IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v6y2014i7p4452-4469d38270.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Studying, Teaching and Applying Sustainability Visions Using Systems Modeling

Author

Listed:
  • David M. Iwaniec

    (School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
    Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA)

  • Daniel L. Childers

    (School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA)

  • Kurt VanLehn

    (School of Computational Information and Design Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA)

  • Arnim Wiek

    (School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA)

Abstract

The objective of articulating sustainability visions through modeling is to enhance the outcomes and process of visioning in order to successfully move the system toward a desired state. Models emphasize approaches to develop visions that are viable and resilient and are crafted to adhere to sustainability principles. This approach is largely assembled from visioning processes (resulting in descriptions of desirable future states generated from stakeholder values and preferences) and participatory modeling processes (resulting in systems-based representations of future states co-produced by experts and stakeholders). Vision modeling is distinct from normative scenarios and backcasting processes in that the structure and function of the future desirable state is explicitly articulated as a systems model. Crafting, representing and evaluating the future desirable state as a systems model in participatory settings is intended to support compliance with sustainability visioning quality criteria (visionary, sustainable, systemic, coherent, plausible, tangible, relevant, nuanced, motivational and shared) in order to develop rigorous and operationalizable visions. We provide two empirical examples to demonstrate the incorporation of vision modeling in research practice and education settings. In both settings, vision modeling was used to develop, represent, simulate and evaluate future desirable states. This allowed participants to better identify, explore and scrutinize sustainability solutions.

Suggested Citation

  • David M. Iwaniec & Daniel L. Childers & Kurt VanLehn & Arnim Wiek, 2014. "Studying, Teaching and Applying Sustainability Visions Using Systems Modeling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(7), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:6:y:2014:i:7:p:4452-4469:d:38270
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/6/7/4452/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/6/7/4452/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cherp, Aleg & George, Clive & Kirkpatrick, Colin, 2004. "A Methodology for Assessing National Sustainable Development Strategies," Impact Assessment Research Centre (IARC) Working Papers 30577, University of Manchester, Institute for Development Policy and Management (IDPM).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. David M. Iwaniec & Elizabeth M. Cook & Olga Barbosa & Nancy B. Grimm, 2019. "The Framing of Urban Sustainability Transformations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-10, January.
    2. Crawford, Megan M., 2019. "A comprehensive scenario intervention typology," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    3. Jian Zhang & Guishan Yang & Lijie Pu & Buzhuo Peng, 2014. "Trends and Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Sustainability in Eastern Anhui Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(12), pages 1-17, November.
    4. Ulrich Schmitt, 2021. "Reframing a Novel Decentralized Knowledge Management Concept as a Desirable Vision: As We May Realize the Memex," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-37, April.
    5. Fabian Heitmann & Claudia Pahl-Wostl & Stefanie Engel, 2019. "Requirements Based Design of Environmental System of Systems: Development and Application of a Nexus Design Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-22, June.
    6. Adriana Acevedo Tirado & Mariana Ruiz Morales & Odette Lobato-Calleros, 2015. "Additional Indicators to Promote Social Sustainability within Government Programs: Equity and Efficiency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-17, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Annukka Berg, 2011. "Not Roadmaps but Toolboxes: Analysing Pioneering National Programmes for Sustainable Consumption and Production," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 9-23, March.
    2. Tanja Sinozic & Mete Basar Baypinar & Edward M. Bergman & Miklos Hornyak & Ferenc Kruzslicz & Attila Varga, 2015. "A Policy Research Method Case-Study: Generating and Extracting Evidence-based Policy Inferences from a large EC Framework Programme Project," SRE-Disc sre-disc-2015_04, Institute for Multilevel Governance and Development, Department of Socioeconomics, Vienna University of Economics and Business.
    3. Jessica Pape & Henrike Rau & Frances Fahy & Anna Davies, 2011. "Developing Policies and Instruments for Sustainable Household Consumption: Irish Experiences and Futures," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 25-42, March.
    4. Clive George & Colin Kirkpatrick, 2006. "Assessing national sustainable development strategies: Strengthening the links to operational policy," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 30(2), pages 146-156, May.
    5. Gian Paolo Cesaretti & Rosa Misso & Francesca D'Alessandro & H. Shakir Hanna Safwat & Brent S. Steel & Zacharoula S. Andreopoulou, 2014. "Sustainable Governance for a New "Proximity Market"of our Agriculture," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2014(2), pages 31-42.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:6:y:2014:i:7:p:4452-4469:d:38270. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.