International Society for the Systems Sciences: Journals ISSS
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APPLIED SYSTEMS SCIENCE TO HOLISTIC QUALITY ASSESSMENT METRICS FOR FORMAL METHODS-BASED MODELS
No full textIn MBSE, deciding on the superiority of one formal method-based specification over another can be challenging, especially when both fulfil the exact requirements in distinct manners. This paper delves into a methodology for distinguishing between formal methods, using Event-B notation as a primary example, based on inherently subjective quality aspects. Traditional complexity metrics used in software assessment do not align well with formal methods, prompting the need for a novel quality function that considers the impact on the reader’s cognitive stress. The quality function incorporates classical axiomatic properties from theoretical mathematics and a bespoke complicatedness metric to evaluate model quality. Four critical properties—Consistency, Completeness, Independence, and Complicatedness—serve as the basis for this evaluation. Our approach suggests that if a formal specification appears visually complicated to someone with basic set-theory knowledge, it likely indicates a less helpful model regarding assurance. Additionally, the paper reconsiders Miller’s magic number seven, proposing that understanding human cognitive limits and using magical numbers 1, 2, and 3 is essential for defining high-quality formal specifications. This innovative perspective underscores the need for extensive further research, as outlined in the discussions of future work
MANAGEMENT FOR SPACE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
No full textTechnological Management for space technological development is defined as: the decisions adopted by a country on policies, plans, programs, etc. in terms of creation, dissemination, use and transfer of satellite technology to achieve technological development.Developing countries with their educational institutions and research centers have made efforts, founding organizations, programs, and projects, to promote space technological development, these instances arise and disappear without achieving the objective for which they were founded.The fundamental purpose of technology management is technological development; To achieve this, integration is necessary: government academia- industry. Technological development makes it possible to reduce political, economic, and social conflicts in poor countries.For this reason, a systemic model of spatial technological development is proposed, which allows the integration of scientific research in companies based on the goals, objectives, and market strategies of these companies, to achieve technological development.The proposed systemic model has three stages: entry E, consists of the analysis of the satellite system in the international and national context; box C, made up of: diagnosis, proposal, planning to carry out the proposal, and output S, in this case it is the technological development of the space. S= EC, that is, E and C can be adjusted to achieve S.Holding E and S fixed, C will have an infinite number of solutions, which can be adjusted by those implementing the program. Therefore, the performance of a model can be validated, especially by its results.The foundation of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency for this year is proof of the need for countries to transmit and receive information for the benefit of their peoples
EFFECTIVE WAYS TO INFLUENCE APPRECIATIVE SET POINTS? DELIBERATIVE MINI-PUBLICS AS SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVES
