International Society for the Systems Sciences: Journals ISSS
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A QUALITATIVE TRANSDISCIPLINARY PARTICIPATORY ACTION-RESEARCH APPROACH, TOWARD THE SYSTEMIC TRANSFORMATION OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS
No full textThe larger system is the real world. It is the framework, or the reference context for a viable process of open systems intervention. The educative and cultural system is a very complex system for a systemic transformation process. We can use a cybernetic Participative Action Research, PAR process, to change a particular educational process with the use of a critical, and propositive approach. The process of change can be qualitative using a small scale. The form of knowledge for a participatory process of transformation should be transdisciplinary, to include the different types of knowledge of a relevant and plural group of social actors involved in the educational process. The systemic process of transformation is a cyberntetic PAR process (Fals Borda, 1998). Through this process of change we link the auto, or internal system, with the eco or external system as a creative process or auto-eco organization (Morin, 1999). This is a qualitative participative process for the integral transformation of an educational process with the intervention of relevant social actors. It can address in the educational system the critical social and environmental problematic situation. In this paper we present a brief description of a recent application in an alternative educational network. This qualitative complex organization is organized by an independent network of conscious social actors involved in different levels of the educational process at many public and private educative institutions in Mexico, and in other countries. The name of the mexican network is: Consejo de Transformacion Educativa, CTE, or Education Transformation Council, ETC. It is a qualitative small scale process for the systemic transformation of the mexican educational process, it is an alternative social laboratory of change. 
Leadership issues in medium scale acephalous groups
No full textTop-down, dominance based organisations are prevalent in today’s world. While they may be efficient, the division of people into leaders and followers, or managers and workers, contains an inherent conflict where distrust and antagonism often lead to destructive and even violent organisational dynamics. As a response to the iniquities inherent in top-down dominance hierarchies some groups form acephalous organisations, where there is no structured leadership. The process of leadership is still necessary, but it manifests in very different ways. In order to investigate leadership in acephalous groups, we first explore leadership patterns in the animal kingdom with such organisational structures as dominance hierarchies and swarm . We note the links between the interplay of the structurally determined biological make up of the animal with its environment, and the social structure adopted. This forms the foundation for exploring human organisational possibilities. Next, we examine leadership theories, models and concepts that shift the focus from seeing the leader as an individual to viewing leadership as a process resulting from a complex of recursive interactions between leaders and followers in a given environment. Moving beyond the idea of seeing leadership as an interactional process between leader and follower, in acephalous groups, the very distinction between leader and follower is dissolved. Convergence is a medium scale acephalous group in Canterbury New Zealand formed by a loose network of 300-500 alternative life-stylers and people seeking a break from their usual mainstream life, who come together for a gathering for five days each year. Preliminary research results from interviews and a survey at the most recent Convergence gathering yielded some interesting dynamics within the group’s operation and understandings of how it copes with some of the practical challenges of operating acephalously. This research could encourage other organisations to consider an acephalous structure or incorporate some acephalous principles into their operation
GENERAL SYSTEMS THEORY THROUGH LINGUISTIC MODELLING
No full textA brief historical background suggests that although the 'systemic or structural' description of parts of the world appears to be universal, an acceptable general systems theory has not been put forward. A scheme for empirical research is described which can be used to evaluate to what extent constituents of 'human intellectual endeavour' including a GST, fits into such a scheme. Past suggestions for GST are compared with that currently under consideration. Basic notions of the proposed GST are outlined leading to a set of concepts for this GST which can then be used for operational descriptions of either quantitative or qualitative aspects of things. These aspects are embodied in mathematical or linguistic models having a common origin in 'processed natural language', the primary model. The generalised model of purposive system is considered as the basis of production and consumption of 'product' by living things. Connection between 'conventional' and 'systems' sciences is demonstrated pointing to their application in problem solving and design. Thus, an integrated scheme of analysis and synthesis together referred to as GST dealing with scenarios labelled 'natural', 'technical', 'living' and 'social' systems has emerged. 
