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'''Critical systems thinking (CST)''' is a [[systems thinking]] multimethodology that seeks to combine methods and practices from various systems thinking schools, such as [[system dynamics]], [[soft systems methodology]], [[hard systems]], [[sociotechnical system]], and others, into a problem situation to better understand and design interventions to address the needs of stakeholders.<ref>[[Werner Ulrich]] (2003). [http://wulrich.com/cst_brief.html A Brief Introduction to "Critical Systems Thinking for Professionals & Citizens"]</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Jackson|first=Michael C.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1084643459|title=Critical systems thinking and the management of complexity : responsible leadership for a complex world|date=2019|isbn=978-1-119-11838-1|location=Hoboken, NJ|oclc=1084643459}}</ref>


== '''Critical systems thinking (CST)''' is a well-established systems approach designed to aid decision-makers, and other stakeholders, improve complex problem situations that cross departmental and, often, organizational boundaries. CST sees systems thinking as essential to managing multidimensional 'messes' in which technical, economic, organizational, human, cultural and political elements interact. It is ''critical'' in a positive manner because it seeks to capitalize on the strengths of existing approaches while also calling attention to their limitations. This enables CST to suggest how systems approaches such as [[systems engineering]], [[system dynamics]], [[Organizational Cybernetics|organizational cybernetics]], [[soft systems methodology]], critical systems heuristics, and others, can be used together, in a responsive and flexible way, to maximize the benefits they can bring. CST is credited with having overcome the paradigm wars that plagued systems thinking in the 1980s and 1990s, and as having enabled the transdiscipline to forge a new 'unity in diversity' and progress on the basis of mutual respect. ==
The problem situations that critical systems thinking address are "characterized by large scale, [[complexity]], [[uncertainty]], impermanence, and [[wikt:imperfection|imperfection]]."<ref>Gabriele Bammer (2003). [http://www.mngt.waikato.ac.nz/ejrot/cmsconference/2003/abstracts/orsystems/Bammer.pdf "Embedding Critical Systems Thinking in the Academy"]. CMS conference paper.</ref><ref name=":0" /> Each systems thinking methodology has its own strengths and weaknesses, hence ''critical'' systems thinking as in critique, which can limit its effectiveness to these "wicked" problems when implemented alone.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Jackson|first=Michael C.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/54776208|title=Systems thinking : creative holism for managers|date=2003|publisher=J. Wiley|isbn=0-470-87144-X|location=Chichester, West Sussex, England|oclc=54776208}}</ref> When a plurality of methods are combined, guided by theory, in various phases of the systems intervention, however, these complex problem situations may be more effectively understood and addressed.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lai|first=Linda Sau-ling|date=2000|title=An integration of systems science methods and object-oriented analysis for determining organizational information requirements|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1099-1743(200003/04)17:2<205::aid-sres294>3.0.co;2-t|journal=Systems Research and Behavioral Science|volume=17|issue=2|pages=205–228|doi=10.1002/(sici)1099-1743(200003/04)17:2<205::aid-sres294>3.0.co;2-t|issn=1092-7026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/45733692|title=Multimethodology : the theory and practice of combining management science methodologies|date=1997|publisher=Wiley|others=John Mingers, Anthony Gill|isbn=0-585-24196-1|location=Chichester|oclc=45733692}}</ref>


== History ==
=== History ===
CST has its origins in the 1980s with accounts of how the theoretical partiality of existing systems methodologies limited their ability to guide interventions in the full range of problem situations<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jackson |first=Michael C |date=1982 |title=The nature of soft systems thinking: the work of Churchman, Ackoff and Checkland |journal=Journal of Applied Systems Analysis |volume=9 |pages=17-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mingers |first=J |date=1980 |title=Towards an appropriate social theory for applied systems thinking: critical theory and soft systems methodology |journal=Journal of Applied Systems Analysis |volume=7 |pages=41-49}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Jackson |first=Michael C |date=1985 |title=Social systems theory and practice: the need for a critical approach |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-7351-9 |journal=International Journal of General Systems |volume=10 |pages=135-151}}</ref>; calls for pluralism in systems practice<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jackson |first=Michael C |last2=Keys |first2=P |date=1984 |title=Towards a system of systems methodologies |journal=Journal of the Operational Research Society |volume=35 |pages=473-486}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jackson |first=MC |date=1987-01-01 |title=Present positions and future prospects in management science |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/030504838790003X |journal=Omega |language=en |volume=15 |issue=6 |pages=455–466 |doi=10.1016/0305-0483(87)90003-X |issn=0305-0483}}</ref>; and suggestions about how those disadvantaged by systems designs could be given a voice and have impact<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ulrich |first=W |title=Critical heuristics of social planning |publisher=Haupt |year=1983 |location=Bern}}</ref><ref name=":0" />. CST was largely developed at the Centre for Systems Studies, [[University of Hull|University of Hul]]<nowiki/>l, based on research by [[Mike Jackson (systems scientist)|Michael C Jackson]], Paul Keys, and [[Robert L. Flood|Robert L Flood]]. It came to prominence in 1991 with the publication of three books - ''Critical Systems Thinking: Directed Readings''<ref>{{Cite book |title=Critical systems thinking: directed readings |publisher=Wiley |year=1991 |editor-last=Flood |editor-first=R L |location=Chichester |editor-last2=Jackson |editor-first2=Michael C}}</ref>, ''Systems Methodology for the Management Sciences''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jackson |first=Michael C |title=Systems methodology for the management sciences |publisher=Plenum |year=1991 |location=New York}}</ref>, and ''Creative Problem Solving: Total Systems Intervention''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Flood |first=R L |title=Creative problem solving: total systems intervention |last2=Jackson |first2=Michael C |publisher=Wiley |year=1991 |location=Chichester}}</ref>. The first was a collection of papers, accompanied by a commentary, which traced the origins and outlined the major themes of the approach. It highlighted the contributions of authors such as Flood, Fuenmayor, Jackson, Mingers, Oliga and Ulrich. The second offered a critique of existing systems approaches from the perspective of social theory, made the case for CST and sought to demonstrate that it could take the lead in enriching theory and practice in the management sciences. The third was the first attempt to show how CST could be used in practice. Since 1991, CST has been taken forward by authors such as [[Robert L. Flood|Robert L Flood]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Flood |first=R L |title=Solving problem solving |publisher=Wiley |year=1995 |location=Chichester}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Flood |first=R L |title=Rethinking the fifth discipline |publisher=Routledge |year=1999 |location=London}}</ref>, [[Mike Jackson (systems scientist)|Michael C Jackson]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jackson |first=Michael C |title=Systems approaches to management |publisher=Kluwer/Plenum |year=2000 |location=New York}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Jackson |first=Michael C |title=Systems thinking: creative holism for managers |publisher=Wiley |year=2003 |location=Chichester}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Jackson |first=Michael C |title=Critical systems thinking and the management of complexity |publisher=Wiley |year=2019 |location=Chichester}}</ref>, John Mingers<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mingers |first=John |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315774503/systems-thinking-critical-realism-philosophy-john-mingers |title=Systems Thinking, Critical Realism and Philosophy: A Confluence of Ideas |doi=10.4324/9781315774503}}</ref> and [[Gerald Midgley]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4615-4201-8 |title=Systemic Intervention |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-1-4615-4201-8}}</ref>. Despite some differences between these authors, CST retains a strong identity and common themes, recognizable in its commitments to systems thinking, critical awareness, methodological pluralism, and improvement.

