Technology Advancement - System Thinking Assignment Solution

Introduction 

Due to globalization, rapid development of technology and ever-changing customer demands, the social systems and business processes have become complex (Gharajedaghi 2011). The increase in interconnectedness, complexity and technological advancement, which has led to integration of systems after systems has led to significant interdependence on many of the systems (Arnold & Wade 2015). Systems thinking is a way of approaching problems wherein system is seen as a functional whole and analyzes the relations among the components and its environment in order to solve certain complex issues as it helps in determining a holistic solution (Gregory & Miller 2014). Increasing tourism is leading to a tourism trap wherein the tourism activities through are adding to the economy but are degrading the natural resources and impacting the local culture that has a negative effect on the local residents and country as a whole as it can lead to increasing challenges in managing the ecosystem of the country (Jakulin 2016). Systems thinking can be applied to tourism to address the complex problems as it helps in determining an effective solution considering the different aspects of tourism. This essay critically analyzes whether systems thinking is critical in developing solutions to sustainability challenges. The essay further discusses the significance of systems thinking to resolve tourism trap. 

Usefulness of System Thinking 

Systems thinking focuses on analyzing how the component or element being studied interacts with other components of the system and takes a larger view about the issue being studied (Arnold & Wade 2015). Today’s challenges can be addressed by moving from a linear approach of thinking to systems perspective, which includes behavior and thought in alignment with natural laws of sustainability (Lonngren & Svanstrom 2015). It involves analyzing interrelationship rather than viewing and analyzing things independently and identified patterns of change. In systems thinking approach, system test is an essential application. The three parts of system test are purpose, elements and functions (Pandey & Kumar 2016). The first part explains the purpose for which systems thinking is used and then different elements of systems thinking are worked upon and finally the interrelationship between the elements is analyzed to solve the complex problems (Lonngren & Svanstrom 2015). Systems approach is useful in finding interrelationship between human behavior, technology and environmental impacts (Gharajedaghi 2011). Systems thinking not just deals with problem which involve interrelationship between elements but also the actors and solve the recurrent and complex problems, which have not been solved form previous efforts (Maani & Cavana 2007). The author of this report agrees to the statement that system thinking is critical in developing solutions to sustainability challenges as it does not address a problem by analyzing only a particular area and finding solution only for that area instead it considers all the other areas, which get influenced by the particular area and finds a holistic solution for the entire system. 

Sustainability challenges can be addressed as adaptive challenges and the already established procedures and protocols cannot be applied to such situation (Jakulin 2016). Sustainability problems can be addressed using systems thinking wherein previous mental modes have to be dealt with by framing issue using dynamic thinking and system as cause thinking, understanding is developed using operational thinking, generic thinking and scientific thinking and communication based on emphatic thinking (Lonngren & Svanstrom 2015). Sustainability challenges are referred to as wicked problems, which have complex systems that have increased interconnectedness that cannot be reduced as the whole system is greater than all the parts together that result in unintended consequences and large uncertainties due to path dependence and nonlinearities (Gharajedaghi 2011).  The author of this report agrees that in complex systems there are increased interdependencies and solving one problem at a time and addressing the next problem cannot provide effective solutions and can lead to unintended consequences and increase the uncertainties for the system. Six general characteristics of a wicked problem are vague problem definition, no endpoint, undefined solution, unique, irreversible and urgent (Jakulin 2016). It is difficult to resolve wicked problems as they are embedded in socio-ecological system, which is very complex.