GS2:THE UNIVERSE AND ALL ITS PARTS ARE 10Di SUPERORGANISMS
No full textThe Universe and all its parts, made to the image and likeness of the whole, are ten dimension Superorganisms.The substances of those Superorganisms are lineal space=energy and cyclical time=information, 2 dual concepts that express the fundamental duality of the Universe between lineal distances/motions and cyclical clocks/forms. The mind perceives in stillness the moving energy of the vacuum as lines of space=distance – the shortest geometry between two points - and the in-form-ation of the Universe carried in the temporal, cyclical clocks and frequencies, traced by vortices of charges and masses, as spherical particles – the geometry, which stores more information in lesser space. Yet the substances of reality are quantum, lineal forces of energy and cyclical vortices of time, which combine to create the ∞ complementary superorganisms of the Universe, all of them made with spherical particle/heads of information sum of multiple time cycles, fields/limbs of energy that move them & waves/bodies that reproduce the system. As a result of this duality all systems perform only 2x2 type of dimensional actions: Individually they absorb Energy for its body/limbs (feeding/motion) and Information for its mind; socially they use their surplus of energy to reproduce its form, (ExI) and they gather in herds around networks of energy and information that distribute efficiently those 2 elements, creating bigger whole superorganisms, fitter to survive than the individual ‘cell’. The complex sum of all those time cycles and lineal energy motions give birth to the fundamental ‘species’ of the Universe, a 10D superorganism, composed of 3 elements - heads/particles of information that guide limbs/fields of energy, and combine in waves/bodies that reproduce the system - which extend through: -3 local, organic, finite dimensions of spatial energy: length, the direction of limbs/fields in motion; height the location of informative particles/heads; and its re-product-ive product, width. Those superorganisms grow through their 3 diffeomorphic dimensions, which enact its 3 organic functions in time, with a temporal order given by the dominance and increase of its information from birth to extinction, in a life-death cycle of 3±i ages: +i: Birth in a lower ‘fractal scale of space-time’ - Max. E: Past =youth or ‘energy age’ of maximal lineal motion. - E=I: Present=steady state maturity, or age of balance between energy and information when the system iterates its form, creating its clonic offspring that makes the Universe both dynamic and immortal=seemingly unchanged. - Max.I: Future, 3rd age of information, as energy warps into form (forces into masses & charges) till becoming exhausted. -i: Death: The system dissolves into its parts, in a big-bang of energy that returns its form back to its cellular scale. Thus, Universal systems extend through 3 ±i scales of complexity, its i-1 cellular, seminal scale, from where they emerge as individuals to become Relative Fractal, cellular units/points/parts of their bigger i+1 social scale or whole 3x3+i=10 Di superorganism, till death dissolves it back. While from a continuous pov, all those fractal i-scales form a 5th ‘classic’ Dimension. Thus all life-death cycles are a journey through 3x3±i relative scales of the 5th dimension; defined by a metric equation, Se x Ti=K, such as smaller scales have more information as its time clocks run faster, but their product remains co-invariant, reason why superorganisms of different scales have the same power and lifespan. I.e. insects perceive 10 times faster than humans but live a maximal of 7 years, which insects will perceive as 7 x 10=70 life years of experience, the humans age. Thus all superorganisms show 5 isomorphisms: 1) Duality of Energy and Information; 2) Ternary, topological, organic dimensions of space; 3) 3±i ages and life-death cycle; 4) 4 actions: Max. E, Max. I, Exi, ∑Ex∏I 5) 3 scales of existence. GST is the science that studies them.  
A Systems View of Community Engagement: Exploration for Simple Rules of Interaction to Explain Community Resistance in Landfill Siting Situations
No full textSuccess within today’s corporate environment is increasingly dependent upon the corporation’s successful interaction with its community. Communities are increasingly aware of their rights and demand responsible treatment from Corporations. This paper looks specifically at the Community Engagement dynamics involved in Landfill Siting situations. In the same manner that the flocking of birds or the structure of termite mounds emerge from what are relatively “simple” noncomplex activities, interactions and interdependencies; can we identify these noncomplex activities in situations of successful and unsuccessful landfill sitings? This paper begins the process of exploration and identification of noncomplex activities which occur in these situations. The purpose of this exploration is to add to the body of Community Engagement Theory in a meaningful and practical way through the use of Systems Concepts involving Complex Human Systems. These concepts are those low level interactions which produce higher level processes - community resistance / acceptance - in multi-layered complex systems. Also, the exploration will take note of the higher level system processes - quality of engagement i.e. Transformational, Transactional, Transitional - that constrain or induce the lower level system processes. Note will be taken of the coevolution of these system levels toward either a successful or unsuccessful siting situation. The paper explores extant literature concerning Community and Community Engagement research in an effort to identify predominant and not so predominant thinking in the domain. Exploration in this domain of literature reveals many similar themes of interaction, interdependency and actions. The paper begins with a look at what is commonly or not so commonly defined as “Community”. Several definitions of varying perspective prevail including; Community as stakeholder, Community as groups, Communities of practice, Communities geographically defined, and Communities of individuals. A practical whilst perhaps not definitive definition of Community is proposed for the purposes of the exploration. Not surprisingly this definition is a synthesis of the theory to date interpreted through the lens of Systems theories. Given a practical definition of Community, then, the paper turns to the literature to explore the differing actions, interactions and interdependencies peculiar to Community Engagement. Using the same method the author identifies a definition of Engagement from the literature and then turns the exploration toward the actions, interactions and interdependencies produced during Community Engagement. An emergent theme in the literature regarding Community Engagement is that of the “quality” of engagement. Although, this is found stated in several different manners, the author identifies key similarities and defines three qualities of engagement: Transactional, Transitional and Transformational. These types disaggregate into differing