=== Recent developments ===

=== Recent '''developments have centered on the application of CST in practice - in particular Gerald Midgley's 'Systemic Intervention'<ref name=":2" />, focusing on boundary critique, and Michael C Jackson's multiperspectival and multimethodological 'Critical Systems Practice' (CSP)<ref name=":1" />. Adopting a pragmatist orientation<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jackson |first=Michael C. |date=2022-10-04 |title=Rebooting the systems approach by applying the thinking of Bogdanov and the pragmatists |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/sres.2908 |journal=Systems Research and Behavioral Science |language=en |pages=sres.2908 |doi=10.1002/sres.2908 |issn=1092-7026}}</ref>, Jackson has set out, in a series of papers, how the four commitments of CST can be applied in practice<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jackson |first=Michael C |date=2020 |title=CSP 1: Explore - starting a multimethodological intervention |url=https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.2746 |journal=Systems Research and Behavioral Science |volume=37 |pages=839-858}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jackson |first=Michael C. |date=2021 |title=Critical systems practice 2: Produce —Constructing a multimethodological intervention strategy |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/sres.2809 |journal=Systems Research and Behavioral Science |language=en |volume=38 |issue=5 |pages=594–609 |doi=10.1002/sres.2809 |issn=1092-7026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jackson |first=Michael C. |date=2022-09-30 |title=Critical systems practice 3: Intervene —Flexibly executing a multimethodological intervention |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/sres.2909 |journal=Systems Research and Behavioral Science |language=en |pages=sres.2909 |doi=10.1002/sres.2909 |issn=1092-7026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jackson |first=Michael C. |date=2022-10-10 |title=Critical systems practice 4: Check —Evaluating and reflecting on a multimethodological intervention |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/sres.2912 |journal=Systems Research and Behavioral Science |language=en |pages=sres.2912 |doi=10.1002/sres.2912 |issn=1092-7026}}</ref>. CSP has 4 main stages - Explore, Produce, Intervene, and Check (EPIC) - and various sub-stages:''' ===

* '''E'''xplore the problem situation
** view it from a variety of systemic perspectives
** identify primary and secondary issues
* '''P'''roduce an appropriate intervention strategy
** appreciate the variety of systems approaches
** choose appropriate systems methodologies
** choose appropriate systems models and methods
** structure, schedule and set objectives for the intervention
* '''I'''ntervene flexibly (revisiting the first two stages as necessary)
* '''C'''heck on progress
** evaluate the improvements achieved
** reflect on the systems approaches used
** discuss and agree next steps


=== Systems Thinking History ===
{{Main|Systems theory#History}}
As [[Systems theory|system thinking]] history indicates, the foundational systems methodologies that are combined as a part of critical systems thinking developed during the mid-20th century.<ref name=":1" /> By the early 1980s, [[Michael C. Jackson]] and Paul Keys observed in their influential article, " A ‘system of systems methodologies’ is developed as the interrelationship between different methodologies is examined along with their relative efficacy in solving problems in various real‐world problem contexts."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jackson|first=M. C.|last2=Keys|first2=P.|date=1984|title=Towards a System of Systems Methodologies|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1057/jors.1984.101|journal=Journal of the Operational Research Society|language=en|volume=35|issue=6|pages=473–486|doi=10.1057/jors.1984.101|issn=0160-5682}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Boundary critique]]
* [[systems engineering]]
* [[Critical theory]]
* [[system dynamics]]
* [[Management cybernetics]]
* [[Organizational Cybernetics|Organizational cybernetics]]
* [[Soft systems methodology]]
* [[Soft systems methodology]]
* [[Systems thinking]]
* [[Systems theory]]
* [[Systems theory]]


