HDX team5 Iceburg model

Iceberg Model

File:Iceberg Model of System.png

Iceberg model of system. Thinking in systems allows us to uncover the root cause of out problems, allowing for more fundamental and transformative solutions to be visible.

Event

What is happening?

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Bali, the reliance on tourism for income collapsed. The local community residents started to lose jobs, income and even ability to get enough food since Bali imports most of its food supply from outside Bali.

React

What can be done to deal with it?

To rethink the way of work and the way towards self-reliance and sustainability for food, jobs and security.

Patterns and trends

What can we find if we look over time and space?

Bali is a tourist paradise and the pillar for social wellness is dependent on tourism as the key engine and driver—from hotels, F&B, merchandise, tourist experience and entertainment, spas and lifestyle services, transportation etc, and the local workforce is heavily involved in supporting the tourist industry in Bali. Food supply is mainly from Java and beyond. Farmers do not farm for self-sustainability. Over time, the work skills and competencies are biased towards service-oriented careers but not in agricultural or any intrinsic productivity using local and sustainable resources. It then makes Bali vulnerable if tourists stop visiting and the economy will feel the domino effect of collapsing or disintegrating especially when there is reduced or no more income to support purchase power for food and other essential supplies from outside Bali.

Reframe

What can be done to anticipate it?

To rethink how to construct a more resilient economy and social infrastructure and relevant skills as producers and creators of products and goods instead of being consumers or servicing tourists using goods and products imported to Bali. Thus reducing dependence on outside good will or external economy drivers that dictate Balinese livelihood.

System structure

How are the parts related? What influences the patterns?

With regards to food security and related skills and jobs, the farmers, the logistic support, the markets, the sellers, the customers, the consumers, the demand and supply chain players form inter-related parts and stakeholders influencing one another in the system of Pasar Rakyat.

Mental model

What assumptions, values and beliefs shape the system?

The Balinese may have a belief or made assumptions that the tourism industry will return soon so they still hope to continue their economy relying on revenue derived from foreign visitors spending. Over the past decades or even century, they have been focusing so much on serving foreign tourists and enjoying foreign income that they have excelled in hospitality, F&B, and other lifestyle services including art & culture products. They let their food security needs be sustained by importing as much as 80% of food produce from outside Bali. Not many residences are skilled farmers as farming and related activities is not a major industry in Bali. Of the existing farming community, they may have the habit of “continuation of our tradition”. They feel that their way of lives has been taught by their parents. So they continue to plant as in the past when the world has already changed towards using technology, sustainability, and green agriculture revolution.

Redesign

What can be done to prevent it?

The stakeholders should be integrated and come to a consensus to work together to emerge a food security resilience which can create or spin off many jobs and skills independent of tourists’ arrival. Being more self-reliant also help minimise the risk of having to pay high price for imported food when supplies become scarce. Being self-sufficient can also reduce the impact of a pandemic which tend to paralyse the supply and demand chain operation. Generating more proactive type of jobs instead of holding on to tourist-service type of jobs will also help increase household income. With enough food and revenue for each family, Balinese can become more resilient towards happiness.

Rethink

How they might change themselves to transform the system?

They need to learn sustainable farming to feed themselves and not continue to import more than 80% food supply from outside Bali. They can learn new farming techniques and be more productive to supply their own food demand and later they can even export food produced from Bali. Hence learning to redesign mindset and farming practices is fundamental for Pasar Rakyat to be impactful.