Systems Based Approaches to Participatory Change   [Archived Catalog]
2019-2020 Academic Catalog and Student Handbook
   

ORG 7052 - Systems Based Approaches to Participatory Change


This course contextualizes the Saybrook legacy around the work of Banathy on social systems design and modeling within the richer lineage of systems science in general and soft systems thinking in particular. The work of seminal social systems thinkers such as Ackoff on idealized systems design, Checkland on soft systems methodology, and Jackson on emancipatory and critical systems thinking will be explored to gain a wider and richer understanding of the diversity and complementarity of systems based approaches to participatory change. Soft systems thinking, as a branch of systems science, considers social and organizational systems as "purposeful systems," i.e., complex human activity systems capable of defining their own purpose and creating their future by embracing human will, values and issues of diversity and inclusion at the core of the inquiry. 3 credit(s)