== Publications ==
* [[Robert L. Flood]] (1990). "Liberating Systems Theory: Toward Critical Systems Thinking", in: ''Human Relations'', Vol. 43, No. 1, 49–75.
* Philip Graham (1999). "Critical Systems Theory: A Political Economy of Language, Thought, and Technology", in: ''Communication Research'', Vol. 26, No. 4, 482–507.
* [[Kristo Ivanov]] (1991). [https://web.archive.org/web/20181022080143/http://www8.informatik.umu.se/~kivanov/CriSysThink.html Critical systems thinking and information technology]. - In [http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=5492117 ''J. of Applied Systems Analysis''], 18, 39–55. (ISSN 0308-9541).
* [[Michael C. Jackson]] (2019), ''Critical Systems Thinking and the Management of Complexity'', Wiley
* Deiniol Lloyd-Jones (2004). [http://www.polis.leeds.ac.uk/assets/files/research/working-papers/wp6djones.pdf "Technical Cosmopolitanism: Systems, Critical Theory and International Relations"], POLIS Working Paper No. 6.
* G. Midgley (2000). ''Systemic intervention: Philosophy, methodology, and practice''. New York : Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.
* Stephen L. Payne (1992). "Critical systems thinking: A challenge or dilemma in its practice?", in: ''Systemic Practice and Action Research'', Vol. 5, Nr 3 June, 237–249.
* [[Andrew Feenberg]], Critical Theory of Technology (Oxford University Press, 1991), later republished as Transforming Technology (Oxford University Press, 2002), see below

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


Revision as of 14:24, 24 November 2022

Critical systems thinking (CST) is a well-established systems approach designed to aid decision-makers, and other stakeholders, improve complex problem situations that cross departmental and, often, organizational boundaries. CST sees systems thinking as essential to managing multidimensional 'messes' in which technical, economic, organizational, human, cultural and political elements interact. It is critical in a positive manner because it seeks to capitalize on the strengths of existing approaches while also calling attention to their limitations. This enables CST to suggest how systems approaches such as systems engineering, system dynamics, organizational cybernetics, soft systems methodology, critical systems heuristics, and others, can be used together, in a responsive and flexible way, to maximize the benefits they can bring. CST is credited with having overcome the paradigm wars that plagued systems thinking in the 1980s and 1990s, and as having enabled the transdiscipline to forge a new 'unity in diversity' and progress on the basis of mutual respect.

History

CST has its origins in the 1980s with accounts of how the theoretical partiality of existing systems methodologies limited their ability to guide interventions in the full range of problem situations[1][2][3]; calls for pluralism in systems practice[4][5]; and suggestions about how those disadvantaged by systems designs could be given a voice and have impact[6][3]. CST was largely developed at the Centre for Systems Studies, University of Hull, based on research by Michael C Jackson, Paul Keys, and Robert L Flood. It came to prominence in 1991 with the publication of three books - Critical Systems Thinking: Directed Readings[7], Systems Methodology for the Management Sciences[8], and Creative Problem Solving: Total Systems Intervention[9]. The first was a collection of papers, accompanied by a commentary, which traced the origins and outlined the major themes of the approach. It highlighted the contributions of authors such as Flood, Fuenmayor, Jackson, Mingers, Oliga and Ulrich. The second offered a critique of existing systems approaches from the perspective of social theory, made the case for CST and sought to demonstrate that it could take the lead in enriching theory and practice in the management sciences. The third was the first attempt to show how CST could be used in practice. Since 1991, CST has been taken forward by authors such as Robert L Flood[10][11], Michael C Jackson[12][13][14], John Mingers[15] and Gerald Midgley[16]. Despite some differences between these authors, CST retains a strong identity and common themes, recognizable in its commitments to systems thinking, critical awareness, methodological pluralism, and improvement.

