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Critical systems practice 1: Explore—Starting a multimethodological intervention

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  • Michael C. Jackson

Abstract

This is the first of a series of papers on the stages of critical systems practice. Critical systems practice is a multimethodology that seeks to employ the ideas developed in critical systems thinking to intervene in and improve complex real‐world problem situations. It has four stages—Explore (the problem situation), Produce (an intervention strategy), Intervene (flexibly) and Check (on progress)—called to mind as EPIC. The aim is to set out where thinking has reached on the best way to carry out each of these stages and to invite comment on what more needs doing. The first stage, Explore, is concerned with how to start a multimethodological study. If this is done well, it can bring to the fore opportunities for a full and in‐depth systems intervention. If done badly, it can lead to practice that makes the problem situation worse.

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  • Michael C. Jackson, 2020. "Critical systems practice 1: Explore—Starting a multimethodological intervention," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(5), pages 839-858, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:srbeha:v:37:y:2020:i:5:p:839-858
    DOI: 10.1002/sres.2746
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Rajneesh Chowdhury, 2023. "Holistic Flexibility for Deploying Systems Thinking as a Cognitive Skill," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 36(5), pages 803-825, October.
    2. Michael C. Jackson, 2022. "Critical systems practice 3: Intervene—Flexibly executing a multimethodological intervention," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(6), pages 1014-1023, November.
    3. Shankar Sankaran & Rika Presier, 2021. "Systemic change towards sustainable development: Innovative and integrative approaches," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(5), pages 579-582, October.
    4. Roelien Goede, 2020. "Nature's enduring patterns: A path to systems literacy," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(5), pages 787-788, September.
    5. Graeme Nicholas, 2022. "Getting to practical: Complementarity between critical systems thinking and phronetic social science," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(5), pages 913-922, September.
    6. Zhichang Zhu, 2022. "Paradigm, specialty, pragmatism: Kuhn's legacy to methodological pluralism," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(5), pages 895-912, September.
    7. Michael C. Jackson, 2021. "Critical systems practice 2: Produce—Constructing a multimethodological intervention strategy," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(5), pages 594-609, October.
    8. Michael C. Jackson, 2023. "Rebooting the systems approach by applying the thinking of Bogdanov and the pragmatists," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(2), pages 349-365, March.

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