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RESPONSE AND COMMENTS I am extremely grateful to those Chinese colleagues who have contributed to this special issue and engaged so positively with aspects of the western tradition of systems [...]

The emergence of critical systems thinking has allowed the transdiscipline of systems thinking to mature by setting out how the variety of systems methodologies available can be used together in a coherent manner to promote successful intervention in complex societal problem situations. Copyright [C] 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Keywords systems theory; systems practice; soft systems thinking; critical systems thinking, INTRODUCTION This paper summarizes the argument of the author's keynote address prepared for the conference on 'The Philosophy of Systems Science and Social Development' at the South China Normal University, [...]

The 49th Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Systems Sciences had, as its theme, 'the potential impacts of systemics on society'. As my contribution to this, I want to discuss why I think a critical systems approach called 'creative holism' can help managers address complex problem situations. As is frequently stated, managers today face increasing complexity, change and diversity. Furthermore, the solutions they are offered to help them cope in this situation rarely seem to work. In this paper, it is argued that those solutions fail because they are not holistic or creative enough. The benefits to be gained from holism and creativity (in a systemic sense) are outlined, and a practical approach, 'creative holism', is specified which aims to better equip managers to deal with complex problem situations. If the argument is right then systemics has the potential to have both a significant and a beneficial impact upon society in the years to come. Keywords complexity; systems thinking; holism; creativity; critical systems thinking; creative holism, INTRODUCTION The paper begins with the argument that creative holism is necessary in the modern world. Managers are facing ever increasing complexity, change and diversity, and the solutions they have [...]