A multi-modal study of sustainability and village life [Veronica de Raadt,
ISSS 1998 Paper Session, July 21/98]
These notes are a rough transcription,
prepared as each individual presenter and/or commentator spoke at the ISSS
1998 conference. Gaps and errors have likely occurred. For more accurate
citations, please consult the original presenters. These notes have been
contributed to the ISSS by David Ing, of the IBM Advanced Business Institute
(sabi@systemicbusiness.org).
[Paper session, July 21/98, 2:55 p.m.]
Veronica de Raadt: Australian Ph.D. student in the north of Sweden (Lulea
U. of Technology)
Want to develop an ethical management of sustainability
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Role of justice, love, faith, social life in sustainability.
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In reverse: lots of sustainability is discussed in terms of economics.
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Instead, what's the best way to approach sustainability, so that we continue
to live as we have.
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A lot of people are working on quality of life, the role of work, the importance
of relationship, and other human factors.
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Towards a theory of normative sustainability.
Have been applying multi-modal systems thinking (under duress from husband
Donald de Raadt, who has been doing this for 12 years)
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Different aspects of life: modalities.
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Thinking about life and existence from various points of view: social,
economic, ...
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Expansive in focus.
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Modalities are ordered in specific ways, and are distinct from each (although
they inform each other).
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Combined with systemics: natural systems, family systems, work, culture
systems, school (epistemic), transport systems, law, etc.
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Modalies borrow by essence (Dutch philosopher) controlling mechanisms that
operate within the systems
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Essence of ethical modality (for family) is love -- it flavours it.
Want to understand the role of the normative, in systems theory.
Application to a village in the north of Sweden: underpopulated, due
to the cold.
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In recent times, villages were reasonably self-sustaining, around 1960s.
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After 1970s, have seen a drift of the population from the north to south:
unemployment could be 25% in inland villages, 10-12% on the coast.
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The Swedish government has tried to correct with vigourous action.
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In one village, have used economic means to keep people in village: information
technologies, with village as centers in business.
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Economic correction hasn't supplemented other social aspects.
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Have been involved with a coastal village Rosvik, 2400 people, established
1540.
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Had sharp increase in population with steel.
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Since 1970s, decline, houses on market.
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Village school is threatened, municipality wants to take one grade away,
and bus.
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Post office, banking and health have also been threatened and shrunk.
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Village enlisted university help, formed a parents pressure group, and
got into the newspaper.
Starting applying Beer's Viable Systems Model, which is incorporated into
the multi-modal systems model.
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The essence of the economic model is management.
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Beer's idea of management is stewardship: taking care of sustaining.
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Collected data which measures 3 functions of management (from Beer): coordination,
development, and function.
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Qualitative research methods about how villagers perceived the future and
the present.
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Beer's management development has to do with the future.
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Function and coordination have to do with here and now.
Developed eight systems in Rosvik:
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Families
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Political party
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Churches (2 in village)
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Clubs (sports)
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Businesses
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Party branch
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School (1 in village -- public school only in Sweden)
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Municipality
Findings, so far (at first stage):
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Strength of the presence of Beer's management functions
|
Development |
Function |
Coordination |
| Family |
strong |
medium |
strong |
| Church |
strong |
medium |
strong |
| School |
strong |
medium |
strong |
| Club |
medium |
medium |
strong |
| Business |
medium |
medium |
weak |
| Party Branch |
weak |
weak |
weak |
| School Dist |
weak |
weak |
weak |
| Municipality |
weak |
weak |
weak |
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Were they thinking about the future?
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Party branch was found ineffective
Findings:
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Systems which are viable (which show a strong strength of management functions)
don't have strong economic concerns:
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i.e. family, church, school and club
Normative modalities:
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Where strong management functions, there are normatives.
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Want to investigate why norms are making these system more viable.
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The strongest normatives serve children. Is this why they're strong?
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e.g. education is related to children
Also considering looking at some of the systems as case studies.
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e.g. church is a system which is highly normative: one is involved in businesses,
and education as starting own school and getting people involved in education
and school issues.
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Church is also involved in families, so they seem to be a hub.
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Then possibly look at a reverse case, e.g. party not impacting norms.
Questions
Why don't people relocate?
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People don't want to relocate. Villagers have become proactive, so the
govern has done more.
Have businesses left?
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Don't know. There are 62 businesses, some very minor.
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