Systemic environmental decision making: designing learning systems
Abstract
Purpose
This paper was written for a special issue of Kybernetes devoted to cybernetics and design. It aims to focus on case studies that are both informed by cybernetic and systems thinking and constitute a form of second‐order design praxis.
Design/methodology/approach
The case studies exemplify reflective practice as well as reporting outcomes, in terms of new understandings, from an action research process.
Findings
The paper describes what was involved in course design, from a cybernetic perspective, to effect systemic environmental decision making as well as developing and enacting a model for doing systemic inquiry (SI), which enabled situation‐improving actions to be realised in a complex, organisational setting. The paper lays out the theoretical and ethical case for understanding first‐and second‐order designing as a duality rather than a dualism.
Research limitations/implications
There is a danger that readers from an alternative epistemological position will judge the paper in terms of knowledge claims relevant only to their own epistemological position.
Practical implications
The main outcomes suggested by this paper concern the possibility of transforming the current mainstream identity of educators, project managers and researchers to a position that offers more choices through both epistemological awareness (and pluralism) and the design of learning systems, including SI, as second‐order devices.
Originality/value
The case studies are based on both novel settings and theories in action; the concept of the learning systems as both a design and systemic practice as well as an epistemological device is novel. The paper is potentially of relevance to any practitioner wishing to use systems or cybernetic thinking. It is likely to be of particular relevance to education policy makers and public sector governance.
Keywords
Citation
Ison, R., Blackmore, C., Collins, K. and Furniss, P. (2007), "Systemic environmental decision making: designing learning systems", Kybernetes, Vol. 36 No. 9/10, pp. 1340-1361. https://doi.org/10.1108/03684920710827346
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited