International Society for the Systems Sciences: Journals ISSS
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Systems Thinking in an Age of Complexity
No full textThe world has become increasingly networked and unpredictable. Decision-makers at all levels are required to manage the consequences of complexity every day. Simple solutions to complex issues are usually inadequate and risk exacerbating the very problems they are designed to solve. Leaders of international bodies such as the UN, OECD, UNESCO and WHO – and of major business, public sector, charitable, and professional organizations – have all declared systems thinking an essential leadership skill for managing the complexity of the economic, social and environmental issues they face.This presentation explains the need for a systems approach and charts the development of systems thinking as it has sought to come to terms with different aspects of complexity. It shows how different systems approaches have to be used in informed combinations to manage the interconnected problems that decision-makers currently face – an approach known as ‘critical systems thinking’
THE STRUCTURE OF REALITY: AN EMERGENT HIERARCHY OF AUTONOMOUS LEVELS?
No full textThis paper starts with a question: is the structure of reality a hierarchy of autonomous levels emerging from the increasing complexity of matter through evolution? I will critique this deeply held conviction in the field of systems science, and I will argue that a different world-image is possible. Indeed, I will suggest that my alternative world-image is a more accurate depiction of the structure of the universe. My argument will be unfolded in four parts. First, I will claim that the forerunners of the idea of emergent levels can be found in the British emergentist movement of the 1920s (Alexander 1920; Morgan 1923). Second, I will argue that the idea of hierarchical levels first enterer the biological world in the early 1930s (via the work of von Bertalanffy 1928 [1933]) and was later in the 1950s extended to the rest of the cosmos (Bertalanffy 1949 [1953]; Boulding 1956). Third, that the ideas of a ‘hierarchical order’ and ‘general systemology’ could have been suggested to Bertalanffy by Hartmann’s early “theory of categories” (1923, 1926). Fourth, I will introduce Hartmann’s “theory of fundamental categories” (1940), which is devoted to the structure of reality. Finally, in contrast to these ideas, I will argue for a structure of the universe that is not constituted by an emergent hierarchy of autonomous levels at all
SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY AND AHP TO DEVELOP A CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGAMENT IN MEXICAN LODGING SMEs
No full textThe lodging SMEs operate in a dynamic environment where aspects such as turbulence and information asymmetry undermine them compared to large enterprises. On this matter, it is considered that Human Capital Management is relevant to overcome deficiencies, delays in operations and to ensure the permanence of the organisation. However, these human activity systems (HAS) lack of a systemic model that contributes to the achievement of such an end. This paper presents a perspective on this matter, from the Systems Thinking. The Soft Systems Methodology was used, obtaining as finding a conceptual model that considers the heterogeneity in lodging SMEs problems and the human capital management. The model was verified through the Analytic Hierarchy Process, that helped to find congruence between what had been proposed from the Systems Thinking and reality, enabling its conduction towards a viable equilibrium state in its current environment. Personnel with managerial functions can benefit from an approach that pursues systemic solutions and the transcendence of the whole system like the one mentioned
Thinking-Activity Scheme as a Communication Bridge Between Systems Thinking and Systems Practice
No full textExploring ways to co-organize systems thinking and systems practice we discuss the answer of Russian systems thinking which was developed by the Moscow Methodological Circle (MMC).MMC was organized in USSR in the year of J. Stalin’s death (1953) and was led for more than forty years by G. P. Shchedrovitsky (1929–1994). Now it exists as the “Methodological Movement” and a few institutions associated with it.MMC developed “methodological thinking”, which was characterised by the following general features and principles:1) holism and reflexivity in relation to the other approaches and types of thinking (in science, design, engineering, socio-cultural and law studies, etc.);2) practical orientation (connections thinking-activity, which used systems approach as the means of organizing processes of resolving complex problems by multi-professional and transdisciplinary teams, etc.);3) reflectivity as practical orientation of thinking to itself, i.e. its capability to re-construct and re-direct itself;4) the “methodological turn” from thinking about systems as objects to organizing, performing and reflecting the process of systems thinking in practice.The shift from objects to the process of systems thinking which was mentioned above is characteristic for MMC from the very beginning of its activity. It corresponds to the shift of researchers interest from “systems sciences” to “systems rationality” – as it is discussed in holistic systems thinking approaches. This methodological turn has allowed MMC to formulate original vision of problems of the systems approach: not to investigate “systemic objects”, but to conceptualise and resolve “systemic situations” as a form of work with complex problems. These systemic situations were considered as including subjects of thinking and action into the field of systems practice and reflection.Now MMC systems methodology has three basic components which are the foundations of System-Thinking-Activity Approach (STA):1) systems thinking (as “methodological thinking” described above);2) Thinking-Activity Scheme (an intellectual