Learning from Conflict Resolution: An Opportunity to Systems Thinking

Abstract

Systems thinking (ST) and conflict resolution (CR) have much to gain from mutual informing and learning. This review article attempts to introduce the systems community to the research and practice of CR. It outlines the strands, development and frontiers of CR and analyzes its relevance to and similarities with ST. The article then discusses the implications for further systems research.

Effects of Top Management Team Heterogeneous Background and Behavioural Attributes on the Performance of New Ventures

“…Cautions should be taken when readers try to generalize our findings. Our future research will also consider to apply systems approach (Li et al ., ; Lin et al ., .…”

Enhancing communication and collaboration in collaborative projects through conflict prevention and management systems

“…The further research strands are: international relations and peace; alternative dispute resolution; as well as public dispute and environmental conflict resolution. These strands are not pure, with plenty of interactions and overlap occurring (Li et al, 2012). The situation of this dissertation's research topic in "management and organizational studies" in the context of food security research is reflected by the journals that published this dissertation' papers:…”

“…The study of organizational conflict management invites research from multiple disciplines and sub-disciplines (fields), although most publications come from the social sciences. Between 1997 and 2006, most conflict management articles were published in journals on general management and psychology, alongside journals on conflict management and negotiation (Li et al, 2012, Ma et al, 2008.…”

An exploration of the limitations of bureaucratic organizations in implementing contemporary peacebuilding

“…Based on an appreciation of the nature of wicked problems, complexity and interdependent systems (Li et al, 2012;Rittel and Webber, 1973), organizations must develop structural responses to these knowledge requirements that depart from the current designs. One such response is the abandonment of formalized 'engineering-style' mission planning for an evolutionary and adaptive approach that seeks generation of knowledge, rather than using a priori knowledge at the start of missions (Watkins and Mohr, 2001).…”