Today's interconnected world presents novel challenges and opportunities for business and society, with the unprecedented complexity facing decision makers mandating new concepts and methodological approaches. The United Nations (UN) along with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the World Health Organization (WHO) have all declared systems thinking as critical to navigating the fundamental interconnectedness of complex, economic, social and environmental issues. At the core of engaging with systems thinking for complexity is the ability to engage with problems that are frequently of a wicked nature, in that they are ill-structured (Rittel & Webber, 1973), frequently laden with uncertainty, complexity and subject to competing stakeholder values and worldviews. The module purpose is to explore the use of systems theoretical concepts, tools and frameworks in order to structure and frame problem contexts.

This module explores a worldview based on complex adaptive, socio-ecological and socio-technical systems perspectives. It then presents multiple systemic perspectives, in addition to forms of complexity and introduces seminal systems theoretical frameworks for possible use in structuring the focal problem and situating it in its wider context. These are complemented with relevant social science theories as appropriate, in order to augment the exploration of the problem context and aid in decision-making for designing structures, actions and strategies for innovation, resilience and sustainability.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Characterise sustainability challenges as wicked problems and develop a critical perspective on their uncertainty, complexity and multi-evaluative dimensions. Analyse sustainability challenges through a paradox theoretical lens and explore how these generate multiple tensions characterised by complex dynamics resulting from the deep interconnections among the social, environmental, and economic elements. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the dimensions of and theoretical principles underlying complex adaptive systems, socio-technical and socio-ecological systems, and how these converge and diverge in their purpose and focus. Drawing from Critical Systems Theory, evaluate and apply a range of seminal systems methodologies and frameworks to produce conceptual models that provide deep insights for problem-structuring and decision-making. Integrate emerging system theoretical knowledge with relevant social science theories to produce a deep a comprehensive systemic inquiry into selected wicked problems.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Leverage an emerging systemic and complexity worldview to challenge dominant paradigms of management scholarship and practice

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: N/A

The approach to learning, teaching, and assessment across the programme is meticulously designed to align with the programme's objectives, the doctoral level of study, and the profile of the candidates, carefully scaffolding a progressively challenging learning experience that fosters engagement and the achievement of the University's graduate attributes. As one of the knowledge frontiers and foundation pillars of the taught element of the programme, this module will be delivered in a highly interactive manner, focused on an inquiry and problem centred curriculum, designed to engender proficiency with a systemic sensibility, including engaging with boundaries, relationships, patterns, recursive feedback loops and multiple perspectives. Active enquiry methods including self-reflection, peer to peer discussion, critical debate, case study analysis and collaborative enquiry are all designed into the module delivery. The UL graduate attributes will be developed as participants immerse themselves in lecture discussion, peer learning, individual and group project work, and self-reflection. Given its focus on developing a systemic worldview, the module will place particular emphasis on the development of agile graduates, as a systemic worldview embraces adaptive, flexible, and emergent actions. The systems perspective also encourages a broader consideration of factors and consequences across multiple levels, thus this module also contributes specifically to developing responsibility in our graduates.