construction called by “scheme” in MMC is a diagram linked to the certain model as its meaning) and moderation technologies;3) Systemic 3D-Methodology.In Thinking-Activity Scheme (published in 1983) thinking and practical activity are represented in the form of different “layers” (“Pure Thinking” and “Thinking-Action”), divided by a “Thinking-Communication” layer. Links between three layers of Thinking-Activity Scheme are mediated by Reflection and Understanding processes. “Thinking-Communication” layer in Thinking-Activity Scheme provides collectiveness of Thinking-Activity and allows to govern it by the means of moderation technologies. We use them in order to apply STA-Approach to systemic situations from practice. Moderation technologies are considered as the mode of communicative management supporting adhocratic type of interaction and deliberative communication, i.e. the “horizontal” and not-alienating interaction in multi-professional teams providing collectively-distributed thinking and multi-positional organization of resolving systemic situations which bear in themselves complex problems.Systemic 3D-Methodology is the principle of thinking in the space of two “orthogonal” planes: 1) Object-Ontological plane with schemes and objects of practical theory located on it;2) Organizational-Activity plane with schemes organizing multi-professional communications and methods, forms and instruments of transdisciplinary thinking.Methodological schemes are specific MMC instruments or intellectual constructions, which can co-organize Object-Ontological and Organizational-Activity planes of 3D-Methodology as a complete reflexive 3D-space and be used as instruments on both planes. Using Thinking-Activity Scheme in this function with the help of moderation technologies allows researchers and practitioners to bridge systems thinking and systems practice in moderated forms of events organization (seminars, “round tables”, transdisciplinary conferences like ISSS etc.) and to do the same in process forms of workflow organization: project groups, foresight, Organizational-Activity Games (OAG), strategic sessions, staff games, civil juries, wisdom councils, etc.Now Thinking-Activity Scheme is implemented in consulting, education, city and regional development, public policy, public expertise procedures, organizing of public-political communications, conflict resolving and mediation procedures. In future it will be useful in international relations, cross-cultural interactions, global problems resolving, etc
A Study on the Learning Mode of Tourism Experiences
No full textTravel experiences while learning where the traveler goes and what different things they see from everyday life. This brings pleasant, meaningful, and valuable experiences. Dewey's (1938) theory of experiential learning emphasizes “learning by doing ”. He learns and gains by reflecting on the insights. His personal observation and actions reflect certain behaviors. The process of experiential learning in tourism is an extremely important elements which complement each other.The purpose of this paper is to construct a “travel experience learning model” based on the “empirical learning theory”. The general mode of discussion includes topics i.e. the motives of the travel process, decision-making, project implementation, and reflection. However, there have been a few studies on motives, choices, decisions, and implementation plans for research on tourism. In the past, research on tourism related areas was primarily in motivation, choice decision-making, and implementation plans. There was little discussion about an individual's experience promoting the growth process. Therefore, the tourism experience learning model was the subject of inquiry. Based the qualitative content literature analysis, the relevant conceptions of the travel experiences of “knapsack tourism” and “self-help tourism” findings, the framework of the “travel experience learning model” was extracted as the goal. Finally the tourism experience learning Management implications discussion
SEISMIC LENS-TYPE SHEAR PANEL DAMPER FOR BRIDGES AND BUILDINGS: INNOVATION AND OPTIMIZATION IN NATURE AND DESIGN TO ENGINEERING FIELDS
No full textExperimental study about shear panel was initiated at Fukuyama Univ.( 2005). The paper” Cyclic Shear Behaviour of Low-Yield Steels by New Shear Test Procedure” includes several findings such as:1) shear panel with LY100 is one of the best nature for energy dissipation devices, 2) by strain hardening effect of LY100, plastic zones are spread widely without local stress concentration and which result in well ductility. Then, a variety of bearing types for seismic energy dissipation has been discussed at AIT (2007), and the lens-type shear dampers have been proposed. A number of tests of lensdamper have been conducted for practical use at Nippon Chuzou, mainly for highway bridges (2008). Feasibility study project has been started for building application by a group of architects (2013). Lens-type shear panel dampers have been newly developed for highway bridges and buildings against the large-scale earthquakes. It utilizes low yield steel LY100 and concave lens shape panel. Both properties of low yield strength andof high ductility are major requirements for the damping devices. Static and dynamic tests show rectangular shapes of lateral load-displacement hysteresis loops with high quality damping. Damage and life cycles can be estimated by Miner’s rule. Prediction matches well with the testing results. Large deformation of steel with high speed strain rate generates heat of temperature of 300~450℃. Earthquake energy is converted into strain and heat, which results in large energy dissipation.For application to bridges, both experimental and analytical works have been investigated in parallel. Random loading tests have been examined to evaluate the structural and functional performance of dampers under design level earthquakes, and at the same time to determine the safety margin against collapse under extreme earthquakes. For the evaluation of fracture, two types of prediction formula, damage index method and damage pass method are proposed. For application to buildings, seismic control stud of column type is newly proposed for low/medium-rise buildings with use of low yield steel LY 225. The design principle of lens damper bases on nature laws of Miner’rule and similarity laws. An optimization in nature and design to engineering originates in nature law. The truth and beauty are in nature. Results of works are reported．
