What is the Integrative Analysis?
- 1. The Integrative Analysis how ttoo ddeessiiggnn ssoocciioo--eeccoonnoommiicc eeccoossyysstteemmss Based on the working paper: Schlauch, Michael (2014): The Integrative Analysis of Economic Ecosystems: Reviewing labour market policies with new insights from permaculture and systems theory. http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/53757/ Michael Schlauch, 09/2014 michael@rhizomaticdesign.net Rhizomatic Design transdisciplinary Problem solving rhizomaticdesign.net
- 3. The Problem original relationship ecology-economy ...logy -λογία: the study and explanation of the functioning of the household ..nomy -νόμος: laws and rules for good management of the household Eco... Οἶκος: the (global) household Relationship of mutual exchange
- 4. The Problem² current relationship ecology-economy ..nomy How do we satisfy unlimited wants with limited resources? ...logy the science of providing increased natural resources (ecosystem services) while sustaining natural productivity (sustainability) Eco... Οἶκος: which household? One way relationship: ecosystems deliver services
- 5. The Goal of this Talk new approaches to socio-economic problems ● synthesis with ecosystems ● dynamic, iterative ● open, viewpoint-conscious ● macroscopic, wholistic ● qualitative ● adaptive, locally valid ● dichotomy: human ↔ nature ● static ● deterministic ● reductionist ● quantitative ● prescriptive, universally valid (?)
- 6. The Integrative Analysis overview (Checkland 2000) (Odum 2007) (Holmgren 2011)
- 7. Step 1: Find Conceptual Models the “hard“ approach (classic engineering) presumed system prescripted methods conceptual model no clear distinction between reality and thought
- 8. Step 1: Find Conceptual Models² following the “Soft Systems Methodology“ (Checkland 2000) system, here seen different viewpoints as the process of inquiry interactions problem situations complex reality thought
- 9. SStteepp 22 VViissuuaalliizzee MMooddeellss with energy diagrams (Odum 2007) ecosystem compatible expression of elements and processes (Schlauch 2014)
- 10. SStteepp 22 VViissuuaalliizzee MMooddeellss² preparation ● emergy: The amount of available energy of one type (usually solar) that is directly or indirectly required to generate a given output flow or storage of energy or matter. (amount of energy of a lower quality grade required to develop the higher grade) ● processes: flows and lifecycles become longer ● elements: increasing territory of control and support ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
- 11. SStteepp 22 VViissuuaalliizzee MMooddeellss³ example of a socio-economic ecosystem Original brainstorming, collection of elements and flows: unemployed,
- 12. SStteepp 33 IInnqquuiirryy enhancing the SSM in the Integrative Analysis Root definitions (Checkland): help elaborate the problem situation and draw energy diagrams ● Clients: beneficiaris and victims ● Actors: carry out system activities ● Transformation that happens ● Worldview necessary for meaning ● Owner: can abolish or change system ● Environmental contrains: external limits ● Enhancements in the integrative analysis: should enable us to adopt key principles of healthy ecosystems ?
- 13. SStteepp 33 IInnqquuiirryy22 main energy laws, system ecology (Odum et. al.) Entropy law and thermodynamics: living systems deal with omnipresent energy degradation Feedback along the energy hierarchy: pulses from units that control energy of higher quality as positive (reinforcing) and negative (limiting) feedback Maximum Power (Lotka 1922), restated as principle for Maximum (Em)Power (Odum 2007): Because designs with greater performance (emergy throughput) prevail, self-organization selects network connections that feed back transformed energy to increase inflow of resources or to use them more efficiently
- 14. SStteepp 33 IInnqquuiirryy33 implementation in Permaculture as wholistic practice by means of design principles and ethics (Holmgren, 2011)
- 15. SStteepp 33 IInnqquuiirryy44 ...META-analysis: the system of inquiry LESLY-DAMIU
- 16. SStteepp 33 IInnqquuiirryy55 ...for the principles of ecological functioning: LESLY-DAMIU ● Limited or scarce ressources, can they be replaced or made renewable? ● Excessive inputs produce waste and inefficiency. ● Spaces (time, place...) that are the most dynamic offer insights and opportunities. ● Yields that are ● ... neglected offer valuable opportunities of transformation. ● Long term: speculating of where the system is going in 20-100 years often gives hints about slow but strong changes
- 17. SStteepp 33 IInnqquuiirryy66 ...for the principles of ecological functioning: LESLY-DAMIU ● Distance (time, space...) between the system and the origin of the problem that it copes with: the nearest interventions are the most effective. ● Adaptation: when conditions change, the system should be able to adapt in time and continuously ● Motivation, extrinsic and intrinsic: what actions depend on external incentives and what gets done autonomously? ● Unkown knowns and unknowns: what are the limitations of the current viewpoint? ● Interaction and sharing: what is blocking and what can reinforce interaction and sharing?
