Dr Petia Venkova Sice

Petia Sice has a degree in Engineering  and MSc in Informatics from the Technical University, Sofia, Bulgaria. She completed a Master’s degree and a PhD in Systems Thinking and Chaos Theory for Understanding Human Enterprises at Sunderland University.

Her career started as a Lecturer at the Technical  University, Sofia, Bulgaria, followed by a research assistant  post at the European Process Industries Competitiveness Centre at Teesside.

Petia joined Northumbria University in 1998 as a Lecturer in Business Modelling at the Newcastle Business School, followed by a Senior lecturer position in Information Systems.

What are the sciences and traditions that contribute to the paradigm of oneness and how do they support the statement: ‘everything is connected to everything else’. The following perspectives are seen to relate to the paradigm of oneness:

• Autopoiesis (the theory of the living) developed by Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela, provides us with the understanding that our perceptions (i.e. our knowledge) is born in the continuum of our physical and social embodiment.
• Epigenetics (Bruce Lipton) and modern developments in consciousness research (Candace Pert) inform us that our perceptions impact on our biology. Inaccurate perceptions are destructive at the individual and at the social level.
• Chaos theory, non-linear dynamics and fractal mathematics,  question  the paradigm  of determinism and reductionism (Edward  Lorenz, Ilya Prigogine, Brian Arthur, Benoit  Mandelbrot)
• Quantum physics reveals that matter and energy are part of an indivisible whole and energy fields present everywhere are responsible for the organisation of matter (David Bohm).
• Insights of modern science relate to  ancient wisdom traditions (Fritjof Capra)
• Practices of heightened awareness and presence such as meditation, mindfulness, QiGong, allow for expansion and development of consciousness and new ways of perceiving and acting, based on oneness, acceptance and harmony (Jon-Kabat Zinn).

How do the above perspectives impact on our understanding and practices in human enterprises, and the development and use of information technologies?  How do we promote positive change and wellbeing?

Her research interests include:

• Interpreting  and applying insights from complexity theory for facilitating positive change and wellbeing for individuals and organisations, and their impact on developing theory and practice in the areas of personal mastery, leadership, team learning,  and the design and use of information technology.
• Exploring synergies between complexity theory and ancient wisdom traditions, and how these may inform a new paradigm of thinking and practice.
• The Impact of awareness development practices, i.e. mindfulness, transcendental meditation, QiGong, on personal mastery, leadership and organisational learning.
  

Currently supervising the following PhD research projects:

• Complexity, Consciousness and Leadership, PhD researcher Kushwanth Koya
• Quality of Local Interactions and their Impact on the Strategy Development Process, PhD researcher Sithuliziwe Mazwi
• Complexity and Public Policy, PhD researcher David Large
• Complexity and Community Engagement via ICT,  PhD researcher Karen George
• Information Behaviour in Organisations,  PhD researcher Osemeke Mosindi
• Technology Tea Dance, Using technology for Promoting Social Wellbeing at a Later Age, PhD researcher, Sarah McDonnell
• The Impact of Mindfulness on Socially responsible Co-design, PhD researcher Pratik Vyas
• Quality of Interactions in Virtual Communities, PhD researcher Prasanna Thapa

• Niu M., Sice P., French I., Mosekilde E. (2011): Chapter 3. Application of Dynamic Analysis of a centralised Supply Chain, in Supply Chain Optimization, Management and Integration: Emerging Applications, ed. John Wang, pp.33-53, Business Science Reference, New York.
• Brown J., Sice P. (2011): Towards a Second Order Research Methodology, Chapter in Leading Issues in Business Research Methods, Academic Publishing, Ed. Bryant Tony, Academic Publishing, 2011. Pp. 1-21.
• Mosindi O., Sice P. (2011): An Exploratory Theoretical Framework for Understanding Information Behaviour, International Journal of Technology and Human Interaction, 7(2), 1-8, April-June 2011.
• Sice P., Mosekilde E., French I. (2008): Systems Language and Organisational Discourse: The Contribution of Generative Dialogue,  International Journal of Philosophy of Management,  Vol. 6, No 3, pp 53-63.
• Small A., Sice P., Venus T.(2008): A Framework for Promoting Learning in ICT Development and Implementation Volume 15, issue 1, 2008, The International Journal of the Learning Organization.
• Sice P., French  I., (2006): A Holistic Frame of Reference for Modelling Social Systems, Kybernetes, ISSN 0368-492X , Vol 35, No 5-10.
• Sice P., French I., (2004): Understanding Humans and Organisations    
      – Philosophical Implications of Autopoiesis, Journal of Philosophy of   Management, Special Issue on Organisation and Decision  Processes, Vol 4 No 1, 2004, pp 55-66.
  

Private Sector:

• Rickter Scale Ltd.
• Heineken Ltd.
• Draeger Safety UK
  

Public Sector:

• Gateshead City Council, Wellbeing at work
• Newcastle City Council, Wellbeing at work
  

Third Sector:

• Newcastle Club for Young People
• MIND North Tyneside
• Transcendental  Meditation North

Universities and Education bodies:

• Northumbria University:  School of Design, Centre for Positive Living; School of  Life Sciences; School of Built and Natural Environment; School of Health, Community and Education Studies
• Cambridge University, Manufacturing Leaders Programme
• Lancaster University, Complexity and Policy
• Danish Technical University,  Non Linear Dynamics
• The Shen Foundation, the Dao of Balance and Harmony
• The Ehama Institute, New Mexico, Wisdom Processes
• The Berkana Institute, USA, Complexity and Leadership
• Schumacher Institute, UK, Sustainability
• London School of Economics, Complexity and Leadership