Critical System Thinking And Its Importance
In the present era, the sustainability of a company is most essential because it emphasized on the corporate risk and serves a firm to long-term business run (Bryson and Lombardi, 2009). Further, the critical thinking leads the competitive edge of the business through the promotion of innovation and unique solution of the business problem by filtering the ideas of different experts (Wals and Jickling, 2002). In this context, an agreement on the statement “System thinking is critical in developing the solutions for sustainability challenges” by focusing on the scenario of “Achieving energy security in Australian manufacturing” has been considered. For this purpose, several article or academic sources have been referred for the critical analysis of the statement. Moreover, related theories and framework has been used.
System thinking is the management aspect which helps in the understanding of business system inboard perspective like the macroscopic view of the image (Kahneman and Egan, 2011). In this regard, Stacey (2003) mentioned that system thinking enhances the management capabilities by the deeper knowledge of the operational system. Further, it enhances the productivity by increasing the creativity of management which brings innovation in the business process. According to Maani and Maharaj (2004), it leads system decision making capability of the organization by which it can effectively deal with the adaption of changes. However, the system thinking is most useful for learning of an organization and helps in the taking decision in an effective manner. Furthermore, Mainzer (2007) expressed that the system thinking for the dynamic complexity of the business problems because it allows management to predict the future and accordingly shape the business strategies. In this regard, the critical way of system thinking enhances the efficiency in the solutions of complex societal problems even, it is a heuristics method that includes conflict which helps in dealing with the complex situation (Jackson, 2001). Thus, critical system thinking is most essential for resolving the complicated situations faced by the business
For example, energy supply in Australia is vulnerable to failure and it negatively influences the business operation of production plants even also affects its continuity (Clarke, 2018). Further, it decreases the productivity of manufacturer company because they pay more for less supply of energy (Greig, et al, 2016). Moreover, it creates some sustainable challenges for manufacturing firms in Australia as it disrupts the production procedure because of issues in the energy supply related to the scarcity in the country. In this context, critical system thinking helpful for finding the effective solutions for Australian manufacturer and increases their sustainability. In this regard, Midgley (1996) asserted that critical thinking is helpful to overcome sustainable challenges with the help of three combinations of commitments are follows-
- Critical awareness- It is the first step which includes analysis and re-examination of the different situation of the business problem and enhances the problem resolving capabilities of management. In this context, the management of Australian manufacturer companies can find the different ways to solve energy security problem and elevate the impact of the solution on the business. For example, by applying energy saving techniques in the manufacturing process through including of innovative aspect in production.
- Emancipation-On the basis of above step management has critically aware of the particular business problem and set their focus on the method which consists of upwards flow in the solution of the problem. Owing to this, in the above mention case the management of manufacturer companies can focus on enhancing the impact of the solution and the way through it can be achieved continuously.
- Methodological pluralism- In this step of critical thinking management personnel can get the different view of a particular problem by studying of the perspective of several researchers. Apart from this, it addresses the strong and weak point of issue and establishes the connection in that issues (Greig, et al., 2016). With the help of this step, management is able for the addressing of strong and weak point of high-cost energy problem and gets the solution by applying severalresearcher methodologies.
Education And Sustainable Development
Figure 1: Content of critical thinking
Therefore, the critical way to enhance the problem-solving capabilities of management by encouraging them to focus on the importance of the critical view of the problem and ensure that this view increases the positive impact on the solution. At the last, different perspective of different researcher helps to understand the affecting aspect of the single problem.
Education plays a vital role in sustainable development in the organization even high quality of education the gratifying the business environment to more sustainable (Pevneva, et al, 2017). At the same, Garavan and O′ Cinneide (1994) asserted the active learning to amplify the predictability and legitimacy of firm management which increases the sustainability of the organization. They also stated that sustainability can be achieving through the staff development wherein they magnify their information adaption skills and resulted in an effective solution for any business problem. Thus, education is most important for the company to survive with sustainable challenges. In this manner, critical thinking enhances the learning ability of management (refer to figure 1). Owing to this, manufacturer firm in Australia can improve their management learning ability by providing them training and develop them for facing sustainable challenges in an effective manner.
According to Garrison, Anderson and Archer (2001) asserted that critical thinking is both a method and outcome. Like an outcome, it is good enough for the meaningful understanding related to the particular situation. Further, it includes the judgment of the analysis in the educational context because it magnifies the judging ability of management through the deeper knowledge of the particular problem (Wals, and Jickling, 2002). However, it is the effective way of resolving a problem and encourages the managers for high-level learning of the harmful business situation. Owing to these, it enables Australian manufacturers for the enhancing of their learning capabilities and encourages them for taking effective management decision. This is because the high energy charges create the worst situation which gone manufacturing process in under the threats and leads manufacturing plant to be close even, it creates decrements in the employment of manufacturing industries at Australia (Clarke, 2018). However, critical thinking is the utilization of the strategies and perceptional skills which enhances the probability of the required outcome and involved in the generating inferences, solving the problem, calculating possibility and decision making.
