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Dewey urges that reflection take place ad infinitum. He believes one can never be certain
of the 'truth' and therefore should continually search in an attempt to invalidate an idea.
Each time the reflection supports the belief, it is strengthened, but reflection should
never stop.
Self-organisation should also be perceived as a continual process. The systems thinking
literature (e.g. Checkland, 1981) highlights the importance of flexibility within a system.
Reflection supports self-organising systems' flexibility by not imposing time in the ac-
tual process of analysis and pattern formation. In a self-organising system, the flexibility
of actors to adjust to the environment and anticipate problems and their solutions can
only be possible by reflecting:
1. before the construction of actions takes place (i.e. prior problem recognition and
awareness);
2. while the actions are taking place (i.e. during emergence of order); and
3. after actions have impacted the environment and system (i.e. learning from actions).
Actors should be able to benefit from reflecting at different times. A continuous reflecting
process would guarantee the argumentation and negotiation required among actors for
self-organisation to emerge. It supports the creativity needed for problem solving and
helps the understanding of the underlying assumptions in complex environments. Re-
flection leaves actors in the position of reading the environment at any time and able to
record and retrieve information and knowledge to address the ongoing requirements of
the system. This type of flexibility, as described by Checkland (1981), results in the ef-
fectiveness, efficiency and efficacy of the system. Furthermore, it can support the reor-
ganisation of systems while new patterns evolve. Success for a range of soft systems
applications, issues such as complexity, variables and long-term system monitoring, are
therefore addressed by the reflection rooted in self-organising systems.
Conclusion
To reiterate our argument in this paper: we suggest that a continuous reflection process
is critical for successful problem solving and knowledge creation on individual, group
or cluster and organisational levels in self-organised systems. An iterative reflection
process allows patterns created by some individuals to attract other individuals, resulting
in emergent forms that are based on a common interest. Self-organisation in human
systems requires pre-existing freedom in ideas, thoughts, beliefs and actions that allows
equilibrium: the system incorporates the negative and positive feedback relations that
balance any fluctuations. This equilibrium results in multifunctionality, versatility and
flexibility that allow the system to adapt.
A self-organising system is self-contained - it emerges as an integrated flow where actors
and their collective behaviours and ideals are formed into organisational patterns and
structures without any influence imposed from external sources. For this to happen,
reflection within the system needs to continue but the system also needs to reflect on
the state of the environment in order to be able to adapt to necessary changes. The capa-
city for adaptation is enhanced by the reflection process - in a self-organised system all
the necessary information is available, the actor reflects on this information and is in a
position to select that required for problem solution.
Within this process, communication channels support the flow of information. The ease
of information flow is one of a self-organising system's characteristics and consequently
it is necessary that the needed channels are available so that the most appropriate medium
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