No full textHow might systems perspectives, including socio-technical systems change, cybernetics, and organization development, deepen our learning from existing experiments with sortition-based deliberative mini-publics? In this paper, I apply these lenses to the results of recent natural experiments where a cross-section of the larger system (a given socio-political system, not an organization) is invited to develop shared recommendations for a given policy area; in the process, participants generally also develop a greater sense of agency. Since these mini-publics can produce significant shifts in the system’s “imaginal field” or Overton window of possibilities, they can be seen as responses to Vicker’s call for ethical ways to influence the appreciative set-points of our socio-cultural system. Sometimes this influence occurs through large-scale narrative diffusion, as with the 1991 “People’s Verdict” sponsored by Maclean’s in response to a growing risk of separatism in Canada. Other times, built-in design elements increase the likelihood of sponsoring bodies adopting some or all of a microcosm’s recommendations, such as the feedback loops in the Citizens’ Council model from Vorarlberg, Austria. Yet even with a growing number of different formats worldwide and variations with regard to implementation, we see repeatedly that regular people, chosen by public lottery and offered a supportive interaction context, find value in exploring public issues together and work through differences to arrive at meaningful shared recommendations. Analogous to McGregor’s “theory X / theory Y”, a different pattern of behavior emerges in the context of intentionally designed and facilitated processes where each participant is respected and heard. Regardless of local design variants, in supportive contexts we repeatedly witness humans’ desire to take responsibility for improving collective life, and ability to navigate nuance and complexity
Towards a Unifying Framework for System Knowledge
No full textThe premise of System Science is that there are concepts, theories, principles, and practices that are universally transversal and a basis for transdisciplinary wisdom. This paper explores System Science and its organization, emphasizing the necessity of a shared orientation for effective conceptualisation, research, development, education, and application. Drawing from Information Physics and General Systems Theory, particularly Relational Theory, Holarchy, and AIC, it employs an inductive approach to extract essential concepts and integrate them into a cohesive framework. By incorporating philosophical concepts, Principles of Science, Systems Engineering, and Systems Thinking heuristics, the paper presents System Science as a conceptual whole. Once integrated, System Science would provide the theoretical foundations for Systems Engineering, Project Management, Business Management and Governance, helping to foster transdisciplinary integration, equity, effectiveness and efficiency. Humanity would be better equipped to tackle existential challenges like climate change, ecosystem collapse, sustainability goals, digitalization, and the positive integration of artificial intelligence
A GENDER SENSITIVE APPROACH TO UNITING INDIGENOUS VIEWS ON NATURAL LAW WITH RELATIONAL GOVERNANCE FOR PROTECTING THE COMMONS
No full textMcIntyre-Mills J.J.[i] , Makaulule, M[ii]., Lethole, P[iii]., Pitsoane, E[iv]. Mabunda, B[v], Mbodi, T.C.[vi] , Romm, N. [vii] Luxomo, V[viii]. Mothudi, H[ix] , Makahane,F[x]., Ṋetshandama, V.[xi]
[i] Adjunct Prof Extraordinarius, University of South Africa and Adjunct Visiting Researcher, Adelaide University [email protected]
[ii] Univen (M.A) student, Leader: Dzomo ḽa Mupo Makaulule Mphaṱheleni <[email protected]>
[iii] "Lethole, Pat" <[email protected]> University of South Africa
[iv] "Pitsoane, Enid" <[email protected]>
[v] "Butshabelo Mabunda" <[email protected]>PGSA PGS body is PGS SAhttps://www.pgssa.org.za/
[vi] Constance Mbodi [email protected] PGSA PGS body is PGS SAhttps://www.pgssa.org.za/
[vii] University of South Africa, Professor Extraordinarius. [email protected]
[viii] University of South Africa"Luxomo, Viwe" <[email protected]>
[ix] "Mothudi, Hector" <[email protected]> University of South Africa
[x] "Makahane, Fhaṱuwani" <[email protected]>
[xi] "Vhonani Ṋetshandama" <Vhonani.Ṋ[email protected]> University of Venḓa
The key theme of this paper is that climate change, high costs of living and movement to the cities threaten food security but this does not mean that small farmers should be threatened by the corporatisation of food production or factory farms. Localisation and food sovereignty is about owning the means of production of the food cycle and preventing the monopolisation of seed.
