Technology to the people!
The article People, Technology, and Governance for Sustainability: The Contribution of Systems and Cyber-Systemic Thinking, authored by Sergio Barile, Fabio Orecchini, Marialuisa Saviano, and Francesca Farioli, was published online on August 24, 2018 by Springer Japan KK, part of Springer Nature. In this paper, the authors explore how systems and cyber-systemic thinking can support the development of integrated frameworks for sustainability. Emphasizing the interconnected roles of people, technology, and governance, the study argues for a shift from reductionist approaches to more holistic, adaptive strategies capable of addressing the complexity of global sustainability challenges.
Sustainability is an increasingly complex problem that requires increasingly complex approaches to solve. The current solutions and approaches proposed to address sustainability and the crisis are too traditional and cannot account for the full scope of the situation.
The approach to processes and decision-making must be rooted in inclusion and fairness. It must recognize and incorporate the systemic nature of the world, the interconnections between humans and the natural environment, and the global nature of society—while also acknowledging how local and regional issues and solutions play a critical role in the broader context. The key resources in addressing this scenario are people, technology, and governance. “Governance in such complex contexts requires challenging our dominant thinking, practices, institutions, and development narratives” (Barile et al., 2018, p. 1197).
An example of a modern use of the golden ratio is The Modulor, a measurement and proportioning system developed by Le Corbusier. Source: Drawing by Julien Berthier.
Since its inception, Sustainability Science has aimed to produce knowledge that bridges critical gaps and contributes to steering humanity toward a sustainable global society. In such complex contexts, made up of highly interconnected dynamics, analyzing individual aspects in isolation will not generate effective solutions capable of addressing the issue as a whole. To overcome these limitations, inter- and trans-disciplinary approaches are essential for producing a meaningful and robust body of knowledge.
According to various scholars, the main gaps in the field of research at this time are: the need for sustainable leaders to be flexible and innovative in finding ways to communicate and collaborate across narrow disciplinary boundaries; the need to improve interactions among different dimensions of sustainability to more readily identify far-reaching opportunities and solutions; and the demand for professionals with interdisciplinary experience who can offer know-how and share lessons in navigating complex problems and tasks. There is also an urgent need for comprehensive frameworks that support the shift from simply combining knowledge to truly integrating it—frameworks that are still largely missing (Barile et al., 2018, p. 1197). Altogether, these actions are crucial steps toward transitioning from a descriptive-analytic mode of addressing sustainability to a transformational one.To initiate this discussion, the authors propose several ways in which systems and cyber-systemic thinking can contribute to developing general frameworks capable of enhancing understanding of the relationships between people, technology, and governance.
The abitacolo, designed by Bruno Munari, is a highly adaptive piece of furniture that can serve many functions and adapt many spaces. Source: Image by Rexite via Archiproducts.
1. Systems and Cyber-Systemic Thinking
The main contribution of these approaches lies in their ability to address emergent behaviors and dynamic relationships within complex systems on two levels: revealing deeply rooted problems and uncovering the epochal causes and conditions behind them. They enable a big-picture view, allowing us to analyze the whole as an integrated entity—more than just the sum of its parts. This includes examining interconnections between the parts and between the parts and the whole. Cybernetics, on the other hand, “focuses on understanding how to achieve and maintain stability in the interactions between people, institutions, and organizations” (Barile et al., 2018, p. 1199). In this relationship, systems thinking provides methodological tools for interpretation, while cybernetics offers practical tools to support management and governance.
Nakagin Capsule Tower is a double modular tower for housing and office use located in Tokyo’s Ginza district. Designed by Kisho Kurokawa in 1970, the building was designed as a take on the dynamic megalopolis’ growing need of accommodation at the time. All capsules measured 2,5 × 4 × 2,5 meters and contained all the basic needs equipment: bed, TV, radio, work table, storage, cooktop, refrigerator and bathroom. The circular window was responsible for the lighting and ventilation. Source: Image by Nakagin Capsule Tower facebook via Designboom.
2. Systems Thinking and Systems Approach
The systems approach stands in contrast to reductionist thinking. It recognizes the interconnectedness of dynamics, considers contextual and external factors, acknowledges circular causalities, and takes into account the subjective perspective of the observer. It presents multiple possible solutions and accepts that problems are not entirely solved but rather continually reframed or dissolved. This perspective allows for the identification of “recursive structures that emerge from the whole network of relationships characterizing the way reality appears organized” (Barile et al., 2018, p. 1200), which enables the proposal of alternative ways to manage and govern such situations.
The city reform and expansion plan for Barcelona, authored by Cerdà in 1859, is a visionary grid-based urban plan designed to promote equality, mobility, hygiene, and access to sunlight and green space for all residents. Source: Image Courtesy of CityMakers via Archdaily.
3. Systems Thinking and Sustainability
In the context of sustainability, systems thinking is promoted “as a governance and management approach rooted in systems theory” (Barile et al., 2018, p. 1201). It supports the conceptualization and pursuit of the integration of economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainability. From this perspective, sustainability can be defined as the capacity of systems to adapt, persist, transition, and transform in ever-changing contexts (Barile et al., 2018).
Northwestern Europe at night as seen from space. Source: Satellite image captured by VIIRS (NASA).
4. People, Technology, and Governance for Sustainability: Contributions from Systems and Cyber-Systemic Thinkers
The paper identifies five macro themes within this context: the human aspects of managing systems; smartness and sustainability; smart technologies and big data; the brain of the future; and governance in the Anthropocene.
The human aspects of managing systems open up avenues for understanding the psychological and social outcomes of interactions—among individuals, between people and the environment, within organizations, and between organizations and their surroundings.
Smartness, smart technologies, and big data enable the development and scaling of adaptive organizational structures in ever-changing environments by enhancing the capacity to manage complexity. By filtering out irrelevant complexities and amplifying human capabilities, these tools improve organizational structures and governance processes.