According to figure 1 critical thinking recognize the several ways for the solution of sustainability challenges. In this regard, a production firm in Australia can get ideas from the different employees in the company to overcome the sustainability challenges in environmentally friendly production. In this manner, Australian manufacturer can use natural resources of energy like solar energy in production and minimize the expenditure on energy consumption because it has largest solar radiation continent in the world (Arena, 2018). Owing to this, they can able to reduce their electricity charges and produce the cost-effective product. On the other hand, they can emerge in their business image as conscious environment conservation. Therefore, critical thinking enhances the resolving probability of sustainable challenges with environmental protection.
Role Of Critical Thinking In Australian Manufacturing
The high energy charges in Australia have a negative impact on the global competitive edge of Australian manufacturer because it decreases the investment from the foreign and local companies (Greig, et al, 2016). In this context, Martin (2009) asserted that critical system thinking creates a successful competitive edge for any business through the finding of different ways for the solution of the current business problem. However, Antonietti, et al (2011) argued that the WCR model of creativity enhances the mental thought of management on the basis of three mental processes as widening (W), connecting (C) and recognizing (R) are described below-
Figure 2: WCR model of creativity
(Source: Antonietti, et al, 2011)
- Widening-It is the first element of the model which focuses on the open mind of management through which different elements of the problems can be considered to find out the feasible solution.
- Connecting-The elements which are dealt at the stage of widening are connected in the unusual ways so as to assess the impact of a potential solution of the problem on the overall performance of the business.
- Recognizing-At this step, managers or experts of the business come together and changes the perception on the basis of elements which were connected so as to find the novel solution of the issue. This proves to be effective in dealing with the sustainability challenges because creative thinking is promoted at workplace whereby managers perceive the single problem from a different perspective.
The integration of these three elements creates the model of creativity which results from an appropriate solution to the problem. In this context, Australian manufacturer companies can use WCR model for improving the management competency in the resolving of business issues with the creative ideas. For example, they innovate their manufacturing process in a cost-effective manner by implementing several creative ideas from the different level of management personnel. For example; they can focus on the reduction of the wastage in the production process through the different ways like reusing of this wastage. Therefore, the creativity from critical thinking helpful for manufacturer firm to overcome the sustainable challenges which increase the probability of successful business long run.
Sustainability is crucial for an organization in the development of business procedure and leads the future predictions which are related to current business problems. Even, it amplifies the impact of the operational process on the business in the effective manner (Closs, et al, 2011). However, the sustainability improves the quality of business process and creates them according to the future requirement wherein it increases the probability of future success. In this regard, Wiek, et al (2011) asserted that some firm’s competencies are required for the enabling of business sustainability as system think, anticipatory, strategic, normative and interpersonal competence.
Figure 3: Sustainability framework with five competencies
(Source: Wiek, et al, 2011)
According to figure 3, these five competencies are integrated for the solving of a problem Furthermore, the combination of these competencies helpful for the identifying the solution of the complex sustainability problems. In this context, the system thinking is very crucial for sustainability and plays a vital role solution making process and the identifying the impact of the complex problem in the current situation. Even, these impacts are further used in the foundation of sustainability vision this ability is known as normative competence (refer to figure 3). However, the sustainability framework is helpful for better understanding of a business problem and their impact on the current condition of business with the help of the history of the problem. Apart from this, it creates a sustainable vision which helps in effective decision making. Owing to this, the manufacturing firm in Australia can be used sustainability framework in their organization and filter their business decision through the several competencies wherein the decision is more effectual in the context of energy security problem. Therefore, the sustainability is most important for an organization because it is successful in prediction of future growth.
WCR Model Of Creativity For Enhancing Sustainability
Conclusion
On the basis of the above research paper, it can be concluded that the critical thinking is crucial for an organization in overcoming the sustainability-related challenges along with complex business situations. This is because it promotes the innovative capability and learning ability of management so the issues related to current and future business environment can be resolved through the generation of unique ideas. Furthermore, it can also be concluded that critical thinking is helpful for both environmental conservation and an upward flow of productivity to sustain the business for the long-time span. Hence, the critical thinking is most essential for resolving the sustainable challenges.
References
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