Modeling systems thinking in action among higher education leaders with fuzzy multi-criteria decision making

Abstract

The college and university systems are more complex and required persistent approach towards adoption and transformation. Highly vulnerable environment portrays the need to visualize the regular and strategic issues with the larger perspectives as a whole and develop a model which is more focused towards sustainability and reformation. The current study has attempted to conceptualize systems thinking in action model which consists of four stages of action cycle; diagnosis and analysis, modeling, intervention and review and lessons learned. This is attempting to evaluate the systems thinking among the educational leaders in higher education in Thailand through the fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making method. The study has found that leaders are adopting systems thinking in the moderate level, however, the first three stages are found less in practice and more in perceived importance. The study found that there is higher need of calling for collaborative, cooperative and participation of stakeholders’ involvement. The study has further given managerial implications.

Co-Creation for Social Innovation in the Ecosystem Context: The Role of Higher Educational Institutions

“…The new role of HEIs in social value creation can only be achieved when societal needs can be integrated into HEI activities, and knowledge generated can be used to solve real-life societal challenges. To manage the prevailing challenges and to improve the engagement of HEIs in social innovation practices require an understanding of an integrated approach that leads towards the redesigning and transformation in different levels of processes and functions of HEIs that can improve their capacity for social innovation [6].…”

A pathological analysis of challenges related to systems thinking studies in Iran

“…To ensure that interviews are transcribed in full, the transcription of each interview was sent to the respective interviewee and was used in the research once it was confirmed by the interviewees. (Ackoff, 2006;Masys, 2016;Shukla, 2018;Siriram, 2020) (c) Application and implementation of research (Masys, 2016;Shukla, 2018;Siriram, 2020) 3. What are your suggestions for improving studies based on systems thinking?…”

“…Feedback loops are either reinforcing or balancing (Adam, 2003). Shukla (2018) tried to conceptualize systems thinking in action model, which involves four steps of action cycle including diagnosis and analysis, modelling, intervention and review and lessons learned. These stages create a chain that enables the transformation of theory into practice.…”

“…These indicate not only the importance of research activities based on systems thinking but also its application. Best and Holmes (2010) and Shukla (2018) argue that in all stages, identifying the role of stakeholders and their collaboration are necessary.…”

“…In this section, previous works on different stages of systems thinking transformation and related challenges in various contexts are reviewed. Shukla (2018) tried to prioritize criteria to implement systems thinking in action in the decision making of managers of higher education in Thailand and considered four stages. Each stage involves different criteria for successful implementation of systems thinking.…”