Systems Approaches and Tools for Managing Complexity

Dear Colleagues,

We are living in an increasingly complex world, in which all economic, social, environmental, cultural and political factors and processes are evidently interconnected. Traditional problem-solving approaches through simple linear thinking and “quick fixes” that solve issues in isolation have posed various shortcomings, including failures, and even counterproductive consequences.

Complex problems in our constantly changing world require better approaches and supporting tools to help unravel such complexity, understand the context and identify interrelationships among different factors surrounding an issue under consideration. This process enables the identification of the root causes of a visible problem, systemic interplays among different factors and subsystems for developing informed, viable, feasible and sustainable solutions.

Recently, systems approaches and systems tools have been successfully applied in various areas and disciplines such as complexity management, community operational research, project management, education, business, environment, health, agriculture, agribusiness, governance, and sustainable development, etc. The successes have proven the value and validity of systems approaches and tools in coping with complexity around the world.

This Special Issue aims to update the use of both existing and emerging systems approaches and relevant tools in managing complexity in any area of interest.

The Special Issue seeks contributions that focus on, but not limited to, the followings:

• Theoretical frameworks in dealing with complexity;
• Systems thinking and problem structuring methods;
• Utilising systems tools in solving complex problems;
• Systems dynamics modelling and simulation.

We welcome papers that present approaches, frameworks, models, and case studies using systems approaches or tools in any area of application

Dr. Nam Nguyen
Dr. Constantin Malik
Dr. Thanh V. Nguyen
Guest Editors

Dr. Tuan Ha
Co-Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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.