Developing a structural-interpretive model of factors affecting the establishment of systemic thinking in an organization (Case study: Companies active in the country's sugar industry)

Zanjani, Seyfollah; Feghhi Farahmand, Nasser; Rezvani Chaman Zamin, Musa

doi:10.22075/ijnaa.2023.31940.4741

Developing a structural-interpretive model of factors affecting the establishment of systemic thinking in an organization (Case study: Companies active in the country's sugar industry)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Seyfollah Zanjani ¹

Nasser Feghhi Farahmand ¹

Musa Rezvani Chaman Zamin ²

¹ Department of Management, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

² Department of Management, Astara Branch, Islamic Azad University, Astara, Iran

10.22075/ijnaa.2023.31940.4741

Abstract

Nowadays, using the most up-to-date and appropriate methods and paradigms in management sciences is necessary for successful management to make the best decisions to guide organizational groups. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the establishment of systems thinking to develop a structural-interpretive model in companies active in the sugar industry. This study was conducted on 400 managers, officials, and experts of the five studied companies, and 196 samples were selected based on a purposive judgment method according to Morgan’s table. The research collection tools were library studies and a researcher-made questionnaire with 57 questions based on the Likert scale technique and a standard ISM method questionnaire. The reliability of the researcher-made questionnaire was checked based on Cronbach’s alpha test and composite reliability. The exploratory factor analysis approach was used to identify the desired variables. Based on data analysis in Smart PLS software, ten factors were identified as influential factors in establishing systems thinking based on the Varimax rotation method and explaining 40.8% of the variance of the variables. In the standard steps of the structural-interpretive modeling approach, the variables extracted as model structures were divided into four levels of importance and used in designing strategies and plans for any organization to make the necessary decisions and policies.

Keywords

system

systems thinking

exploratory factor analysis

structural-interpretive modeling

[1] H. Ahlstrom, A. Williams and S. Sagen Vildasen, Enhancing systems thinking in corporate sustainability through a transdisciplinary research process, J. Cleaner Prod. 256 (2020), 120691.

[2] A. Azar, F. Khosravani, and R. Jalali, Soft Operational Research, The Industrial Management Institute Pub., 2019. [in Persian]

[3] A. Bashan and S. Kordova, Globalization, quality and systems thinking: Integrating global quality management and a systems view, Heliyon 7 (2021), no. 2.

[4] J. Boardman and B. Sauser, Systems Thinking: Coping with 21st Century Problems, CRC Press, 2008.

[5] A. Farhadi and H. Fathabadi, The impact of systemic thinking on improving organizational performance in military units, C4I J. 4 (2020), 70–85.

[6] B.J. Galli, Measurement system analysis and system thinking in Six Sigma: How they relate and how to use them, Int. J. Syst. Dyn. Appl. 9 (2020), no. 1, 44–62.

[7] N. Gholami, F. Agajani, and S. Rashid Saljogi, Examining the obstacles of systemic thinking and its establishment in the organization’s effectiveness, 2nd Sci. Res. Conf. Psycho. Counsel. Educ. Sci. Human., Monaco, France, 2020. [In Persian].

[8] A. Helali, Understand systemic thinking, Civil Project 2 (2021), no. 10, 77–87.

[9] S. Iranzadeh, E. Sabahi and H. Ammari, Strategic Thinking, Forozesh Publications, Tehran, 2010. [in Persian]

[10] C. Jackson, Beyond the fads: systems thinking for managers, Syst. Res. 12 (1995), no. 1, 25–42.

[11] R. Kaufman, H. Oakley-Browne, R. Watkins, and D. Leigh, Strategic Planning for Success: Aligning People, Performance, and Payos, John Wiley & Sons, 2003.

[12] Sh. Khezhri, M. Rafiei, and F. Asadi Sangachini, Examining the importance and applications of systems thinking in different work and non-work fields, 9th Nat. Conf. Sustainable Dev. Educ. Sci. Psycho., Tehran, Iran, 2021. [in Persian]

[13] M. Laimon, T. Yusaf, T. Mai, S. Goh, and W. Alrefae, A systems thinking approach to address sustainability challenges to the energy sector, Int. J. Thermofluids 15 (2022), 100161.

[14] H. Langdalen, E.B. Abrahamsen, and J.T. Selvik, On the importance of systems thinking when using the ALARP principle for risk management, Reliab. Engin. Syst. Safety 204 (2020), 107222.

[15] N. Mirsepasi, Human Resources Strategies Management and labor Relations, Mir Publications, 2020. [in Persian]

[16] I. Nonaka, Dynamic theory of organizational knowledge creation, Organ. Sci. 5 (1994), no. 1, 14–37.

[17] A. Pouya, R. Mirnejhad and A. Siboueh, Modeling the barriers to implementing systems thinking in organizations with a structural-interpretive approach, 1st Nat. Conf. Syst. Think. Practice, Mashhad, Iran, 2019. [in Persian]

[18] F. Rahnavard, E. Mohammadi Fateh, and R. Asadi, Thinking as a platform for the improved performance of leaders and the effectiveness of public organizations, Manag. Dev. Process 31 (2018), no. 2, 111–142. [in Persian]

[19] W. Roth, The Roots and Future of Management Theory: A Systems Perspective, Routledge, 2018.

[20] N. Voulvoulis, T. Giakoumis, C. Hunt, V. Kioupi, N. Petrou, I. Souliotis, C. Vaghela, and W.I.H. binti Wan Rosely, Systems thinking as a paradigm shift for sustainability transformation, Glob. Envir. Change 75 (2022), 102544.