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Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management

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05-04-2021 | Original Research

Kerala’s Innovations and Flexibility for Covid-19 Recovery: Storytelling using Systems Thinking

Author: Arun A. Elias

Published in: Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management | Special Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

During the early five months of the first phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, the South Indian state of Kerala regularly appeared in world media, presenting an impactful case of Covid-19 innovations. The purpose of this article is to uniquely present Kerala’s success of flattening the Covid-19 curve during that period, employing storytelling using systems thinking. Contributing to the literature stream linking flexible systems management and systems thinking, this study presents the interconnected whole of Kerala’s Covid-19 innovations for pandemic management. The reference mode that was developed using the systems thinking and modelling methodology confirmed Kerala’s exemplary performance in flattening the Covid-19 curve during the first five months of 2020. The systems model built showed six feedback loops explaining how Covid-19 spreading was controlled in Kerala by different types of innovations and an effective public health system. Overall, with a strong inbuilt social fabric, experienced leadership that withered Nipah-virus outbreak, and robust public health system at its advantage, Kerala flattened the Covid-19 curve using its intertwined social, policing, communication and technological innovations.

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Title: Kerala’s Innovations and Flexibility for Covid-19 Recovery: Storytelling using Systems Thinking
Author: Arun A. Elias
Publication date: 05-04-2021
Publisher: Springer India
Published in: Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management / Issue Special Issue 1/2021
Print ISSN: 0972-2696
Electronic ISSN: 0974-0198
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40171-021-00268-8

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