Systems Thinking in Museums

Theory and Practice

Edited by Yuha Jung, Ann Rowson Love

Publication date:

06 October 2017

Length of book:

266 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781442279230

Systems Thinking in Museums explores systems thinking and the practical implication of it using real-life museum examples to illuminate various entry points and stages of implementation and their challenges and opportunities. Its premise is that museums can be better off when they operate as open, dynamic, and learning systems as a whole as opposed to closed, stagnant, and status quo systems that are compartmentalized and hierarchical. This book also suggests ways to incorporate systems thinking based on reflective questions and steps with hopes to encourage museum professionals to employ systems thinking in their own museum. Few books explore theory in practice in meaningful and applicable ways; this book offers to unravel complex theories as applied in everyday practice through examples from national and international museums.

Foreword Marsha L. Semmel
Section 1: About Systems Thinking in Museums
Section 1 Introduction

Systems Thinking and Museum Ecosystem

Yuha Jung and Ann Rowson Love

Mapping the Museum Universe: A Systems Approach

Neville K. Vakharia
Section 2: Systems Thinking and Museum Functions
Section 2 Introduction

Dr. Seuss, Systems, and Digital Strategies: Making Sense of Systems Theory as an Emerging Museum Professional

Victoria Eudy

Paradigms, Visitor-Centered Museum Practices and Systems Thinking

Pat Villeneuve and Juyeon Song
Section 2 Take Action
Section 3: Systems Thinking in Management and Leadership
Section 3 Introduction

Intentional Practice: A Way of Thinking, a Way of Working

Randi Korn

Leadership in the Networked Museum: Systems Thinking at Museums Victoria

Patrick Greene, Paul Bowers, and Kathy Fox
Section 3 Take Action
Section 4: Systems Thinking in Personnel Management
Section 4 Introduction

Enterprise Risk Management and Talent Management as Vehicles for a Sustainable Museum

Amy Gilman and Lynn Miller

Planning for Cultural Relevance: A Systems Workshop at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

Douglas Worts
Section 4 Take Action
Section 5: Systems Thinking in Exhibitions and Programs
Section 5 Introduction

Managing Exhibit Development in a Fluid Environment

Caroline Angel Burke and Monica Parker-James

We Built an Island

Deborah Randolph and Cora Fisher
Section 5 Take Action
Section 6: Systems Thinking in External Communications
Section 6 Introduction

Behind Closed Doors: The Uses of Social Media in Museum Transformation and Development Projects

Jonathan Paquette and Robin Nelson

The Evaluation of Public Goods: Systems Thinking in the Case of Circuito Liberdade

Ana Flávia Machado, Diomira M. C. P. Faria, Sibelle C. Diniz, Bárbara F. Paglioto, Rodrigo C. Michel, and Gabriel Vaz de Melo
Section 6 Take Action
Section 7: Systems Thinking in Community Engagement
Section 7 Introduction

The Museum as a Catalyst of Social Development: Best Practices to Engage the Community

Guido Ferilli, Sendy Ghirardi, and Pier Luigi Sacco

Systems Thinking for Visitor-Centered, Community-Engaged Interpretive Planning

Swarupa Anila, Amy Hamilton Foley, and Nii Quarcoopome
Section 7 Take Action

Section 8: Systems Thinking in Fundraising and Financial Sustainability
Section 8 Introduction

The Application of Systems Thinking and Museum Sustainability

Susan Mann

Sustainable Fundraising in the 21st Century: Behind the Scenes of the Global Guggenheim Success

Natalia Grincheva
Section 8 Take Action
Section 9: Systems Thinking in Physical Spaces
Section 9 Introduction

A Third Eye or a Third Space? Systems Thinking and Rethinking Physical Museum Spaces

Ann Rowson Love and Morgan Szymanski

Participative Design Processes for Museums

Tom Duncan
Section 9 Take Action
Section 10: Becoming a Learning Museum through Systems Thinking
Section 10 Introduction

Using Systems Thinking in Teaching Museum Studies

K. F. Latham and John E. Simmons

Toward a Learning Museum and Systems Intelligence

Yuha Jung

Systems Thinking in Museums: Theory and Practice is the first volume to provide multiple, museum-grounded perspectives on this approach, and is, therefore, a much needed and valuable resource for museums that recognize that they are better off when they operate as open and dynamic learning systems as opposed to traditional, compartmentalized, and hierarchical organizations. Yuha Jung and Ann Rowson Love cover the waterfront with sections on systems theory and specific museum examples.