The paper discusses learning within nature’s classroom in the Limpopo region of South Africa, through on line and face to face facilitation supported by University of South Africa, the University of Venda, Adelaide University and PGS[i] ( an organic farmers network). This research aims to contribute to the literature by uniting indigenous views on natural law with earth jurisprudence and Wild Law to protect the commons and habitat for multiple species. Law is first and foremost a construct according to Peter Burdon . Firstly, we make a case for systemic principles and a systemic approach to protecting multiple co-dependent species and a shared habitat that supports living systems. Jurisprudence, rights and wild law concepts underpin the discussion which also addresses land rights, dispossession, displacement and the dangers of land claims by mining companies . Secondly, we make a contribution to the discussion on the draft policy on South Africa’s Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Use . Thirdly, we explore ways in which principles could be applied through education and community governance to protect living systems. Fourthly, we discuss the activities of a ( growing) community of practice that supports intergenerational earning, learning and growing a future by protecting people and the environment through social enterprises to support growing food in ways that protect and nurtures people, community and the natural environment. We are building on the established networks of the team members who are pooling our knowledge and resources. Members of the community recently reported on how much we have learned from one another already and how many enterprises they have set up and that are continuing to grow. Meanwhile we have also benefitted from the involvement of PGS (learning about organic farming and drawing also on traditional wisdom regarding this). In this way we have focused on avoiding a green washing approach which suggests that growth can be sustained or that commodifying every step of the food production process is justifiable. Sustainable Development Goal no 8 stresses Decent work and economic growth, but growth is the issue which William Rees , who coined the ‘ecological footprint’ warns us against (2021, 2022) when he stresses that overshoot is more than a problem associated with climate change. It is a problem linked with human-centred thinking. Vandana Shiva ( 2022 a,b) stresses the importance of working with young people and empowering women farmers (Shiva, 1989) so that the soil and communities remain healthy. By protecting business as usual, monocultures (Shiva 2012,2016) and destruction of small farmers through setting up agro industries that destroy multiple species – we will destroy the cycle of life which depends on photosynthesis to make oxygen out of carbon and to create the molecules of life. The commodification of seeds, the use of chemical fertilisers and the promotion of fake food will only hasten desertification through destroying the soil as stressed in the launch of ‘growing life’ at the International Food Summit in 2022 and at the Feminist Food Summit in 2023.
[i] PGS body is PGS SAhttps://www.pgssa.org.za/ 
PROMOTING SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THROUGH METACOMPETENCIES THAT DEVELOP TRANSFORMATIVE QUALITIES OF BEING AND AGENCY
No full textEducation systems in Australia are currently in a state of flux and disruption, with student mental health and engagement at crisis levels. This contribution examines how systems awareness and self-awareness in education cannot be separated from the rest of the curricula for students living with impact of global systems changes including COVID-19 and climate disruption. Moreover, in this context, educators are struggling to keep students engaged and provide skills and competencies needed to navigate uncertain and unsustainable futures. Addressing this challenge, our study examines a proposed set of metacompetencies (or systemic competencies) required for a systems reboot within our educational institutions – including agency, adaptability, creativity, compassion, interbeing, self-awareness and reflexivity – described elsewhere as a Curriculum for Being. Findings of this study have demonstrated systemic metacompetencies have served to build student agency for these times of transition – providing social and emotional learning that helps students develop awareness of self in relation to others and systems. This study analyses the application of these metacompetencies for transformative resilience or transilience in both a secondary school and higher education systems setting. Using methodologies of participatory action research and awareness-based systems change it proposes interventions for a much-flawed current educational paradigm that prioritises individuality and competition over connectedness. The interventions described were prototyped, tested and iterated with students in schools as well as undergraduate students at university, with evidence demonstrating that agency, self-awareness and systems awareness can combine to engage students in profound ways to create a new generation of systemic changemakers.