- 18. SStteepp 33 IInnqquuiirryy77 ...META-analysis: the system of inquiry LESLY-DAMIU
- 19. SStteepp 44 CChhaannggeess aanndd AAccttiioonnss ...possible viewpoint responses (labour market situation) ● Limitations: job opportunities ● Excess: unemployed ● Space: job ads, recruiters ● Long term: growing unemployment ● Yields neglected: creativity, interconnected social relations (village), housework (predominantly provided by women) ● Distance: production-related problems to be approached in other ways (right diagram) ● Adaption, continuous: unemployment census ● Motivation intrinsic-extrinsic: unsubsidized vs. subsidized branches ● Interaction: can be promoted by efforts for more transparency, self-employment... ● Unknown knowns/unknowns: skills, earnings, working atmosphere, diagram of the next iteration, including responses that triggered viewpoint changes
- 20. SStteepp 44 CChhaannggeess aanndd AAccttiioonnss22 ...ideas for new proposals Often, one question leads to multiple answeres ● With these new flows and elements, we can form a pattern-language (cf. Christopher Alexander 1977) Example, labour market: → new set of patterns: ● promote informal and socially valuable productive activities (e.g. community gardening) ● in order to strengthen social relations, team skills and trust that will increase the amount of possible jobs offered by local small businesses to committed people living nearby. ● Intrinsic motivation: informal (money-free) economy ● Neglected yields: social relations ● Distance to original problems: lack of access to job offerings and skill acquisition
- 21. CCoonncclluussiioonn ...uniting SSM, Systems Ecology, Permaculture and Economics ● 1) Think of a complex problem situation as a „soft system“, brainstorm main elements and flows ● 2) Create eco-compatible conceptual models/socio-economic ecosystems, e.g. with energy-diagrams ● 4) Use responses to elaborate patterns of change and/or viewpoint corrections, ● 5) (recommence from the beginning) ● 3) Do an inquiry that confronts your observations with reality and ecologically favorable functioning
- 22. CCoonncclluussiioonn ...uniting SSM, Systems Ecology, Permaculture and Economics The Integrative Analysis seeks to clarify complex problem situations and conceive changes coherent with adjacent ecosystems. It inquires conceptual systems in relation to a broadened concept of ecological patterns and energy transformations in society and integrates them with the personal experience and viewpoints of practitioners. Thereby it ensures the integrity of resulting actions, extending them with ulterior perspectives and an ethic of earth and people care.
- 23. TThhaannkk yyoouu ffoorr yyoouurr aatttteennttiioonn!! LLiitteerraattuurree ● Michael Schlauch (2014). The Integrative Analysis of Economic Ecosystems, http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/id/eprint/53757. ● Checkland, P. (2000). Soft Systems Methodology: A Thirty Year Retrospective. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 17(1): 11–58. ● Odum, H. T. (2007). Environment, Power, and Society for the Twenty-First Century. Columbia University Press. ● Holmgren, D. (2011). Permaculture: Principles and pathways beyond sustainability. Hampshire UK: Permanent Publications, first uk edition. ● Alexander, C. (1977). A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction. Oxford University Press.