The term holistic thinking refers to a “big picture” mentality in which a person recognizes the interconnectedness of various elements that form larger systems, patterns and objects. In the case of AM, a practitioner thinking holistically would take a long-term, life cycle, service-focused view incorporating risk, sustainability, the diverse perspectives of all stakeholders, and the community and organizational contexts involved. This would include system and network interdependencies and interactions, and interdepartmental relations.
Effective Behaviours:
- Conceptualizes problems from different viewpoints. Combines distinct concepts to form a cohesive understanding. Takes a broad view of potential solutions and integrates solution approaches. Evaluates solutions from a fundamentals and constraints perspective to mitigate bias and organizational inertia. Assesses options probabilistically and systematically, considering direct and indirect impacts at multiple scales and to multiple dimensions of the community context.
- Focuses on systems and processes when problem solving, especially those required to deliver effective, reliable, resilient, and sustainable services. Continually assesses and appropriately applies an understanding of the interconnections and interdependencies between assets, asset systems, facilities, other assets, and the environment to solution identification and planning. Acknowledges that natural assets provide core services and applies this knowledge in planning and decision-making. Analyzes how connections and relationships, both internal and external, interact with and influence each other. Looks for root causes, instabilities and resiliency.
- Aligns community context, organizational vision, values, and goals, AM strategies and plans, and levels of service. Takes a long-term, life cycle view. Focuses on the achievement of long-term, sustainable service delivery of a community’s needs by using an AM framework. Incorporates an understanding of the underlying needs and desires of citizens, and their relative importance to each other, and uses the results to develop strategies to improve alignment with organizational and AM values, and levels of service. Utilizes integrated planning practices.
