System is defined as a set of separate parts, which are interrelated with each other for working towards a common goal (Roychoudhury et al. 2017). System thinking is a method of critical thinking, which analyzes the relationships among different elements of the system. The essay will focus on the way system thinking is critical for developing right solution to the sustainability challenges. Wicked problems are defined as complex problems, which do not have any definite solution (Monasterolo et al. 2016). System thinking is extremely important for solving these wicked problems by indentifying the relationship among the components of these wicked problems. The essay will demonstrate supportive argument that system thinking is extremely important for solving the wicked problem. In this essay, the system thinking approach will be applied in solving the problem of binge drinking in Australia. Binge drinking is rapidly increasing in the society of Australia, which can be considered as wicked problem. This essay will apply system thinking in resolving the sustainable challenge of binge drinking in Australia.
System thinking is extremely useful in dealing with the issues of sustainability. Teirlinck (2015, p.5) opined that the approach of system thinking looks things from microscopic perspective rather than seeing a shorter picture of the problem. Unlike traditional analysis approach, system thinking approach focuses on the interrelationship among different constituents of the system. In the globalized era, the world is going to face several complexities in the coming years. As per Mehrjerdi (2015, p.2010), system approach describes the purpose for which it has seen adopted and works on the elements system thinking. The prime intension of this approach is to explore the interrelationship among different elements of the problems for finding accurate solution to those problems.
In modern society, computational thinking has been shifted to system thinking for solving the problems from their roots. According to Barrøs et al. (2014), computational thinking incorporates usage of programming and algorithm for finding solutions to the complex problems. Moreover, there is restriction on the computer professionals to solve the problems using algorithms. However, there are certain problems, which cannot be solved using algorithms. On the other hand, Zoller (2015, p.4480) opined that the nature of system thinking enables it in solving the complex problems faced by the society. System approach is extremely useful in dealing with the issues. Such issues involve interrelationship among different actors for solving the complex problems and recurring problems.
Sustainability challenges can also be named as adaptive challenges, as already established procedures and protocols cannot be applied to solve these problems. There is no unified approach or procedure for dealing with most wicked sustainability challenges. Tripto, Assaraf and Amit (2013) opined that system thinking can be extremely useful in changing the previous mental model for dealing with problems of sustainability. Binge Drinking in Australia is considered as wicked problem, as it has all the features of wicked problem. Wicked problems are not stable and it has not any clear solution. Moreover, such problems are socially complex in nature. Bring drinking can be considered as complex problems, as it has several interconnected variables attached to it. The increasing rate of binge drinking is affecting the health of the people in Australia. Binge drinking the tendency of drinking heavily in shortest period or drinking continuously over numbers of days or weeks (Hunt 2016).
Youth Central (2017) opined that binge drinking is seriously affecting the physical, mental and social health of the people in Australia. Alcohol is a major cause of drug related deaths among Australian Teenagers. As per National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, more than a third people of Australia drink in manner, which is hazardous to health. Moreover, people are getting affected by severe diseases like depression, anxiety, damage of liver and brain, cancer in liver, mouth, rectum, pharynx, breast and many others. It also causes neurological disorders and hearth problems to the people. ABC News (2016) pointed out that around 20%-25% people in Australia are suffering from severe depression at some stage of life due to binge drinking. 45% people Australia are going to experience serious mental health condition in their lifetime. On the other hand, Alcohol.gov.au (2013) opined that almost half of the Australian adults are engaged in binge drinking in monthly basis. It is creating imbalance on the life of people, as the drunken people do not get control on themselves. The tendency of binge drinking is also affecting the workplaces of the organization. Moreover, the effected people often feel sick and vomit at their workplace, which hampers their workplace productivity. In this way, binge drinking is also hampering the work life of the people.
Binge drinking is also considered as wicked problem because of its impacts on teenagers and women of Australia. According to ABC News (2016), 18-24 years old people in Australia are more likely to be inclined with risky drinking behavior. At least 1 among 5 Australians over 14 years drink risk amount of alcohol once at least once a year. Binge drinking is also affecting the women of Australia. Youth Central (2017) opined that 40% of Australian women are affected by neuropsychiatric diseases due to their extreme level of alcohol consumption. The women are not even able to take the responsibility of their home. Excessive drinking is hampering the personal life of the people having conflicts and clashes with other people. Furthermore, bring drinking tendency also is causing huge financial loss for the Australian people. The people having being affected by binge drinking do not even think of their financial background and become inclines to spend huge amount on purchasing drink. Excessively drunken people often become engaged in unsafe activities, which can be harmful for their life. The major issues related to the binge drinking are its increasingly rapid pace and lack of no well defined solution to the problems.
