Avoiding apocalypse: clarity and collaboration

ABSTRACT The world faces grave problems stemming from environmental issues, but apocalyptic disaster is not inevitable. The problems arise primarily from human failure to understand the issues and act collectively to deal with them. Any solution must therefore address human factors. This paper considers two: a lack of clarity in thought, aims and action, and the destructive nature of unconstrained conflict at all levels, particularly between groups of all sizes. The first can be helped by the discipline of systems engineering which aims to achieve clarity in complex situations, and the second can use the clarity of understanding to help groups interact while having an attitude of both collaboration and competition. Means of achieving clarity are discussed. Examples demonstrate how clarity has cut through difficult problems and also, in some detail, how, in a major project management situation, a clear-thinking approach brought normally competing groups to work together in such a way that they had to simultaneously collaborate and compete to the delight of the clients and the mutual benefit of all. It can be done and catastrophe avoided.