The Integrative Analysishow to design socio-economic ecosystems how to design socio-economic ecosystems

Based on the working paper:Schlauch, Michael (2014): The Integrative Analysis of Economic Ecosystems: Reviewing labour market policies with new insights from permaculture and systems theory. http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/53757/

Michael Schlauch, 09/2014michael@rhizomaticdesign.net

Rhizomatic DesigntransdisciplinaryProblem solving

rhizomaticdesign.net

The Problemoriginal relationship ecology-economy

...logy

- : the study and λογία

explanation of the functioning of the household

..nomy

- : laws and rules for νόμος

good management of the household

Eco...: the (global) householdΟἶκος

Relationship of mutual exchange

The Problem²current relationship ecology-economy

..nomy

How do we satisfy unlimited wants with limited resources?

...logy

the science of providing increased natural resources (ecosystem services) while sustaining natural productivity (sustainability)

Eco...: which household?Οἶκος

One way relationship: ecosystems deliver

services

The Goal of this Talknew approaches to socio-economic problems

● synthesis with ecosystems● dynamic, iterative● open, viewpoint-conscious● macroscopic, wholistic● qualitative● adaptive, locally valid

● dichotomy: human nature↔

● static● deterministic● reductionist● quantitative● prescriptive, universally valid (?)

The Integrative Analysisoverview

(Holmgren 2011)

(Odum 2007)

(Checkland 2000)

Step 1: Find Conceptual Modelsthe “hard“ approach (classic engineering)

presumed systemprescripted methods

conceptual model

no clear distinction between reality and thought

Step 1: Find Conceptual Models² following the “Soft Systems Methodology“ (Checkland 2000)

complex reality thought

system, here seen as the process of inquirydifferent viewpointsinteractionsproblem situations

Step 2 Step 2 Visualize ModelsVisualize Modelswith energy diagrams (Odum 2007)

ecosystem compatible expression of elements and processes

(Schlauch 2014)

Step 2 Step 2 Visualize ModelsVisualize Models²²preparation

● emergy: The amount of available energy of one type (usually solar) that is directly or indirectly required to generate a given output flow or storage of energy or matter.

(amount of energy of a lower quality grade required to develop the higher grade)

● processes: flows and lifecycles become longer

● elements: increasing territory of control and support

??

??

?? ??

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Step 2 Step 2 Visualize ModelsVisualize Models³³example of a socio-economic ecosystem

Original brainstorming, collection of elements and flows: unemployed,

Step 3 Step 3 InquiryInquiryenhancing the SSM in the Integrative Analysis

Root definitions (Checkland): help elaborate the problem situation and draw energy diagrams

● Clients: beneficiaris and victims● Actors: carry out system activities● Transformation that happens● Worldview necessary for meaning● Owner: can abolish or change

system● Environmental contrains: external

limits

● Enhancements in the integrative analysis:

should enable us to adopt key principles of healthy ecosystems

?

Step 3 Step 3 InquiryInquiry22

main energy laws, system ecology (Odum et. al.)

Entropy law and thermodynamics: living systems deal with omnipresent energy degradation

Feedback along the energy hierarchy: pulses from units that control energy of higher quality as positive (reinforcing) and negative (limiting) feedback

Maximum Power (Lotka 1922), restated as principle for Maximum (Em)Power (Odum 2007):Because designs with greater performance (emergy throughput) prevail, self-organization selects network connections that feed back transformed energy to increase inflow of resources or to use them more efficiently

Step 3 Step 3 InquiryInquiry33

implementation in Permaculture as wholistic practice by means of design principles and ethics (Holmgren, 2011)

Step 3 Step 3 InquiryInquiry44

...META-analysis: the system of inquiry LESLY-DAMIU

Step 3 Step 3 InquiryInquiry55

...for the principles of ecological functioning: LESLY-DAMIU

● Limited or scarce ressources, can they be replaced or made renewable?

● Excessive inputs produce waste and inefficiency.

● Spaces (time, place...) that are the most dynamic offer insights and opportunities.

● ...● Yields that are neglected offer valuable opportunities of transformation.

● Long term: speculating of where the system is going in 20-100 years often gives hints about slow but strong changes

Step 3 Step 3 InquiryInquiry66

...for the principles of ecological functioning: LESLY-DAMIU

● Distance (time, space...) between the system and the origin of the problem that it copes with: the nearest interventions are the most effective.

● Adaptation: when conditions change, the system should be able to adapt in time and continuously

● Motivation, extrinsic and intrinsic: what actions depend on external incentives and what gets done autonomously?

● Unkown knowns and unknowns: what are the limitations of the current viewpoint?

● Interaction and sharing: what is blocking and what can reinforce interaction and sharing?

Step 3 Step 3 InquiryInquiry77

...META-analysis: the system of inquiry LESLY-DAMIU

Step 4 Step 4 Changes and ActionsChanges and Actions...possible viewpoint responses (labour market situation)

● Limitations: job opportunities● Excess: unemployed● Space: job ads, recruiters● Long term: growing unemployment● Yields neglected: creativity, interconnected social

relations (village), housework (predominantly provided by women)

● Distance: production-related problems to be approached in other ways (right diagram)

● Adaption, continuous: unemployment census● Motivation intrinsic-extrinsic: unsubsidized vs. subsidized

branches● Interaction: can be promoted by efforts for more

transparency, self-employment...● Unknown knowns/unknowns: skills, earnings, working

atmosphere,

diagram of thenext iteration, including responses that triggered viewpoint changes

Step 4 Step 4 Changes and ActionsChanges and Actions22

...ideas for new proposals

Often, one question leads to multiple answeres

● With these new flows and elements, we can form a pattern-language (cf. Christopher Alexander 1977)

Example, labour market:

→ new set of patterns: ● promote informal and socially valuable

productive activities (e.g. community gardening)● in order to strengthen social relations, team

skills and trust that will increase the amount of possible jobs offered by local small businesses to committed people living nearby.

● Intrinsic motivation: informal (money-free) economy

● Neglected yields: social relations

● Distance to original problems: lack of access to job offerings and skill acquisition

ConclusionConclusion...uniting SSM, Systems Ecology, Permaculture and Economics

● 1) Think of a complex problem situation as a „soft system“, brainstorm main elements and flows

● 2) Create eco-compatible conceptual models/socio-economic ecosystems, e.g. with energy-diagrams

● 4) Use responses to elaborate patterns of change and/or viewpoint corrections,

● 5) (recommence from the beginning)

● 3) Do an inquiry that confronts your observations with reality and ecologically favorable functioning

ConclusionConclusion...uniting SSM, Systems Ecology, Permaculture and Economics

The Integrative Analysis seeks to clarify complex problem situations and conceive changes coherent with adjacent ecosystems.

It inquires conceptual systems in relation to a broadened concept of ecological patterns and energy transformations in society and integrates them with the personal experience and viewpoints of practitioners.

Thereby it ensures the integrity of resulting actions, extending them with ulterior perspectives and an ethic of earth and people care.

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!

LiteratureLiterature● Michael Schlauch (2014). The Integrative Analysis of Economic Ecosystems,

http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/id/eprint/53757.● Checkland, P. (2000). Soft Systems Methodology: A Thirty Year

Retrospective. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 17(1): 11–58.● Odum, H. T. (2007). Environment, Power, and Society for the Twenty-First

Century. Columbia University Press.● Holmgren, D. (2011). Permaculture: Principles and pathways beyond

sustainability. Hampshire UK: Permanent Publications, first uk edition.● Alexander, C. (1977). A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction.

Oxford University Press.