Despite of seriousness of bring drinking problem, the physicians and doctors are considering it as simple issue and trying to change individual behavior to counter the problem. According to Kang et al. (2017), several therapies used for dealing with the problem of binge drinking are like cognitive, surgical, behavioral and pharmaceutical therapies. The most common treatment for binge drinking adopted by the doctors and physicians are advising healthy diets and promotion of health education. Furthermore, people are also provided with effective counseling for avoiding the issues of this wicked problem. On other hand, Hunt (2016) opined that Department of Health in Australia has produced some results for dealing with the problem of binge drinking. However, the authorities are still unable to reduce solve this wicked problem from its root. As per Youth Central (2017), the physicians are still not trained enough towards providing effective therapies for resolving the issues. On the other hand, health care professional and physicians suggest the effected people to reduce alcohol consumption, but they do not suggest absolute strategies for supporting their suggestions. The physicians are also facing structural problems in dealing with the issues of binge drinking. It is quite difficult to arrange the proper size of the equipments for dealing with the issues of binge drinking in different people.
System thinking can provide new ways of dealing with problems of binge drinking, which can also be a new beginning for the health care professionals in dealing with the same. The system thinking approach has been extremely useful in dealing with several healthcare problems like mental health, cardiovascular disease and tobacco control (Kaiser & Smallwood 2014). System approach sees the wicked problems from broader perspective for finding out interconnection between different levels. In case of dealing with wicked problems under system approach, a small change in one element can make major impact on other elements. Likewise, in dealing with problem of binge drinking, the physicians should match the capacity with the complexity. Most of the physicians avoid discussions with the effected people, as they have less knowledge regarding the practices used for binge drinking problems and minimum resource.
The system approach suggests that the physicians require changing their approach in dealing with the binge drinking problems. Binge drinking is a quite complex problem and the physicians require wide information regarding the best practices in dealing with this problem. According to Gilson et al. (2014), the physicians need to counsel the addicted people in improved and effective manner for making them aware of the bad impact of excessive drinking. Furthermore, the physicians can minimize the complexities of binge drinking problem through focusing on the process instead of its outcome. Furthermore, the counselors should properly communicate with the addicted people, as they are often uninformed about the prevention techniques of excessive drinking. The physicians need to access the risks and study on the current behavior of the affected people. In this way, they can convince them for a change in the behavior of addicted people, set goals and assist them in combating against the barriers. The prime objective of system approach is creating an atmosphere, which fosters communication, feedback and improvement (Zoller 2015, p.4480). The health literacy team should take the responsibility of increasing awareness about the harmful effect of binge drinking in the minds of people in Australia.
The Foresight Group in Australia has adopted the system thinking approach towards dealing with the issues of binge drinking. The group has investigated several factors responsible for binge drinking based on scientific evidence. In the next step, the group has identified relationship between several factors and the impact of changing one value on others. The third step has assessed the future levels of binge drinking and its most effective responses (Foresightgroup.eu 2017). System thinking suggests that there is a need for integrated intervention among various levels of society including individuals, family, local, national and international level. The health care professionals and physicians should always focus on long-term behavioral changes in the addicted people of binge drinking. The physicians also evaluate the policies rather than simply implementing those policies.
Tripto, Assaraf and Amit (2013) pointed out that system thinking depicts that the entire responsibility of reducing alcohol consumption can be put on the shoulder of the drink addicted people. Furthermore, the families, communities, schools all should step ahead together for getting rid of the problems associated with binge drinking. The system approach would make informative surroundings, which would consider binge drinking as serious wicked problem rather than considering it a simple problem. In this way, system thinking can solve the issues of binge drinking through interconnecting various microscopic elements. Moreover, such system is mostly applied to those problems, which do not have any such definite solution.
System approach is extremely flexible and easy for working on the issues, when the boundaries of those issuers are clearly decided (Kang et al. 2017). Increasing aware for the harmful impact of binge drinking can reduce the excessive rate of alcohol consumption. This system would lead to enhanced communication of the health care professionals and physicians with the drinking addicted people of Australia. Hence, the professionals can better guide and advice the addicted people towards helping them out from the issues of binge drinking. Hence, system thinking can be the best option for developing solutions to the sustainable challenges of binge drinking.
Conclusion
While concluding the study, it can be said that system thinking is extremely useful in dealing with the sustainability challenges. The traditional methods of dealing with the issues of binge drinking are not working effectively. The health care professionals and physicians are not trained enough for providing right solution to the problems of binge drinking. Hence, these problems are growing in rapid pace. System thinking creates interlinks among different elements of the problems. In this way, such approach can make remedies on each element of the problem towards solving it from its root. The physicians and other health care professionals need to make effective communication with the drink addicted people. They should make the people aware about the harmful impact of such excessive drinking. Furthermore, the system approach also encourages the family, community and school towards making a collaborative effort in removing the issues of binge drinking. In this way, system thinking would be highly effective towards providing proper solution to the sustainable challenge of binge drinking.
Reference List
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