Holocentric
Encyclopedia
Holocentric is a philosophical position which focuses on solutions as the outcome of human activity and on critical learning.
One of the four fundamental worldview types proposed by Richard Bawden in 1997, the other three being Technocentric, Ecocentric, and Egocentric.
Drawing on ideas introduced by Burrell and Morgan and Miller, Bawden developed the notion of a worldview matrix
in which the four viewpoints represent the basic philosophical positions of members in a community of interest considering an ontological dimension (with holism
and reductionism
along the x axis) and an epistemological dimension (with objectivism
and relativism
along the y axis).
The so called, Miller / Bawden Quadrants can be utilized as a framework to assist in the collaborative dialog of any cooperative endeavor and the positioning of the holocentric quadrant at the intersection of holism and relativism distinguishes it uniquely as a view which accommodates both the complex and often non-specific interactions that lie at the heart of any social group.
In a community’s response to threats and opportunities
, the formulation of strategy
will typically evolve through a dialog between stakeholder members holding different viewpoints. In a holocentric approach, the resulting strategy will include holistic characteristics in that the solution will reflect the constituent positions within the community with the addition of the creative tension that is contributed through the negotiation process. Through the dialog process, emergent properties arise in the strategy due to the interplay between the various stakeholder viewpoints.
In order to improve the effectiveness of a community’s responses, consideration must be given to techniques which can deal with complex systems and the advancement of critical thinking skills. Such techniques often employ aspects of systems thinking
to help community members better appreciate and deal with the complex interdependencies and conflicts that arise between stakeholder views.
Interestingly, as the community becomes more effective in the process of dialog, it may become more self-aware
, and this ‘systemic’ heightening of awareness may lead to additional emergent properties which in turn may further increase the overall level of understanding and quality of the community response.
Within a cooperative community, the catalysts for the emergent understanding are the insights gained through inspirational learning and the abstract concepts learned through experiential learning
.
Educational approaches aimed at managing the critical learning process through the application of the Miller / Bawden Quadrants have been used in a number of different domains, most commonly those in which a wide variety of stakeholders are forced to formulate strategies dealing with limited natural resources. In this environment, agreement amongst sufficiently powerful stakeholders in any community will inevitably involve negotiated trade-offs, for example between productivity, equity, sustainability and stability.
One of the four fundamental worldview types proposed by Richard Bawden in 1997, the other three being Technocentric, Ecocentric, and Egocentric.
Drawing on ideas introduced by Burrell and Morgan and Miller, Bawden developed the notion of a worldview matrix
Matrix (mathematics)
In mathematics, a matrix is a rectangular array of numbers, symbols, or expressions. The individual items in a matrix are called its elements or entries. An example of a matrix with six elements isMatrices of the same size can be added or subtracted element by element...
in which the four viewpoints represent the basic philosophical positions of members in a community of interest considering an ontological dimension (with holism
Holism
Holism is the idea that all the properties of a given system cannot be determined or explained by its component parts alone...
and reductionism
Reductionism
Reductionism can mean either an approach to understanding the nature of complex things by reducing them to the interactions of their parts, or to simpler or more fundamental things or a philosophical position that a complex system is nothing but the sum of its parts, and that an account of it can...
along the x axis) and an epistemological dimension (with objectivism
Objectivity (philosophy)
Objectivity is a central philosophical concept which has been variously defined by sources. A proposition is generally considered to be objectively true when its truth conditions are met and are "mind-independent"—that is, not met by the judgment of a conscious entity or subject.- Objectivism...
and relativism
Relativism
Relativism is the concept that points of view have no absolute truth or validity, having only relative, subjective value according to differences in perception and consideration....
along the y axis).
The so called, Miller / Bawden Quadrants can be utilized as a framework to assist in the collaborative dialog of any cooperative endeavor and the positioning of the holocentric quadrant at the intersection of holism and relativism distinguishes it uniquely as a view which accommodates both the complex and often non-specific interactions that lie at the heart of any social group.
In a community’s response to threats and opportunities
SWOT analysis
SWOT analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses/Limitations, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture...
, the formulation of strategy
Strategy
Strategy, a word of military origin, refers to a plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. In military usage strategy is distinct from tactics, which are concerned with the conduct of an engagement, while strategy is concerned with how different engagements are linked...
will typically evolve through a dialog between stakeholder members holding different viewpoints. In a holocentric approach, the resulting strategy will include holistic characteristics in that the solution will reflect the constituent positions within the community with the addition of the creative tension that is contributed through the negotiation process. Through the dialog process, emergent properties arise in the strategy due to the interplay between the various stakeholder viewpoints.
In order to improve the effectiveness of a community’s responses, consideration must be given to techniques which can deal with complex systems and the advancement of critical thinking skills. Such techniques often employ aspects of systems thinking
Systems thinking
Systems thinking is the process of understanding how things influence one another within a whole. In nature, systems thinking examples include ecosystems in which various elements such as air, water, movement, plants, and animals work together to survive or perish...
to help community members better appreciate and deal with the complex interdependencies and conflicts that arise between stakeholder views.
Interestingly, as the community becomes more effective in the process of dialog, it may become more self-aware
Self-awareness
Self-awareness is the capacity for introspection and the ability to reconcile oneself as an individual separate from the environment and other individuals...
, and this ‘systemic’ heightening of awareness may lead to additional emergent properties which in turn may further increase the overall level of understanding and quality of the community response.
Within a cooperative community, the catalysts for the emergent understanding are the insights gained through inspirational learning and the abstract concepts learned through experiential learning
Experiential education
Experiential education is a philosophy of education that describes the process that occurs between a teacher and student that infuses direct experience with the learning environment and content. The term is mistakenly used interchangeably with experiential learning...
.
Educational approaches aimed at managing the critical learning process through the application of the Miller / Bawden Quadrants have been used in a number of different domains, most commonly those in which a wide variety of stakeholders are forced to formulate strategies dealing with limited natural resources. In this environment, agreement amongst sufficiently powerful stakeholders in any community will inevitably involve negotiated trade-offs, for example between productivity, equity, sustainability and stability.
Further reading
- Bawden, R.J. (1992) “Systems Approaches to Agricultural Development: The Hawkesbury Experience” Agricultural Systems 40: 153-176
- Bawden, R.J. and Packham, R.G. (1993) “Systemic Praxis in the Education of the Agricultural Practitioner” Systems Practice 6 : 7-19
- Bawden, R.J., Macadam, R.M., Packham, R.G., and Valentine, I (1984) “Systems Thinking and Practices in the Education of Agriculturalists” Agricultural Systems 13: 205-225.
External links
- Property Management Planning Forum – Proceedings, March 31, 1999 How do we include a 'systemic approach' to Property Management Planning?
- D.P. Larson, Portland, OR: North Pacific Publishers, 1982, “The Neglected Facts of Science” A Review by Henry A. Hoff
- Toward An Environmental Ethic in Southeast Asia. Edited by Peter Gyallay-Pap and Ruth Bottomley. Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia: The Buddhist Institute, 1998 A Review by Donald K. Swearer
- Niels Röling Paper for INTERNATIONAL LEARNING WORKSHOP ON FARMER FIELD SCHOOLS (FFS): EMERGING ISSUES AND CHALLENGES,21–25 October 2002, Yogyakarta, Indonesia ISSUES AND CHALLENGES FOR FFS: An Introductory Overview