Working through complex issues - with special reference to environment

Abstract

The perception of 'complexity' is in part a statement about an observer's lack of understanding. It may arise when a process of observing has insufficiently pieced together those relationships that are essential to a satisfying explanation. Although the process of observing tends in practice to be second-nature, it relies on method - and methods at times can be used inappropriately. Should inappropriate observation lead to elements of confusion, we may label the focal object 'complex'. A relationship is traced between observer and observed to suggest that complex issues (imagined or real) may be better understood by giving attention to organising principles. An explicit methodology is presented, and is based on recent advances in the holistic theory of systems. The method formalises four working rules that can be applied to any viewing field of the observer's choice. Although the four rules can be adopted as generalisations, the precise context of their use has been formulated as a user-friendly computer program FOCUS. Five user guidelines complement the rules, and descriptive systems diagrams are generated as hypotheses of system functioning. Each hypothesis is bounded by specific definitions of observer focus, and so restrains any involuntary tendency to shift or confound one's focus and thence to confuse issues unnecessarily. Three examples are presented and the cultural context of the observing process is emphasised. Although special reference is given to issues of environmental management, the methodology has been conceived for systems research in general.