Abstract
Groups of all kinds are complex organisations. To understand them and to facilitate them in process terms is a matter of rich and diverse discourse in varied fields from sustainable development to coastal ecology; from bandwidth in rural communities to health service provision. How to allow groups to discourse, problem solve and review their own issues and concerns? Diagrams in general and rich pictures in particular can be great means to allow groups to explore their subconscious, their occult sentiments and conflicted understandings. This paper explores and explains diverse use of pictures and shows how they can be applied and understood in group processes of all kinds.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barrett T (1994) Criticizing art: understanding the contemporary. Mayfield Publishing Company, Mountain View
Bell S, Morse S (2007) Story telling in sustainable development projects. Sustain Dev 15(2):97–110
Bell S, Morse S (2010) Rich pictures: a means to explore the ‘Sustainable Mind’? Sustain Dev. doi:10.1002/sd.497
Bell S, Morse S (2012) Resilient participation: saving the human project? Earthscan, London
Buzan T (1992) Use your head. BBC Publications, London
Carney JD (1994) A historical theory of art criticism. J Aesthet Educ 28(1):13–29
Checkland P (1972) Towards a systems based methodology for real-world problem solving. J Syst Eng 3(2):87–116
Checkland P (1975) The development of systems thinking by systems practice—a methodology from an action research program. Prog Cybern Syst Res 2:278–283
Checkland PB (1981) Systems thinking, systems practice. Wiley, Chichester
Checkland PB, Scholes J (1990) Soft systems methodology in action. Wiley, Chichester
Churchman CW (1979) The systems approach: revised and updated. Dell Publishing Co. Inc., New York
Clements RD (1979) The inductive method of teaching visual art criticism. J Aesthet Educ 13(3):67–78
Fathulla K (2008) Understanding diagrams: a pointer to the development of diagramming software. Visible Lang 42(3):265–284
Hungerland H (1947) Suggestions for procedure in art criticism. J Aesthet Art Crit 5(3):189–195
Lankford EL (1984) A phenomenological methodology for art criticism. Stud Art Educ 25(3):151–158
Lewis PJ (1992) Rich picture building in the soft systems methodology. Eur J Inf Syst 1(5):351–360
Marguiles N, Maal N (2002) Mapping inner space. Corwin Press, Thousand Oaks
McCloud S (1993) Understanding comics: the invisible art. Harper Collins Books, New York
Munro T (1928) Scientific method in æsthetics. W. W. Norton & Company Inc., New York
Open University (1987) T301—Complexity Management and Change: a systems approach. Open University Systems Group. The Open University Press, Milton Keynes
Open University (1997) Management information systems T843. Open University, Milton Keynes
Open University (2000a) T306 managing complexity: a systems approach. Open University, Milton Keynes
Open University (2000b) T552: systems thinking and practice: diagramming. Open University, Milton Keynes
Phaal R, Farrukh C, Probert D (2009) Visualising strategy: a classification of graphical roadmap forms. Int J Technol Manage 47(4):286–305
Van Meel-Jansen A (2006) The magical number five in art appreciation. Empir Stud Arts 24(1):107–118
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bell, S., Morse, S. How People Use Rich Pictures to Help Them Think and Act. Syst Pract Action Res 26, 331–348 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-012-9236-x
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-012-9236-x