Sustainability, complexity and learning: insights from complex systems approaches
Sustainability, complexity and learning: insights from complex systems approaches
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DOI：
10.1108/09696471111096000
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发表时间：
2011-01-01
影响因子：
2
通讯作者：
Porter, T.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Espinosa, A.;Porter, T.
目的-本研究的目的是探索两种不同的方法，以复杂性管理的组织，旨在提高其可持续性的核心贡献：可行系统模型（VSM）和复杂适应系统（CAS）。建议通过总结每种方法提供的主要见解来理解旨在提高可持续性的组织变革;并通过展示每个案例的应用研究示例并反思从中产生的学习来执行此操作。设计/方法/方法-遵循行动科学方法：首先介绍了每个案例中使用的概念框架，然后通过案例研究说明其应用;在第一个的VSM框架支持在社区可持续发展的组织转型;第二个是一个定量的案例研究，从CAS的角度来看，在超市行业的两家公司打算绿化。从每个案例研究的学习，他们如何支持/解释组织学习的转型向更可持续的organizations was illustrated.Findings -它wase发现，VSM和CAS的方法提供内部一致和互补的见解，以解决问题的自我组织和适应性管理的可持续性改进：虽然CAS解释了组织中自下而上的学习过程的授权，VSM支持一种学习环境，其中自组织网络可以共同发展以提高可持续性。研究限制/影响-介绍了理论和实例的主要方面，以支持组织中实际应用的学习。初步研究结果表明，这将是值得更深入地研究的贡献，组织学习的概念模型和更广泛地比较其应用和insights.Practical影响-该文件提供了一些指导，研究人员和从业人员有兴趣在行动研究为导向的项目中使用复杂系统理论，关于这两种方法的可用性和适用性。独创性/价值-据认为，通过更好地了解组织的能力，以适应和自我调节的关键问题，可持续发展，它可能有助于开辟一条道路，以克服目前的社会生态危机。虽然从传统的角度对可持续性倡议和治理写了很多，但对复杂的系统框架如何帮助解决一个人紧迫的可持续性需求却知之甚少。阐述了两种创新的复杂性研究方法所提出的问题及其在行动研究中的应用价值。
Purpose - The purpose of this research is to explore core contributions from two different approaches to complexity management in organisations aiming to improve their sustainability,: the Viable Systems Model (VSM), and the Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS). It is proposed to perform this by summarising the main insights each approach offers to understanding organisational transformations aiming to improve sustainability; and by presenting examples of applied research on each case and reflecting on the learning emerging from them.Design/methodology/approach - An action science approach was followed: the conceptual framework used in each case was first presented, which then illustrates its application through a case study; at the first one the VSM framework supports an organisational transformation towards sustainability in a community; the second one is a quantitative case study of intended greening of two firms in the supermarket industry, taken from a CAS perspective. The learning from each case study on how they support/explain organisational learning in transformations towards more sustainable organisations was illustrated.Findings - It wase found that the VSM and the CAS approaches offer internally consistent and complementary insights to address issues of self-organisation and adaptive management for sustainability improvement: while CAS explains empowerment of bottom-up learning processes in organisations, VSM enables a learning context where self-organised networks can co-evolve for improved sustainability.Research limitations/implications - The main aspects of both theories and examples of their explanatory power to support learning in practical applications in organisations were introduced. The initial findings indicate that it will be worth studying in greater depth the contributions to organisational learning from both conceptual models and more widely comparing their applications and insights.Practical implications - The paper offers some guidance to both researchers and practitioners interested in using complex systems theories in action research-oriented projects, regarding the usability and applicability of both approaches.Originality/value - It is considered that, by better understanding organisational ability to adapt and self-regulate on crucial issues for sustainability, it may help to develop one path through the ongoing socio-ecological crisis. While much has been written about sustainability initiatives and governance from conventional perspectives, much less is known about how a complex systems framework may help to address one's pressing sustainability needs. These issues from two innovative complexity approaches as well as the value of using them in action research were illustrated.