DOI
10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.02.002

Summary
This study is concerned with systems thinking in sustainable management. The purpose of the study is to bridge the gap between systems thinking and sustainability management research. To bridge this gap. Williams et al have conducted a review of the relevant literature from 1990 to 2015 comprising of 96 articles. The systemic research method is described under 2. and follows an 8 step process. Steps 1-6 include the searching for relevant documents. Steps 7 and 8 include the descriptive and thematic analysis of the documents. Section 3 of the article is “Descriptives” which details the progression of publishing through the years mentioned above and the various research themes that arise.

The authors found that 54% of articles were published in two transdisciplinary journals which points towards the observation that a systemic approach is not yet being implemented in mainstream management journals. They also identified 8 different research themes that they say “apply a systems thinking lens to understand sustainability management”. The 8 themes are as follows –

Behavioural change

Behavioural incentives that may encourage sustainable consumption are unclear and it appears that the research has yet to address this notion of consumption patterns and socio-cultural and technological systems intermingle.

Leadership

Contrary to conventional leadership theory (intentional influence, control and direction by leader), leadership in a systems approach suggests that ownership is shared between all members of a project and a leaders aim to encourage value-driven ethos.

Innovation

Organisation networks should be incentivised to interact between firms and connect similar ideas in the interest of sustainability. It is observed that complex networks of firms in this manner can apply pressure on competitors with poor sustainability to improve.

Industrial ecology

Research concerning the flows of energy and materials in industrial systems with the aim of understanding systemic emergent behaviour of integrated human-natural systems such as eco-industrial parks.

Socio-ecological systems

Business – society interconnectedness of which are both constricted by natural systems and biospheric limits. Defined as “an integrated system of ecosystems and human society with reciprocal feedbacks and interdependence”. Research in this theme has found a trend of managers whom understand the complex dynamics of socio-ecological systems, it’s management may be improved.

Transitions management

Transitions management research aims to understand long-term systems change processes of niche sub-systems and societal systems.

Paradigm shifts

The changing of worldviews is imperative to the success of sustainable development and furthering the research on these paradigm shifts is a key component to achieving this.







Education

The required paradigm shift challenges the current curricula of schools for all ages. A transdisciplinary approach to teaching is lacking in HEIs. Demonstrating sustainable progress and developing pedagogical approaches to encourage holistic and systems thinking.




In Table 5, Williams et al display a list of the above mentioned research themes accompanied by subthemes, their representative articles, and potential future research questions on each theme.

Relevance for Complex Systems Knowledge
This study is relevant to the sustainable development topic.

The authors offer a useful alternative definition to sustainability in the context of systems thinking – “sustainability is a systems-based concept and, environmentally at least, only begins to make any sense at the level of ecosystems and is probably difficult to really conceptualize at anything below planetary and species levels.” And again – “Systems thinking is a way to understand the complexity of economic, social and ecological systems”

A complex system is defined as - “A complex system is a set of interacting variables that behave according to governing mechanisms or forces”

Feedback loops definition - “The secondary effects of a direct effect of

one variable on another, they cause a change in the magnitude of

that effect. A positive feedback enhances the effect; a negative

feedback dampens it”

The identified research themes related to systems thinking and sustainability could be a useful too for the teaching of complex systems knowledge in the classroom. However, the topics may need to renamed and/or the content simplified in accordance with the levels of student understanding prior to teaching.

 

Point of Strength
This article as a whole has the potential to be used as an exemplary display of progression of systems thinking in sustainability management. It could be useful as a tool for teaching in this context. Table 4 outlines a list of future research questions that may be of use. The 8 identified research themes may act as useful resource for teaching in HEIs. Table 5 lists the 8 research themes, identifies their subthemes, provides article references and delivers future research questions. These future research questions could be utilised for further study on this topic or one similar.