Philosophy

The philosophy of the Institute has grown out of E.F. Schumacher’s work and involves thinking in terms of 'complex systems where people matter'. The main methodology used at the Institute is critical systems thinking, an important tool for addressing problems characterised by complexity, large scale, uncertainty, impermanence, and imperfection. 

Many of the problems the world faces are complex with multi-party interests, a politically-charged history, diverse cultural contexts, and a range of relevant factors, with inter-relationships that are far from straight-forward. The problems are also often large in geographical, temporal, hierarchical and population scales. There tend to be many unknowns, substantively, in terms of relationships and in terms of successful interventions. The unknowns are compounded by constant change; change occurring on many fronts including biological evolution, scientific and technological developments, in economic drivers, in international relations and in manifold intended and unintended consequences of local, national and international policies and programs. 
 
Perfect knowledge and solutions are impossible. The value of critical systems thinking is that it combines systems thinking and participatory methods, and by its nature involves a range of disciplines and sectors combining, functional, interpretive, emancipatory and postmodern approaches.