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Systems
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Systems Thinking: Insights and Solutions to Complex Societal Challenges
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Systems Thinking: Insights and Solutions to Complex Societal Challenges

A special issue of Systems (ISSN 2079-8954). This special issue belongs to the section "Systems Practice in Social Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 7298

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Mehdi Hafezi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Fellow in Systems Thinking Complex Systems Governance Group, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK
Interests: application of systems thinking in environmental; public health and socio-economic systems; including hybrid systems modelling; system dynamics (SDs); probabilistic modelling and soft systems methodology (SSM); as well as project management and decision support systems; multiple-criteria decision analysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Today's social challenges are multidimensional, arising from our constantly changing environment and societies with interconnected subsystems. Traditional approaches often struggle to tackle such multifaceted, real-world challenges. Simplistic, linear approaches lack the capability to capture the complexities of social challenges. Systems thinking offers an effective approach to view challenges not as isolated problems, but as interconnected parts of a larger, dynamic system. In addition, applying systems thinking enables engaging a diverse range of stakeholders across different levels needed for comprehending and analysing social challenges. The complexity of these challenges demands a multi-layered response rooted in our dynamic environment and complex societies.

Systems thinking provides a powerful lens for analysing challenges with intricate, interconnected systems. The challenges faced by societies can have far-reaching impacts on individuals' personal and social lives, as well as the well-being of populations such as communities and larger groups. A systems thinking approach fosters a deeper understanding of these challenges and their interconnectedness, paving the way for collaborative resolutions that address root causes and minimise unintended consequences.

This Special Issue of Systems invites you to harness the power of systems thinking and embrace the transformative potential of stakeholder engagement in gaining insights and providing most effective solutions to complex societal challenges. We seek submissions that leverage the capacities of systems thinking to gain deeper insights and develop innovative solutions for complex societal challenges.  Submissions should demonstrate at least one hybrid or an integrated application of the systems thinking-based approach. We particularly welcome explorations of themes such as the following:

  • Climate change, energy and sustainability;
  • Urban development and local settlement;
  • Social conflicts and security at the global and local scales;
  • Democracy and social governance systems;
  • Societal education and learning systems;
  • Equity, equality, social justice and social integrity;
  • Public health and social wellbeing;
  • Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary issues related to addressing social complexities;
  • Decision-making and risk analysis;
  • Social justice, law and human rights;
  • Migration, mobilities and movement;
  • Societal culture and arts;
  • Technology, data and society;
  • Social economy;
  • Other topics related to societal challenges.

Dr. Mehdi Hafezi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Systems is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • social challenges
  • systems thinking
  • social complexities
  • public policy
  • integrated approach
  • decision-making

