Rachel Jones, Aalto University, Helsinki Jim Corner, Waikato University, New Zealand

Professor Raimo P. Hämäläinen Professor Jim Corner Professor Esa Saarinen

1. Systems Dynamics = external conceptualization of systems, modeling 2. Soft Systems Methodology = internal conceptualization of systems, problem-solving 3. Systems Intelligence = co-evolving with systems, living well Perceiving systems important to all the approaches.

 Extensive systems literature, however… ◦ Average person unable to:  articulate their understanding of systems  apply systems thinking formally (Dawidowicz, 2012)  Systems awareness/thinking is important; needs to be applied more often (Goekler, 2003; Stowell, 2007; Colbert et al., 2011)  Systems community needs fresh approaches

 Systems Intelligence (SI) accounts for the human capacity to act intelligently in systems (Hämäläinen, R. P, & Saarinen, E., 2006)  Systemic perception a key dimension of SI  SI theoretically explored but needs tools that place the actor in the system

 Method: ◦ Exploratory, qualitative, photos, thematic analysis. ◦ 15 university students at Aalto University, Helsinki. ◦ Data collection:  Each take 10 photos of important systems in their lives.  Write for each - why this, what system does each photo represent?  Six weeks later…overall reflection on this photo process.

1.What systems do people perceive? 2.What key aspects of systems are present (and absent)? 3.How does thinking about systems effect/affect their understanding? 4.What value, if any, does photo elicitation have for engaging with systems?

Role of the Researcher Status of the Photos Photos Taken By Researcher Photos Taken by Respondents Photos as data (photo analysis) Researcher takes the photos, analyses them, and concludes Respondents take photos but researcher analyses them alone Photos as elicitation (photo views) Researcher takes the photos and discusses them with respondents during interview Respondents take photos but discuss them with researcher during interview Mix (Petersen and Ostergaard, 2004)

Findings – Theme, Type, Within Participants Findings – Theme, Type, Within Participants Participants# of ThemesMain Theme(s)Main System Type# Times Self in Photo 114PeopleSocial7 2 9PeopleSocial0 (9 photos) 312Groups, computerSocial1 411Work, sportsMan-made1 515 Self, sport, university Man-made4 610City, natureNatural0 7 (F)12NoneBoth3 814 Computer, city, home Man-made0 915CityMan-made0 1018GroupsSocial5 11 (F)14City, workMan-made2 12 (F)14Self, peopleSocial6 1316Groups, workBoth City, university, sport Man-made1 1519People, groups, work Social11 (13 photos)

Findings – systems concepts discussed Findings – systems concepts discussed Systems Concept% Initially % in reflection (count) Purpose99100 (12) Type99100 (12) Interconnectivity57 75 ( 9) Decomposition46 42 ( 5) Boundary40 42 ( 5) Processes24 Emergence22 58 ( 7) Structure18 17 ( 2) Complexity15 58 ( 7) Sustainability12 8 ( 1) Stasis11 Synergy 8 17 ( 2) Control 7 Feedback 7 8 ( 1) Holism 1

 Initial data: ◦ Did not initially understand what a system is ◦ Most did not automatically consider themselves to be part of the systems ◦ Immediate environments ruled (people and places) ◦ Dynamics often not considered ◦ Photos caused some anxiety  From Reflections: ◦ Photo + reflection made them think more deeply about:  Interconnections, complexity, decomposition, boundaries, emergence  Their own role  The “real systems in one’s life” ◦ Not easy to capture the concept of system in a photo ◦ Start to see how “things” interact with and impact upon people ◦ More aware of systems now ◦ Interesting way to introduce systems, active engagement with the term

“I think this was a very useful and interesting exercise...I think it is great to stop for a moment in your life and evaluate it from different perspectives. This made me to see myself from many angles…”

“Somehow, putting them on a piece of paper facilitates the observation of behavior and identification of improvement opportunities….could I copy this pattern in this particular system to others?”

“When I now see some systems-like structures or mechanisms, I’m more likely to identify them that way than what I was couple of months ago.”

 Systems: ◦ Awareness of systems is generally low ◦ People still see systems – just don’t know it ◦ Use of systems concepts under-developed ◦ Systems education is possible  Photo elicitation as method: ◦ Makes the familiar unfamiliar ◦ Photo expands their thinking ◦ Brings subjectivity to the systems world ◦ Interviews would be useful  Great potential for raising systemic perception and awareness of SI through photos

 Colbert, C. Y., Ogden, P. E., Ownby, A. R., and Bowe, C. (2011. Systems- based practice in graduate medical education: Systems thinking as the missing foundational construct, teaching and learning. Medicine: An International Journal, 23(2),  Dawidowicz, P. (2012). The person on the street's understanding of systems thinking. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 29(1),  Goekler, J. (2003). Teaching for the future: Systems thinking and sustainability. Green Teacher, 70,  Hämäläinen, R. P, & Saarinen, E. (2006). Systems intelligence: A key competence for organizational life. Reflections: The SoL Journal, 7(4),17–28.  Petersen, N. J., & Østergaard, S. (2004, August). Organisational photography as research method: What, how and why. Paper presented at the Research Methods Division, Academy of Management Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.  Stowell, F. (2007). The knowledge age or the age of ignorance and the decline of freedom? Systemic Practice Action Research, 20,

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