The grand challenges businesses and society face are complex and messy. These challenges are articulated in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), outlining the economic, social, and environmental goals to be attained by 2030. The SDGs highlight many “wicked problems”, and perhaps the sheer complexity, messiness, interdependences and need for cross-sector and multi-actor working make attaining these goals the ultimate wicked problem (Weaver et al., 2020). Leading organisations such as the UN, OECD, UNESCO, WHO, and other industry sectors declare systems thinking an essential leadership skill (Jackson, 2019). The paper is twofold. Firstly, the authors suggest a review of systems thinking to embed sustainability and its system approach in supporting the actors involved to accelerate the progress towards the SDGs. We introduce the concept of systemic sustainability (first coined by Laszlo and Laszlo, 2011) – moving the actors from ego (purposeful activity from people(s) perspectives) to ecosystems thinking (to co-exist in partnership with the living systems of our environment). Secondly, we propose to advance this concept by incorporating the ‘boundary idea’ and elements of critical systems heuristics (e.g., Ulrich and Reynolds, 2020; Ulrich, 2012a, 2012b). The authors propose that space should be available for reconciling differing worldviews to determine where a sense of purposefulness and values come from between stakeholders involved and affected by purposeful business activity. Going beyond a meaningful engagement with stakeholders to truly appreciate business interdependencies with individuals, communities, and nature (including absent voices for future generations and planetary pressures). Towards a circular economy and supply chains that requires systems to be both regenerative and restorative. To do so three critical boundary judgements should be reflected upon: stakeholders issues/concerns; value(s) and impact, opening new avenues for future research.
Citation
Weaver, M., Fonseca, A. P., & Tan, H. (2024, September). The ‘Boundary Idea’ in Sustainability & Sustainable Development. Presented at OR66 Operational Research Conference 2024, Bangor, UK
Presentation Conference Type
Conference Paper (published)
Conference Name
OR66 Operational Research Conference 2024
Start Date
Sep 10, 2024
End Date
Sep 12, 2024
Deposit Date
Sep 16, 2024
Publicly Available Date
Sep 12, 2024
Peer Reviewed
Peer Reviewed
Keywords
Systems thinking for Sustainability; Systemic Sustainability; Community OR; purposeful business; boundary critique
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
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The ‘Boundary Idea’ in Sustainability & Sustainable Development
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