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Systems Thinking as a Tool for Teaching Undergraduate Business Students Humanistic Management

Author

Listed:
  • Stephen Deets

    (Babson College)

  • Vikki Rodgers

    (Babson College)

  • Sinan Erzurumlu

    (Babson College)

  • David Nersessian

    (Babson College)

Abstract

In growing recognition that the business community must play a key role in the global issues encapsulated by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Babson College, which has a business-focused curriculum, has striven first to reinvent its teaching of ethics and then, particularly over the past decade, to enhance its focus on sustainability, social responsibility, and social entrepreneurship. As previous initiatives did not build sufficient linkages between the liberal arts, natural sciences, and business curriculum, the College is now engaged in a far more comprehensive effort to educate our undergraduate business students in “integrated sustainability,” which it defines as “systems thinking that integrates ecological integrity, social responsibility, and value creation simultaneously.” By examining the meaning, skills, and pedagogical opportunities in systems thinking within the context of larger discussions on humanistic management, this article shows how systems thinking is a particularly fruitful way to ground business students in the natural sciences and the liberal arts, develop their complex problem-solving skills, and thereby reinvigorate management education in ways that prepares students to “render service to humanity.” Our hope is that sharing Babson College’s experience in this regard – both our successes and challenges - may provide useful insights to other faculty and academic leaders seeking to enhance humanistic management within their own higher education institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Deets & Vikki Rodgers & Sinan Erzurumlu & David Nersessian, 2020. "Systems Thinking as a Tool for Teaching Undergraduate Business Students Humanistic Management," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 5(2), pages 177-197, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:humman:v:5:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s41463-020-00091-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s41463-020-00091-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anne M. Greenhalgh & Douglas E. Allen & Jeffrey Nesteruk, 2020. "Preface to the Special Issue: Bringing the Humanities and Liberal Learning to the Study of Business," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 5(2), pages 153-158, December.
    2. Pillmayer Markus & Obermeyer Nancy J. & Scherle Nicolai & Rundshagen Volker, 2023. "Sustainable Development Goals and Humanistic Management in Hospitality and Tourism: Systemic Approaches and Application-Oriented Perspectives Using the Example of Family Businesses," Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft, De Gruyter, vol. 15(2), pages 134-152, August.
    3. Matthew Lynch & Gunnar Andersson & Frode Ramstad Johansen, 2021. "Merging Systems Thinking with Entrepreneurship: Shifting Students’ Mindsets towards Crafting a More Sustainable Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-16, April.
    4. S. Sinan Erzurumlu & Stephen Deets & David Nersessian & Vikki L. Rodgers, 2023. "Strategic engagement of business with Sustainable Development Goals: A systems thinking approach," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4954-4969, November.

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