Systemic Thinking in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis

Dear Colleagues,

In an increasingly connected world, the complexity of the Covid-19 pandemic has affected all levels of society, but some more than others. As we attempt to comprehend the unprecedented consequences, the dynamic situation shifts to reveal new ones that add to this complexity.

Systems thinking is the conscientious use of systems ideas when facing complexity according to Checkland (1999); Maani and Cavana (2000) and Jackson (2003) help us to understand and tackle complex situations such as the one we are now experiencing. Broadly, systemic thinking opposes reductionistic thinking. Midgley (2000) refers to reductionism as belonging to the mechanistic worldview in that it concentrates attention on linear, causal relationships between variables and invariably fails to view relationships and understand the wider systemic context.

Systems thinking (ST) has been extensively applied to many fields of knowledge, particularly in organisational settings when problematical situation or ‘messes’ are most recurrent, yielding effective results. Ackoff (2004:1) urges us to take a systemic perspective particularly when public policy is involved: ‘Almost every problem confronting our society is a result of the fact that our public-policy makers are doing the wrong things and are trying to do them righter’. Ackoff (2004:1)

Furthermore, the OECD (2020) has called for the use of ST principles to cope with the aftermath Covid-19:

[…] policy interventions and priorities to address Covid-19 must incorporate principles of system resilience to systemic disruption now, for not doing so will limit future socioeconomic recovery for the next decade at least. Systems thinking is the most powerful tool we have at our disposal to accomplish this task, if it is part of a trilogy completed by anticipation and resilience.

The evolution of systems thinking (ST) in management science methodologies has generated a set of systemic methodologies that enrich our understanding of the complex nature of our world. The spread of these applications has been visible in fields of knowledge, such as operational research, management sciences, general management, information systems, psychology, cognitive sciences, ecology, cybernetics, law, computer sciences, creative arts practices, family therapy, and organizational theory (among others). Debates about the handling of the effects Covid-19 have increased interest in systems thinking in the field of health, healthcare, and medicine. Two recent online publications suggest the necessity of using ST: Covid-19 means systems thinking is no longer optional (Reynolds, 2020) and A systems approach to preventing and responding to COVID-19 (Bradley, et al 2020).

You are invited to submit a paper that explores the role of systems thinking in terms of addressing the challenges set by the outbreak of the pandemic and its aftermath.

We are interested in original conceptual and empirical papers related, but NOT restricted, to the following topics:

1. The design and improvement of pandemic systemic frameworks and models, ensuring effectiveness; 
2. The use of systemic methodologies to understand the pandemic and its consequences;
3. How to systemically learn the lessons from other countries’ experiences;
4. The design of systemic models to inform decision-making about emerging from lockdown;
5. Systemic real-world applications from interdisciplinary groups using real and relevant data to understand pre-, during, and post-Covid-19;
6. How have different cultures within society responded to the pandemic and what may we systemically learn from them?
7. To what extent has Covid-19 impacted ecosystems and what lessons may be systemically adopted?
8. How may the application of systems thinking enable better understanding of recovery?
9. How might systems thinking contribute to crisis management and critical futures thinking?
10. Failing governance systems and the outbreak of Covid-19;
11. The design of learning systems for managing the post-pandemic crisis.

This Special Issue will further explore and promote some of the key developments in the use of systemic thinking in disaster events, be they man-made or natural, and illustrate how these developments are helping practitioners, policy makers, and decision-makers tackle the complexity of contemporary and problematic social, political, business, security, health, and environmental situations.

The length of manuscripts submitted to this Special Issue should between 5000 to 7000 words.

For questions regarding appropriate content concerns and proposed topics, please contact the Special Issue guest editors.

Prof. Dr. Alberto Paucar-Caceres
Prof. Dr. Sandro Schlindwein
Dr. David Haley
Guest Editors

References:

1. Checkland, P. B. (1981, 1999) Systems Thinking, Systems Practice, Wiley
2. Jackson, M. C. (2003). Systems Thinking: Holism for Managers, Wiley: Chichester
3. Maani and Cavana, (2000). Systems Thinking and Modelling, Prentice Hall.
4. Midgley, G. (2000). Systemic Intervention: Philosophy, Methodology, and Practice. New York: Kluwer Academic.
5. Declan Terence Bradley, Mariam Abdulmonem Mansouria, Frank Keea and Leandro Martin Totaro Garcia (2020) EClinicalMedicine Volume 21, April 2020 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30069-9/fulltext https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100325. Published by The Lancet. Accessed 15 June 2020
6. Seth Reynolds. https://www.thinknpc.org/blog/covid-19-means-systems-thinking-is-no-longer-optional/9 April 2020. Accessed 15 June 2020
7. OECD Policy Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19). A systemic resilience approach to dealing with Covid-19 and future shocks. http://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/a-systemic-resilience-approach-to-dealing-with-covid-19-and-future-shocks-36a5bdfb/. Accessed 15 June 202

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Systems is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Systems Thinking in post covid-19 scenarios;
• Systems Dynamics to support covid-19 impact;
• Systemic Frameworks for COVID-19 aftermaths;
• Systemic methodologies to assess COVID-19 consequences;
• Systemic thinking to foster resilience post- covid-19;
• Systemic modelling supporting post covid-19 education systems