Applying Systems Thinking to Examine and Reduce Dependency on Food Banks

• Main Author: Juwaeriah Abdussamad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Croatian Interdisciplinary Society 2014-01-01
• Series: Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems
• Subjects: systems thinking; food bank; design thinking; social engineering
• Online Access: http://indecs.eu/2014/indecs2014-pp99-107.pdf

Systems thinking is the art of understanding interconnections between various disciplines thereby unwinding the existing complexity. Most of the real world problems are complex, take for the example the increasing dependency rate on food banks. While various factors contribute towards it, not much has been done to bring the take off the number of dependents. By viewing this system from a holistic systems thinking lens, one explores the issue in depth. We realise the universally acceptable solution is not alleviating the problem in the long run. By applying systems thinking principles several hidden factors are brought to attention and subsequently can be dealt with more aptly. A movement that transcends disciplines results in delivering better solutions.