SATM 5.2 The Systems Movement

The use of systems ideas in the "problem-solving" mode is worthy of recognition as an independent endeavor fo first ranking important in systems thinking. A contemporary map of the systems movement, based upon this revision of Checkland's guidelines; must therefore show three initial distinctions, as in Figure 5.1.

Figure 5.1 Contemporary map of the systems movement

In chapter 4 we witnessed the impact of systems thinking in disciplines as diverse as philosophy, biology, sociology, management and organization theory, control engineering and the physical sciences. Some impact in other areas of work, such as geography and psychology, was also suggested. 

In terms of the types of research encouraged in the disciplines by systems thinking, both "scholarship" and "hypothesis testing" (see chapter 2) have been to the fore. In the case of scholarship, taking a systems approach has been seen as good practice by some theorists in each discipline and systems ideas have been applied to areas of theoretical concern in order to yield a more rigorous formulation and arrangement of the concepts of the discipline.

In the case of hypothesis testing, systems models of the subject matter of the discipline provide hypotheses about the nature of a part of the world of interest to the discipline, and these hypothesis are tested through experiment and observation. The result, in the form of verification or falsification of the hypotheses, add to the theoretical knowledge stock of the discipline in relation to that part of reality.

As newer forms of systems thinking, which place greater emphasis on methodology and an action orientation, become accepted, it is likely that they will push the disciplines towards a more "Mode 2" orientation in research and ensure they are used-centered.

The second main branch of the systems movement concentrated on the study of systems in their own right. The most significant of these would have to be cybernetics, autopoiesis, chaos and complexity theory and general system theory itself. 

The use of general system theories to guide hypothesis testing, or research which is orientated to user, is more unusual. As Checkland (1981, Systems Thinking, Systems Practice, Wiley, Chichester.) point out: "The problem with GST is that it pays for its generality with lack of content."

The third main branch of the systems movement - systems thinking for "problem-solving" or "applied systems thinking." From its original formulation, applied systems thinking adopted a Model 2 orientation to research and put its emphasis on serving the needs of the client. Since that time the manner in which "clients", "customer", "decision-maker", "problem-owner", "the affected but not involved", etc., can become part of the process of research and practice has been a dominating theme in applied systems thinking. The progress made in developing "interpretive action research" is just one important outcome of this endeavor.

Lane and Jackson (1995, Only connect! An annotated bibliography reflecting the breadth and diversity of systems thinking, Systems Research, 12:217.) provide an annotated bibliography reflecting the "breadth and diversity of systems thinking." The 8 strands were identified. They were: general system theory, organizations-as-systems, hard systems thinking, cybernetics, system dynamic, soft systems thinking, emancipatory systems thinking, and critical systems thinking.

A broad classification of different types of social theory to order the variety of approaches in applied systems thinking. The four types were identified, functionalist, interpreted, emancipatory, and postmodern social theory.

Chapter 6 takes a look at functionalist rationale category come operational research, systems analysis, systems engineering, system dynamics, mechanical equilibrium models, socio-technical systems thinking, contingency theory, living systems theory, cybernetics, autopoiesis and chaos and complexity theory.

Chapter 7 examines an interpretive logic including interactive management, social systems design, interactive planning and soft systems methodology. In Chapter 8 and 9, respectively, possible emancipatory and postmodern varieties of applied systems thinking are explored.

(Jackson, 2000, Systems Approaches to Management, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, NY.)