System Thinking Approach in Sustainability Challenges

A system is defined as the diverse parts which are unified with each other for achieving the common goal. This paper discuss critically evaluates this statement “Systems thinking is serious in emerging the resolutions to sustainability issues”. In this paper, author provides arguments in support of this statement and proved that system thinking is important component for resolving the issues related to the sustainability (Arnoldand & Wade, 2015).

System thinking mainly focus on the separate parts for the purpose of producing the solution related to those problems. The author also discusses applicability of the concept of the system thinking in terms of the issue related to the Australia’s aging workforce. This problem is considered as the wicked problem, as it affects both present and future aspects of the country, and there is no definite solution for this issue. There are number of researchers which stated that concept of system thinking is the process which is time consuming and complex in nature.

System thinking method is the tool which is used for dealing with the question of the sustainability, because of these approach things become macroscopic. Presently, this tool is used by number of practitioners and authors. This approach is introduced by Professor Jay Forrester in 1956, and there is important difference in the traditional thinking approach and system thinking approach.

Traditional analysis mainly emphasis on studied material and, system thinking mainly consider the interrelationship between the dissimilar mechanisms of the systems. Now days, world is leading towards the globalization and industrialization, and in this era, world is going to face number of complexities in the future aspects. System thinking helps the individual in dealing with these multifaceted challenges. System test is defined as the important application in context of the system thinking approach (Arnoldand & Wade, 2015).

The three important parts of the system test are purpose, functions, and elements. First and most important part of the system test are purpose for which system thinking approach has been adopted, and the second part of this concept deals with different components of the system thinking. Third and last part of the system thinking approach deals with interrelationship between different elements of this system. It must be noted that, computer and digital technology result in the transformational change in the sustainable society. Maximum complex issues are resolved by the computers and technology, but issues related to the sustainability required different approach to be resolved. It must be noted that, computational thinking involve the use of programming and also the algorithms for the purpose of resolving the issues related to the complex issues. There is clear restriction and limitation in context of the computer thinking that the professionals of computers resolve the issues with the help of algorithms only and there are number of issues which cannot be resolved by the algorithms. For resolving such issues it is necessary to implement the system thinking concept (Easterbrook, 2014).

Australia’s Aging Workforces

System thinking is the approach which mainly focus on how one constituent of the system deals with the another constituent of the system. It is necessary to understand that nature of the system thinking enable the society to resolve complex issues faced by the society. This can be understood with the help of example; System thinking is defined as the useful approach which includes the interrelationship between the different actors for the purpose of resolving the difficult issues, and those problems also which have not been resolved even after making the efforts in the past. Challenges related to the sustainability are also known as the adaptive challenges, because these issues already framed the procedures and protocols which cannot be applied to those situations. There is no unified procedure and approach for the purpose of dealing with the wicked issues of sustainability.

System thinking is the tool which makes changes in the previous mental models for resolving the issues of the sustainability, because this tool includes the process, technologies and set of skills. Following are the steps of the mental models which use the system thinking concept:

• They must design the issues by using the dynamic thinking and also by the system cause thinking.
• They must build the understanding by using the operational thinking, scientific thinking, and generic thinking.
• Communication must be done by using the emphatic thinking (Australian Government, 2007).

As stated by the United Nations that by the year 2050 almost one in every three people living the developed world will be over 60. In Australia, almost one in every four people will cross the age of 55 over the next decade, and this might increase one in every three people. As demography of the Australia is continue to shift, the important domineering will be to extend the paid workforce participation and by reducing the dependence of the non-working population on the working population up to the level which can be managed.

Issue related to the aging workforce widely discuss the implications of the policy such as cost related to the health care, impacts of this issue on social welfare system, savings related to the retirement, but still they fail to discuss the important aspects of the aging workforce.

As working population of the country gets older, pressure will be feeling by the government, industry, families and individuals. In case, individual deals with the issue in effective manner, as it reduce the obligations in context of social welfare, increase the productivity of the organization with the help of the retention of the skilled workers and satisfying the older workers. The burden in this context relies on the organizations, business leaders, colleagues and older individual’s deals with the issue of longer period in the labour market. Continuous changes occurred in the human roles and functions because of the new technologies, so that experienced employees of any change will be in need of re-skill or up-skill. Older employees of the organization face the challenges related to the social components and it also cause negative effect on the health and family expectations of the worker (Gahan & Healy, 2017).

