – Universe Books.

Meadows, D.H. (2008) Thinking in systems: a primer. London: Earthscan.

Meadows, D.H., Randers, J. and Meadows, D. (2005) The limits to growth: the 30 year update. London: Earthscan.

Morecroft, J. (2020) ‘System dynamics’, in Reynolds, M. and Holwell, S. (eds.) Systems approaches to making change: a practical guide. 2nd edn. Milton Keynes: The Open University/London: Springer, pp. 25–88.

Morecroft (2015) The instructor companion site for strategic modelling and business dynamics: a feedback systems approach, + Website, 2nd edition. Available at: http://bcs.wiley.com/he-bcs/Books?action=index&bcsId=9580&itemId=1118844688 (Accessed 19 August 2019).

Morecroft, J. (2007) Strategic modelling and business dynamics: a feedback systems approach. Chichester: John Wiley.

Ramage, M. and Shipp, K. (2020) Systems thinkers. 2nd edn. Milton Keynes: The Open University/London: Springer.

Senge, P.M. (2006) The fifth discipline: the art and practice of the learning organization. 2nd edn. London: Random House Business.

Turner, G. and Alexander, C. (2014) ‘Limits to growth was right. New research shows we’re nearing collapse’, The Guardian: Opinion, 2 September. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/02/limits-to-growth-was-right-new-research-shows-were-nearing-collapse (Accessed: 12 October 2019).

Wilson, D. (2016) ‘The tragedy of the commons: how Elinor Ostrom solved one of life’s greatest dilemmas’, Evonomics. Available at: http://evonomics.com/tragedy-of-the-commons-elinor-ostrom (Accessed: 21 April 2019).

References to references

TB871: Area of practice diagram

Posted on by Doug Belshaw

Note: this is a post reflecting on one of the modules of my MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice. You can see all of the related posts in this category. 

Zooming between levels of abstraction is an important part of systems thinking. Activity 2.32 involves doing this in terms of systems and sub-systems within an area of practice.

My situation of interest, which involves the number of library visitors sits within ‘A system to support education and information’. This sits within a wider area of practice around community development and wellbeing, and alongside systems relating to health, social support, community engagement, and recreation.

An infographic showcasing systems for community development and wellbeing, with six interconnected ovals labeled with different support systems, all containing "B" and "R" arrow icons, on a peach background with a title at the top.

What I found interesting about this is that it helps reinforce the tension that increasing visitors to the physical library is not necessary for supporting lifelong learning. However, given that I’m composing this article from the library, and am surrounded by other students, I have a feeling it certainly helps.

Life has no instruction manual

Posted on by Doug Belshaw

I’m currently reading a book entitled Jimmy the Kid, in which hapless criminals decide to kidnap the child of a wealthy man after being inspired by a novel. As you’d imagine, things don’t exactly go to plan.

It’s reminded me of the futility of complaining that things haven’t turned out as you expected, when ‘what you expected’ was your life to replicate someone else’s. Rifling through pages in an attempt to find answers, as the protagonists of the Jimmy the Kid do on a number of occasions, doesn’t work. Nor does it’s modern-day equivalent of scouring social media, videos, and even blog posts like this one.

Even the same person in a similar context is unlikely to replicate the exact steps that previously led to success. As Heraclitus, the Ancient Greek philosopher noted, you can’t step into the same river twice; not only has the river changed, but you have changed. So it’s not possible to uncritically take advice from people who have achieved success and apply it to your own context.

I think this is why I’m finding the work on my MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice so useful. It’s not the academic side of it that I’m finding so difficult (and interesting) but the application of it to my professional and personal life. The danger, of course, for any reflective person is in over-thinking everything.

Ultimately, there may well be an optimal strategy and approach for every situation. But identifying and implementing that in the moment is difficult based on the incomplete information we are likely to have on hand, distorted by our biases and previous experiences, and approached through the heuristics we have developed.

The only solution to this is to keep learning. Or, in the words of Alvin Toffler, to “learn, unlearn, and relearn”. Unlearning is difficult, and until I came across this free e-book from Casco Art Institute (a rather hefty PDF) I hadn’t seen many specific exercises for doing so.

So, no, life has no instruction manual. But that’s a fact that can liberate us to create our own futures, together, without being hamstrung by previous ‘best practice’ or ‘what worked last time’.

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