 
Architecture, Ecology, and Hubris
No full textIn the context of the emerging environmental consciousness of the 1960s and 1970s, cybernetician Gregory Bateson identified one root cause of ecological crisis as Western culture’s hubristic tendency to see humans as separate from, above, and in competition with the environments on which they depend. While Bateson framed this hubris as “epistemological error”, addressing hubris is not simply a matter of adopting a better epistemology. In this paper I explore how hubris is reinforced by the aesthetics of the conventional built environment, such as in the (literal) construction of sharp distinctions between human and ecological worlds. I then discuss an example of how architectural design can present a challenge to hubris by embodying something of the complex entanglements of humans within ecosystems. I conclude by reflecting on the importance and difficulties of escaping hubris
BEING HUMAN IN AN IT ENVIRONMENT
No full textIn this paper, the reflection will be on different perspectives of humans living in an Information technology (IT) environment. The paper is based on work done by the researcher over many years in IT-related fields; looking back, seeing what is current and looking forward. Rapid change and emergence, complexity of systems, failed and challenged information systems, information and computer (in)security, lack of awareness and training (inter alia), all have an impact on being human in an IT environment. The problem statement that will be investigated is: "There is a lack of coherent knowledge of what is impacting the human living in the IT environment”. Humans manage their situation within the IT environment in silos and from their own perspectives. This topic is also being studied and addressed in a somewhat narrow, one-sided way, namely from own contexts. Rapid change within IT systems/software and platforms is not adequately adopted and incorporated by humans to understand how new/adapted systems operate and how to interact securely with these changes. There is thus a need is to ascertain what aspects have an influence on being human in the IT world in order to understand it and interact with it in a safe, holistic manner. The research methodology will be a critical systems thinking approach, where holism and emergence are of importance. The method applied will be a critical reflection of the aspects impacting the human living in the IT environment from different perspectives. Kant asked the three questions about reason: “What can I know?” “What must I do?” and “What may I hope?” These questions will lead this reflective paper, considering different perspectives when addressing the problem statement. The “what can I know” question will focus on several IT-related issues, such as information systems failures and challenges and the possible reasons of this, information security awareness, educational efforts to improve knowledge and skills when interacting with (using and developing) IT systems, and how to understand and incorporate the emergence and rapid change in the IT environment. The “what must I do” question will concentrate on the human’s role, e.g., as researcher, subject chair, software developer, engaging in professional societies etc. The “what may I hope” question will focus on how to bring about a better future for humans to cope with and to be living in the IT environment, based on insights and actions (know and do). This is the rationale of this paper – to reflect on how humans can be empowered (involved and affected) to live, work and flourish in the IT environment with all these challenges
Sciencing and Philosophizing on Threads in Systems Thinking: Tracing through the Texture of the Socio-Technical and Socio-Ecological Perspectives
No full textSystems thinking rose in 20th century industrial society largely from post-WWII research. Psychologists Eric L. Trist and Fred E. Emery were early in human relations, later turning towards sociology. Philosophers C. West Churchman and Russell L. Ackoff were cofounders of Operations Research, applying pragmatism to problem-solving of complex issues. The texture of Socio-Technical Systems (STS) and Socio-Ecological Systems (SES) perspectives interweaves with management science and inquiring systems.
In the 21st century, the service economy and ecological Anthropocene followed advancement of the Internet and globalization through the 1990s. Resurfacing Trist-Emery and Churchman-Ackoff for a new generation not only revisits their sciencing, but also philosophizing.
Trist-Emery Socio-Psychological Systems (SPS) and STS perspectives extended the structuralist psychology of Gestalt, through Andras Angyal and Kurt Lewin. The SES perspective built on the pragmatist metaphilosophy of Stephen C. Pepper. Sciencing by Churchman-Ackoff encouraged Operations Research beyond math towards collaborative decision-making. Postwar applied philosophizing built on the experimentalism of Edgar A. Singer Jr. This lineage traces from the Metaphysical Club circa 1890, through the 1980s.
Philosophizing in the 21st century provides new lenses for the system sciences. Through ecological anthropology, Tim Ingold depicts the lives of lines, and texture in weaving. Through Classical Chinese Medicine, Keekok Lee distinguishes yin qi and yang qi. In post-colonial constructionist program of Rethinking Systems Thinking, principal concepts of (i) rhythm, (ii) texture, and (ii) propensity have become the core of Systems Changes Learning practices, theory, and methods.
A new world hypothesis of (con)textural-dyadicism is proposed, combining STS and SES features. The associated systems theory foregrounds time-space changes over defining space-time systems and boundaries. Philosophizing across Western and Classical Chinese traditions requires deeper inquiry and education
Systems Practice for Professions: Book of Abstracts
No full textThe ISSS is providing a unique annual meeting experience in June 2023. The main conference takes place from June 19 -23 in the Kruger National Park in South Africa. The conference will provide an opportunity for networking and scholarship for systems practitioners and academics in the midst of a complex social and natural ecosystem.