Thinking systemically: What we ought to understand when teaching it!

Abstract

What does systems thinking mean? How do we develop this competency in risk management education? These questions prompted inquiry into how systems thinking has been conceptualized in fields outside engineering. We commenced our inquiry by examining a related construct of systemic thinking, a holistic epistemic process to study risk management. This is a conceptual paper for an ongoing project and it outlines the implications for pedagogic practice. As we argue, risk management can be taught and studied systemically when the emphasis is on learning activities that privilege dialogue and discussion. Conversation based classroom sessions are more conducive to express, exchange, examine and evaluate personal and collective views, values and interests impinging on the process of inquiry into a particular risk management situation. Further, when those risk management situations are inquired into using the multifocal lens of systemicity, systemic thinking will be practiced alongside risk thinking. Copyright © 2013 R. J. Karpe et al.