Slides for Knowledge Mapping for Literature Reviews: A Science of Conceptual Systems Approach
No full text Research for the purpose of understanding and explaining complex systems often includes a literature review. Regrettably, many students (and even some researchers) find literature reviews challenging for a number of reasons including the difficulty of synthesizing theoretical perspectives, maintaining the review’s relevance to the topic, and providing clear justification of the research project. This workshop is designed for professors, mentors, and managers who supervise literature reviews as well as the students and scholars who write them. In this workshop, participants will learn:How traditional approaches to literature reviews may lead to the confusion of students and the fragmentation of theoryKnowledge mapping (KM) techniques supporting easier and more effective teaching, mentoring, managing, and conducting, of literature reviewsA “science of conceptual systems” (SOCS) approach for demonstrating understanding, countering fragmentation, enabling more effective synthesis of theoretical perspectives, clarifying relevance to research project, and justifying researchWays for KM to dovetail with other approaches to managing and conducting literature reviewsHow this approach supports improvements in actionable understanding and accelerates advancement in any field of studyAvoiding deep philosophical discussion in favour of focusing on the operational “nuts and bolts,” this dynamic workshop includes individual and group exercises, short presentations, and conversations. Participants are encouraged to bring one or two theories which they find interesting or challenging. Due to the limited time available, those theories should be relatively concise – represented in a paragraph or two of text (a set of related propositions), or as a diagram (including concepts and connections). If you do not have a theory, one will be provided for you.This workshop begins with the understanding that approaches to conducting literature reviews are often systematic (following a specific path), while the theoretical perspectives resulting from those reviews have been unavoidably fragmented because we have lacked an understanding of what it means to have a systemic theoretical perspective of our real world systems. Without highly systemic theories, we are unable to deeply understand our natural systems or to optimize our designed systems.SOCS research shows that theories that are more systemic are more useful for creating and exchanging knowledge, understanding situations, making decisions, and reaching goals. Importantly, we can measure "how systemic" our theories are, thus providing a relatively objective path for improving the usefulness/effectiveness of our theories.By representing knowledge graphically as a KM, we can more easily evaluate the systemic structure of that knowledge. That perspective enables students, professors, and dissertation supervisors/mentors to easily identify strengths and weaknesses of theoretical perspectives. We can use those insights, in turn, to focus conversations for improving literature reviews and research, thus supporting more rapid advancements in the field.This approach has proved interesting to students and researchers, leading to a number of published papers. Additionally, this approach is especially useful for interdisciplinary projects as it supports the synthesis of theories within and between disciplines. Finally, it is worth considering the place of this systems based approach in the broader context of systems thinking, cybernetics, and related fields. As each field advances, and our understanding of systems becomes more systemic, we can expect this kind of literature review will lead to improvements in the organization of our field’s knowledge. That, in turn, may support improved accessibility of the systems literature, thus accelerating the advancement of our fields
Systemic Construction of a Space Launching Base in Mexico
No full textThe Mexican State, educational institutions and research centers have made efforts to found organisms, programs and projects, in order to promote spatial technological development, which appear and disappear without reaching the objective for which they were founded. In order to achieve technological development, it is necessary to integrate government-academia-industry, and it is the Mexican Space Agency, an agency of the Mexican State which is responsible for carrying out this activity; Nevertheless the Agency establishes what must be done to reach the technological development but does not mentioned how to achieve it. For this reason, designing a systemic model was proposed which allows the integration of scientific research in companies based on market goals, objectives and strategies. The systemic model has three stages within which are five phases and within them are eight subphases: The three stages are: input (I); Box (B); Output (O); O = IB, that is, I and B can be adjusted to achieve O. Holding fixed I and O. B will have infinite solutions. Ideally B = O / I = 1 in practice will be less than 1. Therefore the systemic model for the development of the Mexican special system has infinite solutions. It is proposed that spatial technological development begins with the construction of a spatial launch base as ground conditions exist for space launches and would attract different companies such as satellite constructors, space launchers, fuel producers, tourism services, etc.  
