La pensée complexe comme atout pour les leaders de démarches territoriales de développement durable au Québec
The proliferation of reports and discussions surrounding the 2015 Paris Climate Summit illustrates the complexity of current global issues. In fact, the environmental challenge we face acutely raises the question of the ability of our leaders to cope with their responsibility. This research aim at evaluating whether the leaders involved in sustainable development initiative who implement Morin’s Complex Thought Method are better able to appreciate the many dimensions inherent in these processes. The Complex Thought Method (Morin, 2008) claims to offer a paradigmatic approach that facilitates fair and sensible apprehension of reality.  This study compares twenty-five people located in Quebec who are leaders of sustainable development program based on territorial approaches. The results support Morin’s assertion: Complex Thought is an asset to grasp reality more completely. Indeed, a strong correlation occur between, the degree of control of Complex Thought by leaders and their ability to consider the six dimensions of an integrated comprehensive territorial approach to sustainable development. This being said, few leaders master the art of Complex Thought Strategies and the sustainable development initiatives are generally far from ideal. These findings build on the recent research linking post conventional consciousness level to better sustainable development projects (Boiral and al., 2013). This argues in favor of upgrading leadership development programs to stimulate better Complex Thought and post consciousness stage in benefice of our collective future.
Leadership Anthropology Complex Thought Method Cognitive complexity Environmental Leadership Sustainability Sustainable development Consciousness development Post conventional stages