Guide to the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development
2008
The purpose of the master’s programme “Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability” at the Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden is to develop a network of leaders capable of leading society towards sustainability. To do this, we embrace a ‘whole- system perspective’ and an approach that deals with complexity without reductionism.
A Generic Five Level Framework (5LF) has been introduced as a supporting conceptual model. The generic 5LF can be used for planning in any complex system.
When applying the generic 5LF to the system “Society in the Biopshere”, we refer to it as the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD). Competence in using it for sustainable development comes with experience. This is simulated, to the greatest degree possible, by the projects and coursework during the Master’s programme. The thesis, for example, provides an opportunity for students to gain direct experience applying the FSSD. In addition, competence in using the FSSD is further developed via concrete work with clients/partners afterwards. The intent of this guide is to provide clarification of the basics and some subtleties of the generic 5LF, the FSSD and their applications.
This guide is the result of a dialogue on applications of the generic 5LF and the FSSD during the 2005/6, 2006/7 and 2007/08 academic years. It is not intended as an introduction but rather assumes previous knowledge. See, in particular, Robèrt et al. 2007, Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability.
The guide is organized as follows:
Section 2.0 – Introduces the Generic Five Level Framework (5LF) and describes how it can be used for planning in any complex system.
Section 3.0 – Introduces the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD).
Section 3.1 – Discusses the application of the FSSD for planning
Section 3.2 – Discusses the application of the FSSD for assessing and designing tools, concepts and initiatives with respect to its utility to support a shift towards sustainability
Section 4.0 – Provides reflections and guiding comments.