SIG: Critical Systems Thinking

Critical Systems Theory Critical Systems Theory Chair Roelien Goede Past chairs: Victor MacGill Gerald Midgley Other Organizers Secretary or other organizers Key Domains Key Domains Notable Achievements Notable Achievements Links External Links

The Critical Systems Thinking Special Integration Group is a continuation of the previous Critical Systems Theory SIG and might be chaired by Roelien Goede in late 2026.

Focus of the Critical Systems Thinking SIG

The special integration group in Critical Systems Thinking and Practice is a multidisciplinary and challenging area that represents an alternative approach to understanding human, social, and political issues, from multiple perspectives. The scope of the SIG goes beyond the boundaries of traditional management sciences. On the one hand, it involves a reflection on issues emerging from current systems thinking and practice from contemporary philosophy (e.g., post-structuralism, critical theory, postmodernism), and other social disciplines. On the other, it also includes research that although systemic in orientation is mainly grounded in those disciplines. Our aim is to take advantage of the multidisciplinary background and theoretical approaches of the participants, to generate a meaningful dialogue to inspire future research.

The SIG also focuses on the coherence of AR and other SIGs in the ISSS. The last focus was on the Critical Social Theory perspective that some action researchers share with Critical Systems Thinking.

Chairs, Members and Reading Materials

Reading Materials

Below are reading lists of seminal papers in AR as well as the latest publications in the field of AR from a systems thinking perspective:

Links to videos

Below are links to videos from discussion sessions attended by ISSS members discussing their use of AR.