Dialectical thinking, systems thinking and theories of adult development

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Dialectical thinking, systems thinking and
theories of adult development

• Paul Atkins, ANU, Australia
• Keith Johnston, DOC, NZ (and ANU)

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Outline

• A question and some examples
• Discussion with a colleague
• Group discussion

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The question

• We would like to know if thinking about the world
  systemically helps in a variety of contexts.
• E.g.
• Environmental managers
• Church leaders
• Executive coaches conducting leadership
  development
• If you wanted to analyse the text of an interview
  to determine the extent to which someone was
  thinking systemically, what would you look for?

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Some underpinning assumptions and purposes

• We are less interested in the usefulness of
  particular systems tools or methods
• We are more interested in worldviews or habits
  of thought associated with systems thinking
• Therefore we want to find evidence of systems
  thinking in ordinary language.
• We believe that systems thinking is more mature
  or wiser than non-systemic thinking (ie. we may
  develop to become more systemic throughout
  life)

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A candidate coding scheme

• Basseches (1984) describes a coding scheme called
  dialectical thinking that describes elements of
  systems thinking as a worldview.
• Basseches coding scheme involves 24 schemata
  organised into groups focusing on a) change, b)
  wholeness (forms), c) relationships and d)
  combinations of a, b and c (meta-formal).
• At this stage we are using this framework as a
  coding scheme we are developing in the process.
• We do not claim that this scheme codes for
  systems thinking, but it is closely related.

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Dialectical thinking as a developmental theory

• Dialectic is developmental transformation (ie.
  developmental movement through forms) which
  occurs via constitutive and interactive
  relationships. (Basseches, 1984 22)
• Dialectical thinking thus emphasises
• Change or motion (process view continual
  differentiation and integration
  thesis-antithesis-synthesis)
• Wholeness (part-whole relationships, forms,
  structures as systems)
• Relationships (interactive and constitutive)

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The question

• We would like to know if thinking about the world
  systemically helps in a variety of contexts
• Environmental managers
• Church leaders
• Executive coaches conducting leadership
  development
• (nb all of these roles involve judgment and
  valuing)
• If you wanted to analyse the text of an interview
  to determine the extent to which someone was
  thinking systemically, what would you look for?
• OR
• How do you recognise systems thinking when you
  see it?
• (remembering systems thinking in action not just
  pondering)