Translation of systems thinking to organizational goals: A systematic review

Abstract

This study examines how systems thinking theories have been applied within organizational learning and management. This study follows the six phases developed in the systematic review undertaken by Greenhalgh et al. (2004) to review all publications of applications of systems thinking in organizations for a period of 25 years (1990–2015). This study reveals that using a unifying model that incorporates both soft systems thinking (SST) and critical systems thinking (CST) can enrich the stages of the application process (i.e. the data collection, data analysis, and evaluation). It offers a meticulous process that helps the individuals and organizations learn, plan, and implement systems thinking in their operations successfully. Understanding the application of systems thinking in organizational management will significantly help organizations strategize its priority, particularly when systems thinking is crucial for innovation and sustainability. The study shows that the participation of both practitioners and researchers during the process of applying systems thinking in improving organizational outcomes. This study develops a unifying model which incorporates both SST and CST by using systems thinking researchers as facilitators to solve complicated issues or transform the organization.