Author Archives: Elisabeth Dostal

broad historical overview During the industrial age two ideologies dominated world politics: capitalism versus socialism / communism. They shaped the political scene within and between countries, represented by political parties of the right and left. Socio-economic evolution advanced faster in … Continue reading →

We propose that a wholistic paradigm (e.g. like Biomatrix systems theory) can contribute various concepts to the development of an appropriate information age relevant governance. Biomatrix systems theory distinguishes between two types of systems: entity systems (e.g. a person, neighbourhood … Continue reading →

The concept of systemic cooperative strategy has its philosophical origin in the Hegelian philosophy of dialectics and its practical application in Marxism / Leninism. The three laws of dialectics of Marxism / Leninism have been driving revolutionary strategy throughout the … Continue reading →

background This paper represents a collection of thoughts (based on previous research by Elisabeth Dostal) on some aspects of information age governance. It is intended to write a more carefully considered scientific article on this theme at a later stage. … Continue reading →

Recently I have been asked to facilitate a workshop for the alumni of University of Stellenbosch entitled Masterclass in Systemic Organisation and Societal Transformation. As part of the marketing drive, I responded to a few questions which resulted in the … Continue reading →

History of innovation shows that in the early phases of a new approach or product, there is no possibility of benchmarking. One could not benchmark an iPad before other companies replicated the product. One could compare it with a computer … Continue reading →

I know of several MBA programmes that teach systems thinking as action learning projects. Some benchmarking between them should be possible. In my experience, systemic action learning involving projects works very well, while action learning directed at functional improvements can … Continue reading →

Analogous to a riverbed channelling water, one can entrench some systemic praxis in organisations through facilitating the design of systemic structures. This includes systemic structures for each organisational function (i.e. systemic process and supply chain design) as well as the … Continue reading →

Systems thinking is often taught as a worldview in the belief that students will apply it automatically in their own context. And of course, most people become more insightful, creative, inclusive, strategic and win / win orientated in their personal … Continue reading →

Benchmarking typically measures performance and outcomes on the basis of best praxis observed by others or by oneself in the past. Many systems thinkers (e.g. Ackhoff) regard benchmarking per se as unsystemic. A key argument is the mediocrity produced by … Continue reading →