BUS2SUS La Trobe: Systems Thinking & Sustainability Solutions

This report examines the critical role of systems thinking in developing solutions to sustainability challenges, focusing on the increasing number of tourists in Europe and its associated problems. It introduces the systems thinking approach as a holistic method for analyzing interconnected components to address complex issues. The report discusses how this approach can be applied to sustainability changes by viewing problems from a macroscopic perspective, emphasizing the interrelation among components to generate effective solutions. It also addresses the growth of tourism as a 'wicked problem' and suggests the application of systems thinking fundamentals to mitigate related issues, such as clogged streets, water pollution, and diminishing housing supplies. The report concludes by advocating for the implementation of policies, such as restricting new hotel construction and prioritizing public transport for residents, to manage tourism's impact and promote sustainable urban development. Desklib offers a wealth of resources, including past papers and solved assignments, to support students in their academic endeavors.

Running head: IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM THINKING IN DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS
Systems Thinking Is Critical In Developing Solutions to Sustainability Challenges
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s note

1IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM THINKING IN DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS
Table of Contents
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................2
2. Discussion....................................................................................................................................2
2.1 Introduction to Systems Thinking Approach.........................................................................2
2.2 Approach of System Thinking in dealing with Sustainability Changes................................3
2.3 Growth of Tourism as a Wicked Problem.............................................................................4
2.4 Application of Systems Thinking Approach for dealing with Growing Tourism Problems. 5
3. Conclusion...................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................9

2IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM THINKING IN DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS
1. Introduction
Different kinds of sustainability challenges are increasing on daily basis. The different
forms of problems are based on different challenges for solving them would be great. The
problem concerning in this report is based on the increasing percentage of tourists in Europe,
which has led to a problem for the people residing in the city. The various problems that arise
with the increase of tourists in the city of Europe is clogging of streets, pollution of waters,
diminishing of housing supplies and many others that would make life to be miserable for the
residents and the local governments (Time 2018). This report helps in discussing about the about
the critical factors within the issue that is being faced. The report focuses on the impacts of
systems thinking and the ways in which they could be applied within the scenario. This approach
would certainly be able to address the issues related to sustainability and the extent to which
these issues would be critically analysed. Increasing number of tourists as a kind of wicked
problem and the application of the fundamentals of system thinking would be able to resolve the
issues to some extent.
2. Discussion
2.1 Introduction to Systems Thinking Approach
The primary focus on systems thinking is on the single kind of components, connection
and finding the interrelation between the components in order to provide a necessary solution to
the particular problem. Systems thinking could be defined as a holistic approach for analysis that
would be able to focus on the ways in which the constituent parts of a system would be able to
interrelate (Haines 2016). This kind of approach would also be able to define about the ways in
which the different systems would be able to work over time within the context of different

3IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM THINKING IN DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS
larger systems. Systems thinking could be applied within the study of environmental, medical,
economic, political, human resources and many others.
2.2 Approach of System Thinking in dealing with Sustainability Changes
The approach based on system thinking could be useful in dealing with the various
problems based on the issues arising from sustainability. This kind of approach views the objects
from a macroscopic approach rather than viewing from a short view. The focus of system
thinking is based on the individual components and the interrelation among those components in
order to generate a necessary form of solution (Nguyen and Bosch 2013). This kind of thinking
approach is regarded as an advanced common sense, which would be applicable to any kind of
situation.
Systems thinking based approach is macro in nature. It would focus on the bigger things
such as the relationships between certain kind of events and various aspects of any particular
problem. The approach would then be further used for solving the issues (Benn, Edwards and
Williams 2014). The ways in which different problems are being solved with the help of this
form of traditional approach have been helpful for yielding different kinds of benefits. The
different kinds of traditional thinking approaches is primarily based on the subject matter or
matter of study. Hence, it would have different forms of limits in such a narrow field (Zink
2014). On the other hand, due to a wide form of study based on the interrelation among the
different kinds of things and the connection of a wide range if study, it would be helpful for
finding a solution in an easy manner (Nguyen and Bosch 2013). The challenges based on system
thinking are based on the built-in process in which the different kinds of solutions would be
pursued.

4IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM THINKING IN DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS
According to the pattern of systems thinking in every kind of problem, the variations
would be broken into different loops. These could be balances in order to result for a particular
kind of solution (Hesselbarth and Schaltegger 2014). Dependability on technology could be able
to decrease the various need of more resources. Due to no such form of objections based on
resource availability, more form of investment could be made within the businesses. More form
of useful investment within technology and creation of a loop would be able to solve different
kinds of problems in an automatic manner (Doppelt 2017). Though different kinds of simple
problems could be addressed easily based on the traditional methods, the system thinking
approach would be complex. This would be difficult for the process of implementation in the
concerned case.
2.3 Growth of Tourism as a Wicked Problem
In the current years, it has been seen that there is a refrain, which is echoing based on the
massive growth of the number of European cities. Over the past decades, the number of
travellers visiting these places have been seen as different forms of destination risks that has
subsumed these places. In a recent survey, it has been seen that 87 million tourists have visited
France in 2017 (Hesselbarth and Schaltegger 2014). Around 58.3 million people have also
visited Italy. Even the tiny Netherlands have also received 17.9 million of tourists.
With the huge growth of tourism in 218, which is expected to surpass the previously set
records, the amount of frustration within the local people of Europe is growing at an alarming
rate. During the last season of spring, the state had witnessed different anti-tourism
demonstrations within many of the cities throughout the entire Europe. The local governments in
these states have tried to curb the least channel, which would curb the streets, pollute waters,
diminish the supplies of housing and turn monuments and markets into no-entry zones. These

5IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM THINKING IN DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS
would generally make lives of the people to be miserable for the residents in these states. The
main form of explosion in the areas of tourism is based on numerous factors. These include low-
cost airlines facilities such as Vueling, Ryanair and EasyJet, which have expanded massively in
the 2000s. These were based on competitive prices of tickets of these airline carriers that have
helped in driving the increase of the number of passengers. Even the changes in climate would
play a major role for the attraction of tourists (Becken 2013). This is due to the fact that warmer
temperature would generally extend the summer season and thus would also open the
inaccessible areas.
2.4 Application of Systems Thinking Approach for dealing with Growing Tourism
Problems
The approach of systems thinking would be helpful for providing different ways for
dealing with the ways in which the problem of growing number of tourists in Europe and the
adjacent states. This kind of approach would mainly consider about the primary importance of
different kinds of circumstances (Bosch et al. 2013). They also express the condition under
which a specific decision and the various kinds of impact of such circumstances during the phase
of implementation. Based on the dealing with different forms of wicked problems under the
systems approach, even a slight change in an individual element could be helpful for making a
bigger impact on the various other elements.
The mechanism based on the approach of systems thinking could be performed with the
impact of computers in the workplace. Although the use of computers could be helpful for
solving different kinds of problems, but these are able to solve different problems that are based
on data and algorithms. Although a computer would be able to view into a problem based on the
supported variables provided for the concerned problem (Valentinov, Hielscher and Pies 2015).

6IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM THINKING IN DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS
The concerned problem discussed in these approach is based on real life complex issues. There
are two forms of global problem, which include routinely and sustainable problem. The routine
based problem could be easily addressed and thus could be solved with known or predetermined
ways. These kinds of problems have a particular procedure, which would not be simple but
would be solved based on a particular plan. On the other hand, a sustainable challenge would not
be able to solve a fixed problem based on which a solution could be achieved. This form of
challenge could also be defined as an adaptive challenge.
The approach of systems thinking could be applied to wicked problems. This could be
helpful for generating different forms of possible solutions. The term ‘wicked’ would not be able
to depict the evilness based within the problems but has been used based on their complex and
unsolved nature (De Roo and Hillier 2016). Hence, these kinds of problems would be highly
resistant to different forms of resolution strategies. These kind of wicked problems would require
such kind of solutions that would be much convincing than those provided by traditional ways
(Domegan et al. 2016). The solution to various kinds of issues would require various kind of
methods, which would capture the macro elements and also define the interrelations among the
various factors.
Based on the approaches taken with the help of systems thinking approach, it has been
seen that the government of Barcelona have taken several approaches in order to improve the
behaviour of tourists. Based on the system thinking approach, it could be recommended that that
the government within these states should prohibit the construction of newly built hotels in the
prime area of the city, which mainly attracts the tourists from all over the world (Pearce and
Packer 2013). These new developed hotels should not also be replaced with the old hotels. The
local government in the city of Venice should mainly restrict the construction of new hotels and

7IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM THINKING IN DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS
several restaurants. They should also create a fast lane based on the residents of public transport.
There should be a proper plan to ease the congestion in the cities.
The implementation of strict kind of policies is not only important but the evaluation of
stricter policies would be important. The help of a proper form of system thinking approach
could also be helpful for different stakeholders and makers of decisions within an organisation or
workplace (McCann and Ortega-Argilés 2015). This kind of approach would be able to help in
the future of various forms of approaches and potential costs. Systems dynamic modelling would
be helpful for dealing with the problem based on excessive increase of tourists within the cities
of Europe (Fiksel et al. 2014). The government within these countries should be solely
responsible for restricting the tourists in various places. They should restrict the building of new
hotels. Systems thinking approach could also be used for helping the government in thinking of
other kinds of approaches, which would help in reducing the loads of the tourists within the
country. This approach would be able to build a form of interconnection between the different
microscopic elements (Boniface, Cooper and Cooper 2016). The inclusion of system thinking
approach would be able to enable the government to view the complex challenges based on
sustainability.
3. Conclusion
Based on the above discussion, it could be concluded that different forms of sustainable
challenges could be resolved based on the systems thinking approach. The traditional methods
would not be efficient enough for solving the complex problems based on reducing the
increasing number of tourists that visit the city on a regular basis. Moreover, the systems
thinking approach cannot be applied to various kinds of complex problems and different wicked
problems such as the increasing rate of tourists within the city of Europe. The systems thinking

8IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM THINKING IN DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS
approach should be contributed by the professionals within the Human Rights Department and
psychologists who would be efficient in dealing with the cases of increasing rate of tourists.
These kind of department should be able to devote effort and time together. Based on the
research on the systems thinking approach, it could be concluded that the system behaviour
would mainly result from the effects based on balancing and reinforcing processes. Based on the
entire discussion, it could also be concluded that the question of the topic has been successfully
addressed. Systems thinking would be the most vital form of approach based on dealing with the
sustainability challenges. Hence, the use of this approach would be helpful for solving the
problems and increase the efficiency of systems.

9IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM THINKING IN DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS
References
Becken, S., 2013. Developing a framework for assessing resilience of tourism sub-systems to
climatic factors. Annals of Tourism Research, 43, pp.506-528.
Benn, S., Edwards, M. and Williams, T., 2014. Organizational change for corporate
sustainability. Routledge.
Boniface, B., Cooper, R. and Cooper, C., 2016. Worldwide destinations: The geography of travel
and tourism. Routledge.
Bosch, O.J., Nguyen, N.C., Maeno, T. and Yasui, T., 2013. Managing complex issues through
evolutionary learning laboratories. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 30(2), pp.116-135.
De Roo, G. and Hillier, J., 2016. Complexity and spatial planning: introducing systems,
assemblages and simulations. In Complexity and Planning (pp. 19-52). Routledge.
Domegan, C., McHugh, P., Devaney, M., Duane, S., Hogan, M., Broome, B.J., Layton, R.A.,
Joyce, J., Mazzonetto, M. and Piwowarczyk, J., 2016. Systems-thinking social marketing:
conceptual extensions and empirical investigations. Journal of Marketing Management, 32(11-
12), pp.1123-1144.
Doppelt, B., 2017. Leading change toward sustainability: A change-management guide for
business, government and civil society. Routledge.
Fiksel, J., Bruins, R., Gatchett, A., Gilliland, A. and Ten Brink, M., 2014. The triple value
model: a systems approach to sustainable solutions. Clean Technologies and Environmental
Policy, 16(4), pp.691-702.

10IMPORTANCE OF SYSTEM THINKING IN DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS
Haines, S., 2016. The systems thinking approach to strategic planning and management. CRC
Press.
Hesselbarth, C. and Schaltegger, S., 2014. Educating change agents for sustainability–learnings
from the first sustainability management master of business administration. Journal of cleaner
production, 62, pp.24-36.
McCann, P. and Ortega-Argilés, R., 2015. Smart specialization, regional growth and applications
to European Union cohesion policy. Regional Studies, 49(8), pp.1291-1302.
Nguyen, N.C. and Bosch, O.J., 2013. A systems thinking approach to identify leverage points for
sustainability: a case study in the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam. Systems Research and
Behavioral Science, 30(2), pp.104-115.
Pearce, P.L. and Packer, J., 2013. Minds on the move: New links from psychology to
tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 40, pp.386-411.
Time. (2018). http://time.com. [online] Available at: http://time.com/5349533/europe-against-
tourists/ [Accessed 14 Dec. 2018].
Valentinov, V., Hielscher, S. and Pies, I., 2015. Nonprofit organizations, institutional economics,
and systems thinking. Economic Systems, 39(3), pp.491-501.
Zink, K.J., 2014. Designing sustainable work systems: The need for a systems approach. Applied
Ergonomics, 45(1), pp.126-132.