Critical Systems Thinking and the Management of Complexity

Responsible leadership for a complex world

Michael C. Jackson | 2019, Wiley

The world has become increasingly networked and unpredictable. Decision-makers at all levels must manage the consequences of complexity every day. They must deal with unexpected problems, generate uncertainty, are characterised by interconnectivity, and spread across traditional boundaries. Simple solutions to complex problems are usually inadequate and risk exacerbating the original issues.

Leaders of international bodies such as the UN, OECD, UNESCO and WHO — and of major business, public sector, charitable, and professional organizations — have all declared that systems thinking is an essential leadership skill for managing the complexity of the economic, social and environmental issues that confront decision makers. Systems thinking must be implemented more generally and on a wider scale to address these issues.

An evaluation of different systems methodologies suggests that they concentrate on different aspects of complexity. To be in the best position to deal with complexity, decision-makers must understand the strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches and learn how to employ them in combination. This is called critical systems thinking.

Using over 25 case studies, the book offers an account of systems thinking development and major efforts to apply the approach in real-world interventions. Further, it encourages the widespread use of critical systems practice to ensure responsible leadership in a complex world.