System Thinking in the Age of Complexity: A Practical Urban Problem-Solving Framework

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Iman Ghalandarian ¹
• Zahra Sadat Faghih ²

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Urbanism, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

² Department of Urbanism, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

10.22067/jstinp.2025.92673.1146

Abstract

Urban environments are becoming more complicated, so urban planning needs new and creative ways to tackle problems. This study explores a detailed framework to address these challenges by combining different problem-solving techniques across three key stages: identifying the problem (What), analysing the problem (Why), and developing solutions (How). The research extracts tools like SWOT analysis, Fishbone diagrams, World café, and Causal loop diagrams, and also evaluates the effectiveness of their usage while using a mix of methods, including questionnaires with urban planning students and real-world case studies. The findings emphasize the value of qualitative and quantitative techniques to encourage collaboration and better decision-making. For example, tools like Discovery & action dialogue (DAD) help create inclusive engagement, while data-driven approaches like GIS mapping provide actionable insights. The study also highlights patterns in how these techniques perform at different stages. The proposed framework addresses a wide range of challenges, from simple to complex, such as ill-defined, ethical, and wicked problems. It shows the importance of adaptability and learning through iteration. This research offers a comprehensive, structured, and integrative framework for urban settings. This framework is designed to help urban practitioners, policymakers, and educators navigate the complexities of urban systems while improving decision-making, and it can adapt to different contexts..

Keywords

• Urban Problem-Solving
• Problem-Solving Techniques
• System Thinking
• Case Analysis
• Integrated Methodology

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