fenke feng gallery | international cultural link | international peace movement essays | international job bank | rethinkers' movement
Planning in Complex Systems
- A framework for sustainable development built on a scientifically relevant world view -
By Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt
Abstract
A framework for planning in complex systems, for example "sustainable development in the biosphere," follows from principles of how the system is constituted (ecological and social principles), and contains complementary and non-overlapping principles for a favorable outcome for the system (ecological and social sustainability), as well as principles for the process to reach this outcome (sustainable development). When planning in complex systems - such as planning chess moves, societal moves towards sustainability in the biosphere, or an organization's moves to comply strategically with future demands on the market - principles for success are needed to direct problem-solving upstream to problem sources, i.e. to switch from "fixing problems" to avoiding them. Such principles - principles for checkmate or ones that define a sustainable organization - are needed to avoid blind alleys during the transition.
The presented framework encompasses "back casting from principles of success," a methodology that informs all the essential elements of sustainable development - leadership, management, programs of activities, product-development, and metrics. Tools for leadership and management are not the same. Leadership is about doing the right things whereas management, through systems such as ISO 14001 and EMAS, is about doing things right. "Metrics," such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Ecological Footprinting (EF), and Factor X are various concepts for measuring and monitoring the transition. Most concepts and tools for sustainable development function as metrics but, unfortunately, are rarely used in the context of an overall framework for sustainable development.
A framework is not an alternative to leadership, management, product development, and metrics. A framework brings it all together and creates comprehension, provides direction to the planning, and makes better use of all the essential elements of sustainable development.
Contents
Preface
Chapter 1. Moving from the cylinder illusion to the reality of the funnel
Chapter 2. Planning in Complex Systems - the Framework
Chapter 3. Getting professional
Chapter 4. Implementation - alignment of practices, tools and concepts with the framework
page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | page 10
Please be informed that we do not send out email with attachments.
info@fenkefeng.org (for enquiries and general information)
media@fenkefeng.org (for media interview requests)
essay@fenkefeng.org (for information regarding the international essay contest)
ap@fenkefeng.org (for gallery appointment)
a.r.t@fenkefeng.org (to be withdrawn from the information management database i.m.d )
life@fenkefeng.org (add to the information management database i.m.d )
mailing address
fenke feng cultural group canada
p o box 277 stn f
toronto on
m4y 2L7
canada
We thank you for your understanding and loyalty.
©
The essayist and 
fenke feng cultural group co-own the copyright of the essay. The essayist maintains the moral rights. Any opinions, express or implied, presented are those of the essayist and do not necessarily represent those of fenke feng culutral group.
This entire site is copyrighted © 1999-2002 by fenke feng cultural group. All rights reserved. Text, graphics and Html code are protected by International Copyright Laws, and may not be copied, reprinted, published, translated, hosted, or otherwise distributed by any means without explicit permission.