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Systems Thinking in the Forest Service: a Framework to Guide Practical Application for Social-Ecological Management in the Enterprise Program Portland State University PDXScholar Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses Fall 10-27-2016 Systems Thinking in the Forest Service: a Framework to Guide Practical Application for Social-Ecological Management in the Enterprise Program Megan Kathleen Kmon Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds Part of the Forest Management Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Kmon, Megan Kathleen, "Systems Thinking in the Forest Service: a Framework to Guide Practical Application for Social-Ecological Management in the Enterprise Program" (2016). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 3312. https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.3292 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. Systems Thinking in the Forest Service: A Framework to Guide Practical Application for Social-Ecological Management in the Enterprise Program by Megan Kathleen Kmon A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Systems Science Thesis Committee: Wayne Wakeland, Chair Martin Reynolds Joe Fusion Portland State University 2016 Abstract The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Enterprise Program (EP), which provides fee-for- service consulting services to the USFS, is interested in integrating systems thinking into its service offerings. Despite there being several excellent sources on the range and diversity of systems thinking, no single framework exists that thoroughly yet concisely outlines what systems thinking is along with its deep history, theoretical tenets, and soft and hard approaches. This thesis is an attempt to create such a framework, aimed specifically at practical application in a land management agency, through literature synthesis injected with original analysis. The usefulness of the framework is then tested using three case studies within the EP and the agency as a whole. The framework highlights several important aspects of systems thinking, both generally and related specifically to social-ecological management. First, systems thinking is the transdisciplinary study of complex phenomena from a holistic, rather than reductionist, perspective. The world can be viewed as a massive set of embedded systems – elements with relations that lead to nonlinear behavior – making the role of the observer essential in identifying scales of interest and interactions amongst them. Second, the deep history of holistic thinking suggests that its modern scientific study could benefit from exploring the East’s long-standing cultural and spiritual approaches to holism through cognitive unity and oneness with mankind and nature. Third, categorizations of systems approaches as “soft” versus “hard” are helpful but can distract us from the ultimate goal of systems thinking, which is to understand the various tools in the systems thinking toolbox so as to apply them critically and creatively to make a meaningful difference in the world. Fourth, I see the soft systems approaches as having a distinct systems thinking orientation and the hard systems i approaches as overlapping substantially with operations research, the close cousin of systems thinking. Fifth, I identify a spectrum of complexity, contending that systems thinking tends to be concerned with what I call subjectively and computationally complex systems, as well as complex adaptive systems, leaving simple systems for other approaches. Finally, I contend that it is the soft systems approaches and the two theoretical pillars of hierarchy theory and cooperation theory that will aid wicked social-ecological problem solving the most. The framework is applied to three case studies. Examination of the EP reorganization using a hard systems approach revealed two critical high-level functions that were absent in the current structure, paving the way for new designs that could take those functions into account. Analysis of an initiative to increase citizen recreation on USFS lands showed that a systems approach had been improperly applied and how the application of a soft approach at the onset could have systematically framed the problem and offered unique normative insights for giving voice to relevant non-agency stakeholders as well as nature and future generations. And viewing the perennial problem of wildfire management through the lens of cooperation theory revealed how USFS leadership could take a more active role in promoting the long-term outlook, durable relationships, and reciprocal behaviors that are required for cooperative improvement to take place. As environmental narratives worsen and the need for transitioning towards sustainable ways of living heightens, systems thinking offers ever-increasing value to resource managers for its ability to deal with the many perspectives and normative content that underlie wicked problems and to help to illuminate potential consequences of system interventions given the interplay of complex structural dynamics across space and time. ii Acknowledgements To my mother and uncle, first and foremost. Mother, you have always been my biggest fan in every adventure of my life, and this was no exception. I couldn’t have done this without your emotional support through all the ups and downs. Uncle Steven, it was you who introduced me to systems thinking! You were there by my side – from the first emails in Montana – with your consummate patience, wisdom, and mind-boggling intellect. You challenged me to think critically and ecologically. I will be forever grateful for your enormous contribution to my evolution as a “scholarly systems squirrel.” Uncle Paul, you were my entry point into nature as a child. It was those perfectly sweet experiences on your farm – that I will forever hold as some of my dearest – that planted the “environmental” seed in me. Michael, you were my entry point into nature as an adult. I evolved, and came to want to do this work, because of experiences we had together in the outdoors, because of knowledge you imparted on me. You gave to me oh so many things, it makes me wonder how they could belong to me. Wayne, I owe you a huge debt of gratitude for single-handedly keeping alive one of the few remaining systems programs. I can’t imagine having studied environmental management through anything other than a systems lens, in any place other than Portland. Stan, you have been my champion and gateway to realizing my professional dream. I will be eternally thankful you came into my life. And finally, a huge thanks to my committee members for your expertise and time commitment. iii Table of Contents Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................i Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................iii List of Tables .........................................................................................................................................vi List of Figures.......................................................................................................................................vii Chapter 1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................1 The USFS Enterprise Program ..............................................................................................1 Wicked Environmental Problems and the Need for a New Approach ..........................1 Research Gaps and Questions ...............................................................................................4 Chapter 2 What is Systems Thinking?...................................................................................................................7 Important Relationships: Systems Thinking Vis-à-Vis Soft and Hard Approaches, Operations Research, and Types of Complexity ................................................................9 Soft and Hard Approaches .......................................................................................9 Systems Thinking and Operations Research .......................................................11 Types of Complexity ...............................................................................................13 A Systems Thinking Framework for Social-Ecological Management ...........................14 Chapter 3 The History of Holistic Thinking .....................................................................................................19 Eastern Thought ....................................................................................................................19 Hindu Holism ...........................................................................................................19 Chinese Holism ........................................................................................................22 Confucianism .............................................................................................22 Taoism..........................................................................................................22 Western Thought ...................................................................................................................24
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