IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/jorsoc/v60y2009i1d10.1057_jors.2008.176.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Fifty years of systems thinking for management

Author

Listed:
  • M C Jackson

    (University of Hull)

Abstract

The point of this paper is to provide an account of the last 50 years of systems thinking applied to management that is insightful and useful to those interested in the theory and practice of operational research (OR). In seeking to fulfil this purpose, it employs Boulding's well-known ‘hierarchy of complexity’ to think through the reasons for the emergence of different strands of applied systems thinking and to detail their strengths. In theoretical terms, operational researchers will find a number of the key issues that have engaged their field (eg, hard versus soft approaches) mirrored in debates that have taken place between systems thinkers. They may discover new theoretical avenues to follow to advance their discipline. OR practitioners may also be surprised by the nature and scope of the systems applications described and conclude that systems approaches should be added to their own intervention strategies. At the least, the paper is designed to reinvigorate discussion around the relationship between OR and systems thinking that has occasionally surfaced over the last half century but has never been satisfactorily concluded.

Suggested Citation

  • M C Jackson, 2009. "Fifty years of systems thinking for management," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 60(1), pages 24-32, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:jorsoc:v:60:y:2009:i:1:d:10.1057_jors.2008.176
    DOI: 10.1057/jors.2008.176
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/jors.2008.176
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/jors.2008.176?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. M C Jackson, 2006. "Beyond problem structuring methods: reinventing the future of OR/MS," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 57(7), pages 868-878, July.
    2. M C Jackson & N Johnston & J Seddon, 2008. "Evaluating systems thinking in housing," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 59(2), pages 186-197, February.
    3. Kenneth E. Boulding, 1956. "General Systems Theory--The Skeleton of Science," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 2(3), pages 197-208, April.
    4. John Seddon & Carlton Brand, 2008. "Debate: Systems Thinking and Public Sector Performance," Public Money & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(1), pages 7-9, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zdeněk Smutný & Michal Doležel, 2017. "The Emergence and Historical Development of Informatics and Computing Disciplines in Selected European Countries and the USA [Ustavení a historický vývoj informatiky a počítačových disciplín ve vyb," Acta Informatica Pragensia, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2017(2), pages 188-229.
    2. Preece, Gary & Shaw, Duncan & Hayashi, Haruo, 2013. "Using the Viable System Model (VSM) to structure information processing complexity in disaster response," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 224(1), pages 209-218.
    3. Alireza Moumivand & Adel Azar & Abbas Toloie Eshlaghy, 2022. "Combined soft system methodology and agent‐based simulation for multi‐methodological modelling," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(2), pages 200-217, March.
    4. Richard J. Ormerod, 2016. "Critical Rationalism for Practice and its Relationship to Critical Systems Thinking," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(1), pages 4-23, January.
    5. R J Ormerod, 2011. "The relationship between operational research and systems thinking," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 62(1), pages 242-245, January.
    6. Matthew Pepper & Andrew Sense & Kate Speare, 2016. "Systems Pluralism in Infrastructure Decision-Making for Socially Connected Greenfield Communities," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 29(2), pages 129-148, April.
    7. Luoma, Jukka, 2016. "Model-based organizational decision making: A behavioral lens," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 249(3), pages 816-826.
    8. Hämäläinen, Raimo P. & Luoma, Jukka & Saarinen, Esa, 2013. "On the importance of behavioral operational research: The case of understanding and communicating about dynamic systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 228(3), pages 623-634.
    9. Dorys Y. Rodríguez-Castro & Juan Aparicio, 2021. "Introducing a functional framework for integrating the empirical evidence about higher education institutions’ functions and capabilities: A literature review," Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, Fundacja Upowszechniająca Wiedzę i Naukę "Cognitione", vol. 17(1), pages 231-267.
    10. Behnam Pourahmadi & Joanna Kalkowska, 2022. "Characterizing the Relationship between Growth and Development in the Context of Strategic Management via Systems Thinking: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-20, May.
    11. David C. Lane, 2016. "‘Till the Muddle in my Mind Have Cleared Awa’: Can We Help Shape Policy Using Systems Modelling?," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 633-650, September.
    12. Matthew Hutcheson & Alec Morton & Shona Blair, 2024. "Exploring Perspectives on Agroecological Transition in Scotland with Critical Systems Heuristics," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 37(4), pages 459-482, August.
    13. Vijaya Sunder M & Anupama Prashar, 2023. "State and citizen responsiveness in fighting a pandemic crisis: A systems thinking perspective," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 170-193, January.