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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27 pages, 392 KiB  
Article
Research on the Relationship Between Structural Characteristics of Corporate Social Networks and Risk-Taking Levels: Evidence from China
by Yubin Huangfu, Tianchi Feng, Jinyu He and Zuoji Dong
Systems 2025, 13(5), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13050319 - 26 Apr 2025
Viewed by 85
Abstract
The complex market environment places unprecedented pressure on business decision-making processes. Effectively utilizing existing social resources to establish risk prevention mechanisms and accurately assess an enterprise’s risk-taking capacity has become a core issue for corporate survival and development. This paper examines 1810 listed [...] Read more.
The complex market environment places unprecedented pressure on business decision-making processes. Effectively utilizing existing social resources to establish risk prevention mechanisms and accurately assess an enterprise’s risk-taking capacity has become a core issue for corporate survival and development. This paper examines 1810 listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen A-shares markets from 2010 to 2022, constructing comprehensive social networks based on multiple corporate governance entities. It investigates the influence and transmission mechanisms of corporate social networks on risk-taking levels. The results reveal that (1) enhanced corporate social network centrality, structural holes, and connectivity significantly and positively affect corporate risk-taking levels; (2) information transparency and corporate governance quality serve as important mediating mechanisms through which social networks influence corporate risk-taking; (3) significant heterogeneity exists regarding executives’ backgrounds and industry attributes—specifically, in firms with executives possessing financial backgrounds and in high-tech industry enterprises, network characteristics play a more pronounced role in promoting risk-taking. This research not only enriches the literature on factors influencing enterprise risk-taking but also provides theoretical foundations and practical insights for improving corporate risk management capabilities through optimized social network structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systems Thinking: Insights and Solutions to Complex Societal Challenges)
39 pages, 3542 KiB  
Article
Mechanisms to Overcome the Homogenization of Rural Tourism Products and Improve the Competitiveness of Rural Tourist Destinations: A Case Study from China
by Yiqing Su, Youyan Wang and Rui Li
Systems 2025, 13(4), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13040287 - 15 Apr 2025
Viewed by 287
Abstract
The competitiveness of rural tourism destinations holds significant implications not only for local livelihood sustainability and regional development but also for the preservation and continuity of human civilization. However, developing countries face a critical challenge where rural tourism destination competitiveness is being progressively [...] Read more.
The competitiveness of rural tourism destinations holds significant implications not only for local livelihood sustainability and regional development but also for the preservation and continuity of human civilization. However, developing countries face a critical challenge where rural tourism destination competitiveness is being progressively undermined by the pervasive homogenization of tourism products. The existing literature demonstrates limited engagement with mitigation strategies for tourism product homogenization in examinations of rural destination competitiveness. This study conceptualizes tourism product homogenization as a manifestation of the tragedy of tourism commons, proposing that self-governance can foster rural tourism destination competitive advantages through resolving such collective action dilemmas. Employing a combined IAD-SES framework, the investigation analyzes interview data from Yuanjia Village in Shaanxi Province, China. The analysis delineates how self-governance dynamically enhances and sustains rural tourism destination competitiveness through four institutional mechanisms: provision rules, appropriation rules, monitoring protocols, and sanctioning systems. Furthermore, the findings reveal that the competitiveness driven by self-governance demonstrates the capacity to align individual interests with collective societal benefits. This research contributes to tourism scholarship by identifying novel institutional determinants of tourism destination competitiveness and proposing a policy framework for addressing product homogenization challenges throughout the rural tourism area life cycle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systems Thinking: Insights and Solutions to Complex Societal Challenges)
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21 pages, 473 KiB  
Article
The Effect of the Use of Digital Technology on the Impact of Labor Outflow on Rural Collective Action: A Social–Ecological Systems Perspective
by Yiqing Su, Qiang Li and Lihua Li
Systems 2025, 13(3), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13030199 - 13 Mar 2025
Viewed by 606
Abstract
The rapid development of urbanization has led to a continuous migration of rural labor to cities, while also facilitating the widespread adoption of digital technologies in both urban and rural areas. The existing literature predominantly focuses on the negative impact of labor outflow [...] Read more.
The rapid development of urbanization has led to a continuous migration of rural labor to cities, while also facilitating the widespread adoption of digital technologies in both urban and rural areas. The existing literature predominantly focuses on the negative impact of labor outflow on rural collective action, with insufficient research addressing how to mitigate these adverse effects. By using the social–ecological systems framework, and based on survey data from 131 villages across 14 cities in Guangxi, China, this study finds that digital technologies can alleviate the negative impact of labor outflow on irrigation collective action. The relationship between labor outflow, irrigation collective action, and the use of digital technologies is particularly evident in villages located in non-plain regions, those with distinctive cultural resources, high collective economic income, and restructured planning, and where technological advancements have been promoted. The findings of this study highlight a beneficial relationship between the phenomena of labor outflow and the diffusion of digital technologies, both of which are consequences of urbanization. This suggests that issues arising from urbanization can also be addressed and resolved through urbanization itself. The conclusions offer a new perspective for understanding the interactions between variables in social–ecological systems and provide a reference for developing countries to find suitable paths for combating rural decline and achieving sustainable rural development amidst rapid urbanization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systems Thinking: Insights and Solutions to Complex Societal Challenges)
