Factors Affecting the Effectiveness of Scientific Elites in Society: A Systems Thinking Approach

Document Type : Research Article

Author

• Mitra Moubed

Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran.

10.22067/jstinp.2024.87163.1095

Abstract

Elites, a distinct group by a privileged status, must positively impact their society. In developed countries, they can be found to contribute to improvements at national and global levels and cause more value added in different areas. However, in countries with a low elite quality rating, they cannot influence society as much and usually tend to immigrate from the country. This paper uses a systems thinking approach to model the influences and effectiveness of elites in society and the main parameters that can improve them. The whole system in this paper consists of the family system, education system (school and university), and society. The study shows how elites can influence society through causal maps and causal loop diagrams. In the following, the MICMAC technique is used to find the most important and influencing variables and categorize them into three main groups: The determinant variables are mostly influencing than dependence, for example, invention and innovation. Dependency on factors, including elites' drive for work, is more dependent than influencing. The autonomous variables have low influence and low dependence. The whole model’s variables diagram shows the system as a stable,  meaning its results can be predicted accurately with a degree of assurance.

Keywords

• Elite
• Effectiveness
• Influence
• Systems thinking
• System dynamics
• MICMAC

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