    14. Ya Li & Zhichang Zhu & Catherine M. Gerard, 2012. "Learning from Conflict Resolution: An Opportunity to Systems Thinking," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 209-220, March.
    15. Duong Thuy Pham & Ayham A. M. Jaaron, 2018. "Design for Mass Customisation in Higher Education: a Systems-Thinking Approach," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 31(3), pages 293-310, June.
    16. J Luoma & R P Hämäläinen & E Saarinen, 2011. "Acting with systems intelligence: integrating complex responsive processes with the systems perspective," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 62(1), pages 3-11, January.
    17. Iryna Nyenno & Vyacheslav Truba & Liudmyla Tokarchuk, 2023. "Managerial Future of the Artificial Intelligence," Virtual Economics, The London Academy of Science and Business, vol. 6(2), pages 72-88, June.
    18. Jiuping Xu & Jiuzhou Dai & Renqiao Rao & Huaidong Xie & Yi Lu, 2016. "Critical Systems Thinking on the Inefficiency in Post-Earthquake Relief: A Practice in Longmen Shan Fault Area," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 29(5), pages 425-448, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ayham A. M. Jaaron & Chris J. Backhouse, 2017. "Operationalising “Double-Loop” Learning in Service Organisations: A Systems Approach for Creating Knowledge," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 30(4), pages 317-337, August.
    2. Ya Li & Zhichang Zhu & Catherine M. Gerard, 2012. "Learning from Conflict Resolution: An Opportunity to Systems Thinking," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 209-220, March.
    3. Michael Walker, 2017. "The Search for Viability: A practitioner's view of how the Viable Systems Model is helping transform English local government (and why it has passed unrecognised)," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(3), pages 313-334, May.
    4. Matthew Pepper & Andrew Sense & Kate Speare, 2016. "Systems Pluralism in Infrastructure Decision-Making for Socially Connected Greenfield Communities," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 29(2), pages 129-148, April.
    5. A Paucar-Caceres & A Espinosa, 2011. "Management science methodologies in environmental management and sustainability: discourses and applications," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 62(9), pages 1601-1620, September.
    6. Duong Thuy Pham & Ayham A. M. Jaaron, 2018. "Design for Mass Customisation in Higher Education: a Systems-Thinking Approach," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 31(3), pages 293-310, June.
    7. Lu, Jinfeng & Dimov, Dimo, 2023. "A system dynamics modelling of entrepreneurship and growth within firms," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 38(3).
    8. Jin P. Gerlach & Ronald T. Cenfetelli, 2022. "Overcoming the Single-IS Paradigm in Individual-Level IS Research," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 33(2), pages 476-488, June.
    9. George Kleiner, 2015. "State — Region — Field— Enterprise: Framework of Economics System Stability of Russia. Part 1," Economy of region, Centre for Economic Security, Institute of Economics of Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, vol. 1(2), pages 50-58.
    10. Smith, Chris M. & Shaw, Duncan, 2019. "The characteristics of problem structuring methods: A literature review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 274(2), pages 403-416.
    11. Avner Engel & Shalom Shachar, 2006. "Measuring and optimizing systems' quality costs and project duration," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 9(3), pages 259-280, September.
    12. Midgley, Gerald & Cavana, Robert Y. & Brocklesby, John & Foote, Jeff L. & Wood, David R.R. & Ahuriri-Driscoll, Annabel, 2013. "Towards a new framework for evaluating systemic problem structuring methods," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 229(1), pages 143-154.
    13. Justin R. Hall & Selen Savas-Hall & Eric H. Shaw, 2023. "A deductive approach to a systematic review of entrepreneurship literature," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 73(3), pages 987-1016, September.
    14. Masechaba Nthunya & Nien-Tsu Tuan & Corrinne Shaw & Ian Jay, 2017. "A Systemic Exploration of Lesotho’s Basic Education through Interactive Management," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 257-276, June.
    15. Ahmet Ilhan, 2020. "Comparison of Organizational Theory in the Axis of the "Pandemonium" Metaphor in Modern, Symbolic and Postmodern Approaches," Eurasian Journal of Business and Management, Eurasian Publications, vol. 8(4), pages 292-304.
    16. Barile, Sergio & Carrubbo, Luca & Iandolo, Francesca & Caputo, Francesco, 2013. "From 'EGO' to 'ECO' in B2B relationships," jbm - Journal of Business Market Management, Free University Berlin, Marketing Department, vol. 6(4), pages 228-253.
    17. Ray Ison & Andrea Grant & Richard Bawden, 2014. "Scenario Praxis for Systemic Governance: A Critical Framework," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 32(4), pages 623-640, August.
    18. Andreas Hieronymi, 2013. "Understanding Systems Science: A Visual and Integrative Approach," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 580-595, September.
    19. Luoma, Jukka, 2016. "Model-based organizational decision making: A behavioral lens," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 249(3), pages 816-826.
    20. David C. Lane, 2022. "Fons et origo: reflections on the 60th anniversary of Industrial Dynamics," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 38(3), pages 292-324, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:jorsoc:v:60:y:2009:i:1:d:10.1057_jors.2008.176. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.