Developing a systemic problem structuring method for use in a problem-avoiding culture

Midgley, Gerald.; Shen, Chao-Ying.

Authors

Professor Gerald Midgley G.R.Midgley@hull.ac.uk
Professor of Systems Thinking

Chao-Ying Shen

Abstract

This paper presents a Buddhist systems methodology (BSM) designed for use in Taiwanese Buddhist organisations. The authors argue that the BSM has advantages in Taiwanese contexts compared with Western systemic problem structuring methods, which mostly require participants to identify and explore problems or problematic situations. In Taiwanese Buddhist culture, identifying problems is regarded negatively because it could lead to individual blame and threaten organisational harmony. Unlike many Western approaches, the BSM uses Buddhist concepts that are closely associated with the practice of harmonious living. Thus, it reframes systemic problem structuring as the exercise of Buddhist discipline applied to organisational life, which is likely to be viewed as a co-operative and culturally valued endeavour. A BSM intervention is described in which the authors tackled a significant conflict (and issues underlying this) that threatened the future of a large non-governmental Buddhist organisation. An evaluation of the intervention demonstrated significant positive impacts.

Book Type	Authored Book
Journal	Research memorandum (University of Hull Business School) ; 92
Peer Reviewed	Not Peer Reviewed
Book Title	Developing a systemic problem structuring method for use in a problem-avoiding culture
ISBN	978190642229
Institution Citation	Midgley, G., & Shen, C. Developing a systemic problem structuring method for use in a problem-avoiding culture
Keywords	Boundary critique, Buddhist systems methodology (BSM), Critical systems thinking, Methodological pluralism, Multimethodology, Problem structuring methods, Viable system model (VSM)