System Thinking in Context of Aging Workforces

System thinking provides number of ways for the purpose of dealing with the issue of the aging workforce, and it will provide different new beginnings for the organizations and other department’s deals with this issue. System thinking is the important approach for dealing with the different social problems faced by the society and large number of people. This approach holds the brilliant implementation of last fifty years, as this approach determines the issue in broader perspective for the purpose of establishing the interconnection at different levels. This approach also evaluates the importance in terms of the situations and conditions in which any particular decision has been taken, and it also evaluates the impact of those decisions during the phase of implementation (Richmond, 2010).

While resolving the wicked issues by implementing the system approach, as small change in the one component can results in the big impact of that change on the other components of the process. While dealing with the issue of the workforce aging, the first task of the organizations and other government agencies is to tie the strength with the intricacies. Maximum organizations avoid the discussion of this issue with their employees because of the lack of knowledge about the measures used to resolve this issue. It is important for the government and organizations to make changes in approach while dealing with these issues. Aging workforce is the complex issue and organizations need to gain knowledge in context of the best practices for the purpose of dealing with these issues.

It is necessary to understand that potential of the older workers is directly affected by the negative images of the aging in the society. As employers also hesitate in appoint the older workers in their organizations. For the purpose of addressing the above stated issues, changes in the regulatory framework are suggested to the employers. This issue can only be resolved by changing the attitude of   the employers towards the older workforce and by adopting the measures which help in enhance the productivity of the older employees (Somerville & Howard, 2008).

Organizations need to improve their communication with the older employees, because there is lack of information on part of the employees in terms of the practices which can be adopted to resolve this issue. Organizations need to access the risk and conduct the study in this context. Organizations can convince their employees to make changes in their behaviour and set goals in this context. The most important aim of this system thinking approach is to develop the environment which promotes communication and feedback between the employees and employer. Employers can create group of experts in this context, who deals with the barriers faced by the older employees.

As per the report by the Intergenerational report, Australian live longer lives and they also live healthier lives. However, there are very less chances that almost 50% of the worker works between the age periods of 60 to 74. A homogeneous approach related to the health and well-being practices also affects the productivity of the older workers. It must be noted that, effects of aging are completely differ from individual to individual, and it is not possible to make assumptions in context of the physical ability of the person on the basis of age.

In case worker is not able to fulfil the requirement of their job, then requirements of their job must be modified for the purpose of ensuring the retention of the older workers and also of their knowledge and expertise. Organizations required making changes in their working procedures if   they want to retain the older workers for the purpose of taking benefit from their experience and knowledge in the productive employment, and this can be done by reducing the demand from those who are not able to work in their later years. Organizations can hire these people as the trainer, so that they can train the young employees and share their experience and knowledge with these employees (Kroon, & Selm, 2016).

On the other hand, there are number of employees who choose the option of retirement because of their poor health, and for resolving this issue, it is necessary for the employees to prepare for this stage from the younger age by saving and investing. Employers and government play important role in resolving this issue, as they can frame different policies which introduce pension options. As employees are under the social pressure to work for the longer period so that they can fulfil the basic needs and other expectations of their families.

It is clear from the above discussion that system thinking play important role in resolving the issue related to the sustainability challenges that are aging of the workforce. This approach develops the effective communication system between the employee and employer, and help then in resolving this issue (CPWR, 2009).

Conclusion:

After analysing the above arguments, it is clear that system thinking is the tool which interconnects the elements and establishes the framework which helps the organization in resolving this issue. System thinking is the approach which mainly focus on how one constituent of the system deals with the another constituent of the system. It is necessary to understand that nature of the system thinking enable the society to resolve complex issues faced by the society. . This approach develops the effective communication system between the employee and employer, and help then in resolving this issue.

References:

Arnoldand, R. D. & Wade, J. P. (2015). A Definition of Systems Thinking: A Systems Approach”, Procedia Computer Science, Volume 44, pp. 669-678.

Australian Government, (2007). Tackling Wicked Problems: A Public Policy Perspective, Australian Public Service Commission.

CPWR, (2009). Healthy Aging for a Sustainable Workforce. Available at: https://www.cpwr.com/sites/default/files/publications/Aging%20Workers%20Workshop%20Report_11%2009_Final.pdf. Accessed on 21^st August 2018.

Easterbrook, S. (2014). From Computational Thinking to Systems Thinking: A conceptual toolkit for sustainability computing, Proceedings of Conference on Information &Communication Technologies for Sustainability (ICT4S’2014), Stockholm, Sweden, PP 24-27.

Gahan, P. & Healy, J. (2017). The Challenge And Opportunity Of An Ageing Workforce. Available at: https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/the-challenge-and-opportunity-of-an-ageing-workforce. Accessed on 21^st August 2018.

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Somerville, M. & Howard, Z. (2008). Systems thinking: an approach for advancing workplace information literacy, The Australian Library Journal, Volume 57(3), PP 257-273,