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The contribution of systems theory to sustainability in degrowth contexts: The role of subsystems
Author(s) -
PlazaÚbeda José Antonio,
PérezValls Miguel,
CéspedesLorente José Joaquín,
PayánSánchez Belén
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
systems research and behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 1092-7026
DOI - 10.1002/sres.2600
Subject(s) - degrowth , sustainability , natural (archaeology) , economics , economic system , industrial organization , social system , term (time) , neoclassical economics , business , ecology , computer science , biology , artificial intelligence , paleontology , physics , quantum mechanics
The earth and the natural world have physical limits. Thus, industries or firm systems operating on this planet have limits as well. Infinite growth is intrinsically impossible. Some firms have integrated these principles into their management methods while struggling to survive in a traditional competitive environment with short‐term economic constraints. This paper explores the managerial practices that help firm systems address these paradoxical tensions of being responsible for the environment and having a long‐term degrowth orientation while also successfully competing in traditional capitalistic markets. Using a social system approach, the paper applies functional differentiation focusing on the internal aspects of the management of the firm. The paper highlights that the role of each subsystem can be crucial for integrating the survival of the firm system and the natural system';; limits. Each subsystem has a potential effect on the natural system that can be analysed and managed in a specific way.