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Value system

Holism

A value system focused on coherence, interdependence, balance, long-term consequences and responsibility for the whole system.
#Value Systems#Synergy#Interdependence#Balance#System#Responsibility#Adaptation
How should this concept be understood?

Holism helps explain how important the whole picture, interconnectedness and care for broader consequences are for a person.

Application
In the Humanet model, this dimension helps identify to what extent a person or group thinks and acts systemically, integrating multiple levels of reality.
Context
This value system may strongly support functioning in complex environments where individual, relational, organisational, social and environmental levels all need to be considered together.
Note
High activity of Holism may limit adaptation when attention to the whole, to long-term process or to broad interdependencies weakens the ability to act quickly, decide clearly or solve a specific problem.

Holism sees the person, organisation and change as part of a larger whole.

In the Humanet model, Holism describes a perspective in which coherence, interdependence, balance between processes and responsibility for the whole system become especially important, rather than concern only for a single goal, person or decision.

What is Holism?

Holism is a value system focused on the functioning of the whole—relationships, structures, processes and long-term consequences. A person functioning from this perspective may especially value systems thinking, integration, balance and responsibility that goes beyond individual interests.

This system organises reality around coherence and interconnectedness. It supports the belief that effective action requires seeing how elements influence one another and what consequences decisions create for the wider system.

What does this dimension assess?

The Holism dimension shows to what extent a person builds understanding and effectiveness through systems awareness, long-term thinking and integration of many levels of reality.

  • the need to see the bigger picture and wider consequences,
  • attention to interdependence between people, structures and processes,
  • sensitivity to imbalance and hidden costs within a system,
  • the ability to integrate different perspectives into a more coherent whole,
  • responsibility that extends beyond one person or one short-term result,
  • preference for solutions that are sustainable and systemically sound.

How can Holism support functioning?

Holism may be a major resource wherever complex systems need to be understood and where decisions should account for multiple levels at once. It helps people connect individual, relational and structural factors instead of treating each issue in isolation.

In organisations, this system may strengthen strategic integration, more sustainable decisions, cross-functional thinking and sensitivity to the broader consequences of leadership or change processes.

When can Holism become limiting?

Holism may hinder adaptation when attention to the whole and to long-term interdependence becomes so strong that it slows action or makes it difficult to prioritise one concrete issue.

Risks include delayed decision-making, difficulty simplifying communication, or frustration in contexts that require quick action rather than broad systemic analysis.

Meaning in work with people and organisations

Holism helps explain why, for some people, change becomes meaningful only when it is seen as part of a wider system and not merely as an isolated intervention. They often look for coherence between people, strategy, structure and the long-term health of the whole.

In development and organisational work, it is important not to reduce Holism to abstraction. This system also brings maturity, responsibility for wider consequences and an ability to integrate multiple realities into more sustainable action.

Explore other concepts in the model

Return to the Humanet glossary and see how other concepts connect with values, change, and collaboration culture.

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