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26 pages, 2428 KiB  
Article
Digital Finance, Digital Usage Divide, and Urban–Rural Income Gap: Evidence from China
by Yanfei Xiao, Mengli Yin, Huilin Wang and Yunbo Xiang
Systems 2025, 13(3), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13030145 - 21 Feb 2025
Viewed by 754
Abstract
Digital finance can reduce the urban–rural income gap, but the digital divide may limit this effect. This study develops a theoretical framework to explore the interactions between digital finance, the digital usage gap, and income disparity. Using data from 274 Chinese cities, the [...] Read more.
Digital finance can reduce the urban–rural income gap, but the digital divide may limit this effect. This study develops a theoretical framework to explore the interactions between digital finance, the digital usage gap, and income disparity. Using data from 274 Chinese cities, the research applies a two-way fixed-effects and threshold effect model. The results indicate that disparities in digital usage not only diminish but may also distort the convergence benefits of digital finance, producing a U-shaped relationship that exhibits variability across dimensions and regions. Additionally, traditional financial systems appear to moderate this U-shaped pattern by delaying the point at which digital finance begins to widen the urban–rural income gap. However, the extent of this alleviation is influenced by the digital usage is divisive. Once digital technology adoption exceeds a threshold, the negative effect becomes positive, narrowing the urban–rural income gap. Consequently, policy initiatives should prioritize improving financial conditions in rural areas, accelerating the digital transformation of conventional finance, bolstering digital education in rural regions, and addressing the disparities in digital usage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systems Thinking: Insights and Solutions to Complex Societal Challenges)
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22 pages, 1976 KiB  
Article
Systems Thinking of Marine Policies in Promoting Environmental Law, Sustainability, and Digital Technologies: Social Challenges in Belt and Road Initiative Countries
by Xiaoping Wu and Muhammad Bilawal Khaskheli
Systems 2024, 12(10), 400; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems12100400 - 27 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1882
Abstract
The success of marine environmental regulations in terms of social challenges in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries is the main subject of this study, which compares and contrasts them with an eye toward sustainability, the integration of digital technologies, environmental law, and [...] Read more.
The success of marine environmental regulations in terms of social challenges in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries is the main subject of this study, which compares and contrasts them with an eye toward sustainability, the integration of digital technologies, environmental law, and reducing ecological degradation. Environmental solid governance is essential as BRI countries increase their marine activity, an important part of the world economy by systems thinking; the marine industry includes a broad range of operations about the ocean and its resources through social challenges to promote environmental legislation in terms of emissions in the countries participating in the BRI. This study evaluated the effects of institutional quality and technical advancements in marine policies between 2013 and 2024. This project aims to examine how various policy contexts relate to marine conservation, how well they comply with international environmental regulations, and how digital technology can improve the monitoring and implementation of policies through systems thinking. This study aims to determine common obstacles and best methods for enforcing marine policies by examining research from different BRI countries. The results deepen our understanding of how these policies can be best utilized to meet sustainable development objectives while preventing the degradation of marine ecosystems due to economic growth and business. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systems Thinking: Insights and Solutions to Complex Societal Challenges)
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Other

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30 pages, 4307 KiB  
Case Report
Design Thinking in Innovation Processes: A Market Segmentation Tool in Social Networks Research
by Richard Hartman, Roman Kvasnička, Martin Čejka and Ladislav Pilař
Systems 2024, 12(10), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems12100444 - 21 Oct 2024
Viewed by 2902
Abstract
This paper outlines the purposeful adaptation and utilization of the design thinking process in an innovation case involving market segmentation in social network research. Based on a case study, this paper combines the design thinking process with systems approach methods to foster innovation [...] Read more.
This paper outlines the purposeful adaptation and utilization of the design thinking process in an innovation case involving market segmentation in social network research. Based on a case study, this paper combines the design thinking process with systems approach methods to foster innovation in social network analyses. The paper details the entire process, from the initial stages to the development of a viable solution defined in the final assignment for programmers. The case study emphasizes the effective use of systems thinking tools and demonstrates the value of combining these two approaches to meet the needs of the innovation process. The paper aims to narrate the entire process and highlight critical points in a real-world case study. The focus was on the challenge of creating a market segmentation tool for researchers and marketers in the realm of social network analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systems Thinking: Insights and Solutions to Complex Societal Challenges)
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