Recent developments

Recent developments have centered on the application of CST in practice - in particular Gerald Midgley's 'Systemic Intervention'[16], focusing on boundary critique, and Michael C Jackson's multiperspectival and multimethodological 'Critical Systems Practice' (CSP)[14]. Adopting a pragmatist orientation[17], Jackson has set out, in a series of papers, how the four commitments of CST can be applied in practice[18][19][20][21]. CSP has 4 main stages - Explore, Produce, Intervene, and Check (EPIC) - and various sub-stages:

  • Explore the problem situation
    • view it from a variety of systemic perspectives
    • identify primary and secondary issues
  • Produce an appropriate intervention strategy
    • appreciate the variety of systems approaches
    • choose appropriate systems methodologies
    • choose appropriate systems models and methods
    • structure, schedule and set objectives for the intervention
  • Intervene flexibly (revisiting the first two stages as necessary)
  • Check on progress
    • evaluate the improvements achieved
    • reflect on the systems approaches used
    • discuss and agree next steps


See also

  1. ^ Jackson, Michael C (1982). "The nature of soft systems thinking: the work of Churchman, Ackoff and Checkland". Journal of Applied Systems Analysis. 9: 17–28.
  2. ^ Mingers, J (1980). "Towards an appropriate social theory for applied systems thinking: critical theory and soft systems methodology". Journal of Applied Systems Analysis. 7: 41–49.
  3. ^ a b Jackson, Michael C (1985). "Social systems theory and practice: the need for a critical approach". International Journal of General Systems. 10: 135–151.
  4. ^ Jackson, Michael C; Keys, P (1984). "Towards a system of systems methodologies". Journal of the Operational Research Society. 35: 473–486.
  5. ^ Jackson, MC (1987-01-01). "Present positions and future prospects in management science". Omega. 15 (6): 455–466. doi:10.1016/0305-0483(87)90003-X. ISSN 0305-0483.
  6. ^ Ulrich, W (1983). Critical heuristics of social planning. Bern: Haupt.
  7. ^ Flood, R L; Jackson, Michael C, eds. (1991). Critical systems thinking: directed readings. Chichester: Wiley.
  8. ^ Jackson, Michael C (1991). Systems methodology for the management sciences. New York: Plenum.
  9. ^ Flood, R L; Jackson, Michael C (1991). Creative problem solving: total systems intervention. Chichester: Wiley.
  10. ^ Flood, R L (1995). Solving problem solving. Chichester: Wiley.
  11. ^ Flood, R L (1999). Rethinking the fifth discipline. London: Routledge.
  12. ^ Jackson, Michael C (2000). Systems approaches to management. New York: Kluwer/Plenum.
  13. ^ Jackson, Michael C (2003). Systems thinking: creative holism for managers. Chichester: Wiley.
  14. ^ a b Jackson, Michael C (2019). Critical systems thinking and the management of complexity. Chichester: Wiley.
  15. ^ Mingers, John. Systems Thinking, Critical Realism and Philosophy: A Confluence of Ideas. doi:10.4324/9781315774503.
  16. ^ a b Systemic Intervention. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-4201-8.
  17. ^ Jackson, Michael C. (2022-10-04). "Rebooting the systems approach by applying the thinking of Bogdanov and the pragmatists". Systems Research and Behavioral Science: sres.2908. doi:10.1002/sres.2908. ISSN 1092-7026.
  18. ^ Jackson, Michael C (2020). "CSP 1: Explore - starting a multimethodological intervention". Systems Research and Behavioral Science. 37: 839–858.
  19. ^ Jackson, Michael C. (2021). "Critical systems practice 2: Produce —Constructing a multimethodological intervention strategy". Systems Research and Behavioral Science. 38 (5): 594–609. doi:10.1002/sres.2809. ISSN 1092-7026.
  20. ^ Jackson, Michael C. (2022-09-30). "Critical systems practice 3: Intervene —Flexibly executing a multimethodological intervention". Systems Research and Behavioral Science: sres.2909. doi:10.1002/sres.2909. ISSN 1092-7026.
  21. ^ Jackson, Michael C. (2022-10-10). "Critical systems practice 4: Check —Evaluating and reflecting on a multimethodological intervention". Systems Research and Behavioral Science: sres.2912. doi:10.1002/sres.2912. ISSN 1092-7026.
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