- 300 - I . Embeddedness of Systems

The purpose of this paper is to generate a wider acceptance of emergy analysis a decisionmaking tool in both the public and private sectors. The key to increasing the application of this powerful tool is to link it to productivity. Much of business and public policy decision-making is based on productivity and related efficiency measures. The productivity measures in common use today are narrow and non-systemic and often lead to decisions that are sub-optimal at best and destructive of real productivity at worst. There are many economic practitioners who have observed and recognized the need for economic measures that are more comprehensive and more systemic. The thesis of this paper is that these insights from economic practitioners are conceptually close to energy systems theory but lack the unifying principles of energy systems theory needed to make them operational. By making the mindset of these selected economic practitioners explicit, we see more clearly how compatible their ideas are with energy systems theory, and empower these practitioners to utilize the power of energy systems theory and associated emergy analysis tool to provide the decision making information needed to improve the practice of business strategy and community economic development.