Paper/Poster/Presentation Title
Consideration of the Human Dimensions in Socio-Ecological Systems
Keywords
Systems thinking, Socio-ecological systems, Human dimensions, System dynamics modeling
Start Date
25-6-2018 2:00 PM
End Date
25-6-2018 3:20 PM
Abstract
The cause of most of our environmental or ecosystem problems are humanly constructed, rooted in our nature, and the culture and structure of our decision making. Western cultures evolved from mental models of humans being exogenous and able to control our natural environment. This historic view has been challenged by post normal science that views socio-ecological system (SES) problems as complex, interdisciplinary, with uncertain facts, disputed values, high stakes and the need for urgent decisions. Poor performance or system failure is often the result of limited human and humanly constructed institutions to fully understand and holistically manage dynamic and complex functionally linked systems that produce their own patterns of behavior. Our work intends to bridge this gap.
A more holistic approach, incorporating aspects of socio-psychological human behavior and decision management and our institutional frameworks should improve the study of SES. While an emerging field, we propose to present components of reliable and valid human competencies within participatory and network-based decision management that support systems thinking and system modeling analysis, discourse, deliberation and implementation. This work is supported by literature and case study data that highlights strengths and weaknesses of the human dimensions. Acknowledgement and incorporation of the human dimensions within a SES system should support a seamless boundary among the actors, system modelers, and decision makers. This research may be informative to others who wish to more holistically approach systems thinking and systems modeling and avoid the archetypical system failures or traps described by Donella Meadows.
Consideration of the Human Dimensions in Socio-Ecological Systems
The cause of most of our environmental or ecosystem problems are humanly constructed, rooted in our nature, and the culture and structure of our decision making. Western cultures evolved from mental models of humans being exogenous and able to control our natural environment. This historic view has been challenged by post normal science that views socio-ecological system (SES) problems as complex, interdisciplinary, with uncertain facts, disputed values, high stakes and the need for urgent decisions. Poor performance or system failure is often the result of limited human and humanly constructed institutions to fully understand and holistically manage dynamic and complex functionally linked systems that produce their own patterns of behavior. Our work intends to bridge this gap.
A more holistic approach, incorporating aspects of socio-psychological human behavior and decision management and our institutional frameworks should improve the study of SES. While an emerging field, we propose to present components of reliable and valid human competencies within participatory and network-based decision management that support systems thinking and system modeling analysis, discourse, deliberation and implementation. This work is supported by literature and case study data that highlights strengths and weaknesses of the human dimensions. Acknowledgement and incorporation of the human dimensions within a SES system should support a seamless boundary among the actors, system modelers, and decision makers. This research may be informative to others who wish to more holistically approach systems thinking and systems modeling and avoid the archetypical system failures or traps described by Donella Meadows.
Stream and Session
Stream C: Integrated Social, Economic, Ecological, and Infrastructural Modeling
C12: Connecting Environment, Technology, and Society: Integrated Decision Support Tools for System-Level Analysis