Who Is EcoThought

EcoThought is an Australian owned company that specialises in the analysis, design and implementation of sustainable human systems based on the integration of technology to meet human needs and the creation of environments which are sustainable not only in terms of their environmental impact, but also in terms of their ability to sustain comfortable human life. Underlying our work is an understanding that human systems are complex in nature and that simplistic, narrowly focused anlysis does not always yield a holistic understanding of the problems under consideration or the result in the development of sustainable solutions.

Analysis must also understand the problem through multiple viewpoints. As shown in the diagram below, the ongoing development of any sustainable human enterprise must be considered in terms of people, process, technology and environment.

EcoThought uses a range of analytical tools to develop an understanding of the problem under consideration, enterprise engineering and systems mapping tools to create visual viewpoints on the problem and project management tools that ensure appropriate solutions are implemented as efficiently as possible.

Our methodologies and tools have been developed and refined over a period of  25 years developing specialist systems for Defence, Police, Emergency Services, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.  We have extensive experience in the design and implementation of communication and information systems, which are the core of any sustainable human system.

In addition we have undertaken extensive research on the concepts of sustainable sustainability and used these principles in the design of several domestic environments, the latest of which is Ethalia Farm, a small holder olive farm outside Portland in SW Victoria, which is being redeveloped based on principles of sustainablity.

Underlying Philosophy

The development of the human enterprise has been an ongoing process of coupling technology and process to shape and respond to the environment in which we live and work. In undertaking this process, the human enterprise has been punctuated by errors and poorly understood decisions. However, Homo Sapien Sapien has an innate capacity to learn from its mistakes, to step back and to rethink solutions to the problems of human existence. Systems thinking provides a method for stepping back and considering not only the lessons from the past but the aspirations of the future in order to develop more sustainable solutions to the complex challenges which we face into the future.

Central to our work is a broad understanding of the concepts of sustainability. Sustainability needs to be understood through three lenses:

1. Sustainability in terms of the natural environment;
2. Sustainability in terms of human health and performance; and
3. Sustainability in terms of the human enterprise (including economic sustainability).

EcoThought works closely with its clients to develop broad systems level understanding of the opportunities and challenges that the client enterprise faces and develop views and frameworks which enhance the development of the enterprise in terms of all three aspects of sustainability. We use visual mind mapping tools to enhance systems level understanding of the challenges and opportunities and visualisation methods such as enterprise architecture to capture and display the aspirations and vision of the enterprise.

Having expressed the vision we then work with our clients to harness the wealth of global information resources including subject matter specialists in a range of fields to identify appropriate technologies and processes to achieve the vision. These solutions may come from anywhere along the continuum of human development. EcoThought's methodologies and tools will assist your enterprise to frame solutions which address all three elements of sustainability in the ongoing development of the human enterprise.

We would be keen to discuss with you how we can assist your part of the human enterprise.