This month’s contribution is from Dr Rajneesh Chowdhury. Dr Chowdhury’s research brings together a body of work to make a case for Critical Systems Thinking (CST) as a state of mind through the conceptual support of what has been called Holistic Flexibility for systems consultants. Holistic Flexibility refers to the dynamic interplay between a state of mind that has the ability to absorb systemic complexity, and a state of intervention that has the ability to embrace flexibility both in intent and in form. Several enhanced people and business metrics have been reported in the ‘client’ organisations/situations in the case-studies considered in this research. Holistic Flexibility opens a new array of thinking and praxis in systems science. The ideas proposed can be explored beyond systems consultancy for general management.

Dr Chowdhury is a management researcher and consultant with focus on organization development, social impact and corporate reputation. He applies systems thinking in human-centred design and change management. His book ’Systems Thinking for Management Consultants: introducing holistic flexibility’, was published by Springer in 2019. After completing his M.A. in sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University (India), Rajneesh has completed his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in systems thinking for management from the University of Hull Business School (UK).