A Systemic Approach to Understand Smartphone Usage in Singapore

Interactions with smartphones, which have become more than just communication devices, have wide‐reaching consequences on the social harmony of the system in which people, organizations and natural environment co‐exist. This study employs a ‘systems thinking’ approach and uses associated systems tools [causal loop diagrams, systems archetypes and the Bayesian belief network (BBN) modelling] to examine the issue of social dysfunctions resulting from compulsive smartphone use in Singapore. A causal loop diagram was created to map out the interconnected variables within the system, showing many variables relating to the usage of smartphones. Amongst five identified systems archetypes, the ‘eroding goals’ systems archetype was considered to be the most effective leverage point in the system. The results from a BBN model suggested that small changes made within a family unit to improve on the quality of time spent together could afford benefits to the overall system. The proposed management objective of improving quality of time spent as a family can be utilized by individuals who are determined and willing to reduce social dysfunction in the social environment of which they are a part of. This research encourages business managers and decision‐makers to use a systems perspective to look at issues they need to manage, in terms of the issues' relation to other systems components. A shift towards the systems perspective of viewing issues integrates diverse but complementary decision‐making and problem‐solving methods, in order to find sustainable solutions that afford system‐wide benefits. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.