From ‘systematic’ to ‘systemic’ research and policy analysis – progressing the application of systems approaches to policy evaluations at a European Union research agency (Eurofound)
No full textThis study explores the relevance and applicability of using systems approaches to enhance policy evaluation projects conducted by Eurofound(European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions) aa an exploratory case study in 'action research' mode.This European Union (EU) agency is mandated to support European policymakers in their endeavours to improve the working and living conditions in Europe, by providing “scientifically sound and unbiased, high quality information” . The key question of this exploration was: How can evaluation of relevant policies be accomplished as part of Eurofound’s role, and give justice to the complexities of the policies assessed and multiple perspectives and stakes involved?The overall aim of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of current approaches and methods in policy evaluation activities of complex social policies and phenomena undertaken by Eurofound, and to test the ‘systemic desirability and cultural feasibility’ (Checkland, 1990) of moving beyond a ‘first-order science’ research tradition within Eurofound to advance opportunities for applying systems concepts and approaches in these activities. MethodologyThe action research consisted in a specially designed systemic enquiry designed by the author, and conducted jointly with research staff of the agency as they engaged in the implementation of Eurofound policy analysis (research) project consisting of a series of analyses and workshops using different systems approaches (elements of SSM and CSH). This systemic enquiry was applied to a selected case study: a then current Eurofound research project ‘Delivering public services: a greater role for the private sector? Hospital services’ (Eurofound, 2015a, p. 39). This project aimed to analyse the ‘implications of privatisation for access, quality and effectiveness of services’ in the hospital sector across EU Member States. This situation features a number of ‘complex’ characteristics. To test the usefulness and applicability of selected systems approaches was the aim of the action research implemented in this case study.Conclusions The experience from this action research applied to the ‘hospital services’ case has shown that the standard approach is not always sufficient for a deeper understanding of a situation to be researched at the start of a project, and can usefully be complemented and enhanced by systems approaches.The experience and validation interviews with researchers in Eurofound suggested that there could be real value for research and policy evaluation projects in Eurofound to embed systemic inquiry streams into the overall project design, under some conditions:For projects with wide and fuzzy scope (boundary explorations to inform research questions);Where new territory is explored (exploratory social learning and scoping);In complex policy situations with diverse and multiple stakeholders (interrelationships and multiple perspectives).Whilst it would be ‘systemically desirable’ to broaden a systemic approach to researching similar policies with shared characteristics, there are institutional barriers to the ‘cultural feasibility’, as the mainstream way of conducting research continues to dominate and imposes important constraints to such opportunities. These consist in short research project cycle times, and pressures to deliver results fast, leaving little time and scope for reflexivity and exploratory methods. Additionally, introducing systems approaches into policy evaluation projects exposes paradigmatic and epistemic tensions. The default way of doing research and evaluation projects ‘systematically’ sits uncomfortably with systemic approaches, which implicitly challenge the conventional way of framing and approaching research inquiries. This experience resonates with Argyris’ and Schön’s ‘theory of action’, in which there is a gap between a ‘theory in use’ (the ‘normal’ ways things are done in organisations) compared to ‘espoused theory’ (what is claimed to be done in rhetoric), (Argyris and Schön (1974, 1978, 1996), Argyris (1990). What Eurofound states in its work programme is one thing (‘to assess policies and practices’) (‘espoused theory’), however, in practice it currently falls short of this ambition, as the standard approaches for normal research projects continue to be used (for example standard case study methodology). In order to move forward from this, a ‘shift’ will be needed. As suggested by Argyris and Schön, this calls for ‘double-loop’ learning to bring about transformational change in the organisational and academic culture in research organisations like Eurofound, and to dissolve the contradictions and ‘organisational defensive routines’. This will require time, and finding and engaging further ‘allies’ across the organisation to pursue this aim. Opportunities exist at several levels:Transfer the experiences from the ‘hospital services’ project to other projects and researchers, through internal conversations about these experiences.Raise this discussion in the ‘official discourse’ in the organisation, to increase interest in ‘reflexivity’ and give it legitimacy within the ‘projectified world’ of the organisation.Future research methodology developments might provide space to enhance the methodological frameworks of the agency.Further explorations could be conducted within the context of agencies' networks, to explore further how systemic approaches could be used by other agencies to enhance their scientific processes for policy areas with systemic and complex characteristics, such as inter-relationships, multiple perspectives and boundary judgements.