categories or qualities of engagement including; one way communication, two way communication, empowerment, inclusion, consensus building, multiparty dialogues, collaboration and “Guerrilla” public relations, etc. Exploration beyond the quality of Engagement encompasses additional themes in the literature including; NIMBY, NIABY, Community acceptance, Community Resistance, Stakeholder Theory, Bonding and Bridging Social Capital, Reflexive Modernization (Equity, trust, Participation), Risk to the Community and the corporation, etc. While the literature in the domain is vast there are several low systems level noncomplex interactivities and interdependencies that can be identified.A Systems perspective of the low level system interdependencies and interactions leads one to the conclusion that pre-knowledge of the quality of engagement and its potential consequences in producing high level system processes can provide valuable strategic information to those involved in situations of landfill siting.The paper concludes with a summation of this synthesis and a suggestion of field study to be carried out to further test the Community Engagement theory derived through this secondary research. The end result of field study will contribute greatly to the justification and use of engagement quality as an important corporate strategic tool
Cultivation of Perception and Creativity by Repeating Soft Systems Approach
No full textEmployees learn not only expertise on a given problem but also how to solve problems collectively and collaboratively together with others leading to innovation. When they perform innovative activities, they demonstrate collective creativity and perception on the basis of communication. This paper proposes a soft systems approach to cultivate such collective creativity and perception of employees. This approach assumes the use of the soft systems methodology or the design thinking methodology; both consist of the inquiry and learning cycle equipped with the function of double loop learning. An innovation process is viewed as a nexus of self-referential communications by the selectivity of information. It can be said that the selection is performed unconsciously, based on one's norm which is the basis of creativity and perception and is born of experiences. It is shown that management of motivation, intellectual curiosity, and spirit of inquiry is required to strengthen one's long-term memory and hence creativity and perception according to results in brain science. In cooperation with such management, rich experiences of innovative activities are required to strengthen creativity and perception, and for the requirement the soft systems approach proposed in this paper plays the role to share rich experiences among employees. 
Systems Thinking for Strengthening National Competitiveness in South Korea
No full textThis paper is not a research study but rather a preliminary framework constructed with regard to the problem noted in the title of the paper. In order to strengthen South Korean economic competitiveness, major components of the economic system need to depend on systems thinking. In the globalized period, they need the unified identity of global citizenship. And they should obtain a comparative advantage from every interaction with their own of other nations. Their comparative advantage, in terms of co-evolution, ultimately is based on global citizenship as the evolution of universal citizenship
Adaptive Leadership and Social Movements, Applying The Complex Theory of Leadership
No full textThis paper reviews the configuration today's highly complex social context and how, this vertigo pressed change paradigmatic shifts, which are still undergoing transformations. Visualize and understand the phenomenon of leadership from the perspective of complexity warrants the use of CAS (Complex Adaptive Systems) support by development of complex Leadership Theory (CLT). With this framework it is possible to describe and account for the phenomenon of adaptive leadership that has great similarity with the CAS and how this type of leadership reflects dynamics that characterize emerging social movements
Time and dynamic boundaries: the impact of action based learning
No full textThis work aims at opening for discussion the understanding of the "time" element that is critical for longitudinal development of robust group or action based community activity. The discussion is based on work occurring in multiple sites within a global project "The New Global". The learning cycles or epicycle processes are relevant for action-based investigation for organizational and social structures. The question of group behavior maybe influenced by their positioning within a larger adaptive system, the type of focus or determined goals and the type of connections that have been developed. The author has stated previously (Nousala 2014) that these types of community or group efforts be described as autopoietic systems, that are operating within larger adaptive societal web. The learning process involved in investigating these types of dynamic phenomena need to be themselves dynamic, providing methods that can explore, through longitudinal cycles expose these epicycles at work. The continuous recording of various processes through epicycles provide a means to "qualitatively measure" changes, which would normally go unseen (Hall et al. 2012; Hall et al., 2005; Nousala and Hall 2008; Wenger and Snyder 2000). These recorded shifts in process provide a means to apply the action-based knowledge gained through project based learning for problem based solving. The success of applying action-based knowledge outcomes really relies on the quality of providing meaningful longitudinal approaches for mapping and recording changes in epicycles. This work This work aims at an exploration through current discussion, discourse and literature regarding the importance of time within the longitudinal approach, posing the question, what lengths of time are required or relevant to develop robust groups or community based actions? 
TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT THROUGH SPACE AGENCIES
No full textTechnology management is the process of directing all activities geared to a public or private institution to make the most efficient use of technology. Technology is created through joint expertise, scientifically arranged, to design and create goods and/or services that facilitate daily life. These skills are acquired in educational institutions and finally applied in technological development industry by acquisition or through research. Within space technology, this can be done through space agencies. In this paper the major space agencies are: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS), China National Space Administration (CNSA) and European Space Agency (ESA), which systemically work with industry and academia integrating basic and applied scientific research in each country. The Mexican Space Agency (AEM) is the youngest space agency. Unlike its predecessors, it has failed to integrate basic and applied scientific research to the productive sector as demonstrated throughout this document.