International Society for the Systems Sciences: Journals ISSS
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Developments in applications of systemic theory and practice over 50 years of Systemic Family Therapy
No full textFamily therapy was launched from the early work of Gregory Bateson and others in the Hixon Symposia and then adopted a General System perspective. This paper charts some of the pathways taken by Systemic Family and Couples Therapy (SFCT) during the last 50 years, reviews current developments and invites consideration of developments in other areas of systemic theory and application that would benefit SFCT. In the process I will offer stages from my own erratic thread through these developments, through theories of contingency , causal attribution, schemas, and attachment to practice in reflexive learning and developing a self-report measure of family functioning. Early models of SFT included the strategic in which the therapist determines the systemic dysfunction and creates conditions that prevent the family from continuing with it, and the more collaborative structural with its focus on communicational and other boundaries, and triangulations. Major advances in the 1980s include ‘Milan systemic’, Murray Bowen’s Systemic Family Therapy and Maturana’s structurally determined systems. In Europe at least the field became resistant to explanations involving causality and there was a move to regarding the family as the only expert on its functioning. Meanwhile the focus on families as linguistic systems opened up to external influences from such as Bakhtin, Vygotsky, Foucault and Derrida focussed attention on wider systemic influences. Current developments cluster around an integration of systemic with attachment approaches, the ‘open dialogue’ movement and ‘relational reflexivity’. Concerns have returned to wider systems and in particular Government and Health concerns with evidence-based provision, monetisation, and well-being
THE NEED TO IDENTIFY SYSTEM ARCHETYPES AND LEVERAGE POINTS FOR THE PROTECTION OF AQUIFERS IN THE WATER-ENERGY NEXUS
No full textAs the world’s population approaches the 9 billion mark (United Nations, 2011) and the demand for energy increases, increased pressure is being placed on freshwater supplies in the earth’s ‘water-energy’ systems. This paper, based on research for the completion of my doctoral dissertation, studies a number of concerns regarding the contamination and depletion of freshwater aquifers as the energy sector continues to grow. To address these concerns, this paper proposes that environmental tax policy, and in particular, ecological tax incentives for aquifer protection – within a socio-ecological systems framework - can play an important role in protecting potable water sources by promoting long-term sustainable practices. Daly (1996) discusses fifteen principles on sustainable development. Though nearly twenty years old, these principles are as relevant today as they were when they were written – if not more so, now. The principles are integrated into a ‘regulatory framework for the protection of aquifers’ in this study, in an attempt to link existing ideas regarding ‘sustainable development’ with new ideas formulated using a systems approach. The interactions between energy production/usage and potable water supplies is depicted in the paper through a series of systems archetypes, wherein balancing loops are identified as points of leverage for the introduction of ecological tax incentives for aquifer protection. These points of leverage are then identified within the larger framework, where they will later be tested using primary data from various stakeholders (using a grounded theory methodology) in order to discover a theory and themes on the use of ecological tax incentives for water protection. The study takes an interdisciplinary approach to deal with the multi-faceted dilemma facing the water-energy nexus, and the paper explores the situation using theories of complex open-systems, e.g. (Meadows, 2008; Senge, 1990; Sterman, 2000; von Bertalanffy, 1972), environmental regulations and tax policy, e.g. (Baumol & Oates, 1988; DiJohn, 2010; Fullerton, 2001; Gunningham & Grabosky, 2004; Määttä, 2006; Pigou, 2002; Tinbergen, 1952), and resilience, e.g. (Arrow et al., 1995; Berkes & Folke, 1998; Gunderson, Allen, & Holling, 2010; Holling, 1973; Walker & Salt, 2006). The paper then concludes with the suggestion that economic/environmental policies based on systems thinking will offer a more sustainable and resilient future for the earth’s freshwater supplies.  
Using a systems-based Evolutionary Learning Laboratory to address the “ NEET - Not in Employment, Education, or Training” issue in Japan
No full textThe purpose of social design is to create a feasible solution in order to solve a particular problem. For some time, social designs have been made by social entrepreneurs using unauthorized methodologies formed through lessons from their own activities and experiences. They regard these methodologies as practical, but they are often difficult to design, especially in complex social systems where multiple stakeholders are involved. Participatory systems analysis (PSA) is another valuable methodology in social design, as it provides various stakeholders with the opportunity to share their mental models with each other, to recognize and understand issues, and to identify potential barriers and drivers towards creating solutions. This method is effective in developing a consensus for finding the best solutions.The purpose of this study was to create a model to design consensual solutions for an important social issue in Japan involving the high number of NEETS, a term referring to people who are “Not in Employment, Education, or Training.” The mental models of various stakeholders were integrated into a systems structure or causal loop model to develop an understanding of the interrelationships and patterns among the components of the model. The model was used to identify the main leverage points and systemic interventions that could help in solving the NEET problem. Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) modeling was then used for each of the identified leverage points to design an integrated systemic management and operational plan for addressing the NEET issue, which has not yet been successfully addressed in Japan. The systems models (CLM and BBN) were embedded in the Evolutionary Learning Laboratory to create a cyclical social design through which the solutions can be implemented
R & D PROJECT SELECTION IN ENTERPRISES, UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES
No full textTechnological Development is one of the main country goals. In order to be successful in this goal it is necessary not only to have a good technological plan but execute it. This is possible if a technological plan consists of a set of entrepreneurial or academic; feasible and profitable projects. In this paper a structure to carry on that plan, the way to build a technology foresight framework and a discussion about the project selection are presented. Governments have to allocate funds for R & D projects to enhance some prototype designs. The criteria for that selection in universities and institutes are proposed also in this paper
USER GUIDE: ENGAGEMENT TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE
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A DIDACTIC TOOL TO TEACH AN INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEMS SCIENCES
No full textWe present a brief description on a teaching-learning process of Systems Sciences using the proposed structural approach published in the Journals ISSS of the 55th Conference. The proposed structure follows the domain of Science Model developed by Warfield wich helps to integrate in four main components all the body of knowledge of Systems Sciences as follows: The domain of Systems Science The conceptual space and language of Systems Science The theoretical relations within Systems Science The methods of Systems Science At the end of the paper we present an application of the didactic tool
Using an Evolutionary Learning Laboratory approach to establish a World First Model for Integrated Governance of Haiphong, Vietnam
No full textWe manage the systems we are part of in a highly compartmentalised structure. Government departments are a typical example of how society operates in silos. However, complex political, environmental, socio-economic, and business-financial issues tend to transcend the jurisdictions and capacities of any single government department, which adds significantly to the difficulties in finding systemic management solutions and effective governance plans. This lack of cross-sectoral communication and collaboration in complex national and global environments compromises the leaders and policy makers in government, leading to centralised protocols and siloed departments that undercut local responsiveness. The Government of Haiphong City (HPC) decided to establish an Evolutionary Learning Laboratory (ELLab) to enhance communication and collaboration between the different departments in order to develop an integrated and systemic Governance Plan for HPC. Workshops and specialist forums were held to gather the mental models of representatives of different Government departments. The "learning" process started with integrating the various mental models into a systems structure using Causal Loop Modelling and continued during the steps of interpreting and exploring the model. A deeper understanding of the potential implications of actions, strategies and policies lead to the identification of leverages and systemic interventions that will contribute to the development of a sustainable HPC. A series of Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) management models is developed for each of the identified systemic interventions, determining the requirements for their implementation, the factors that could affect the expected outcomes; and the order in which activities should be carried out to ensure cost-effectiveness and maximum impact. The models are combined and used to develop a refined systems model, which forms at the same time a systemic strategic and operational plan for integrated governance of HPC.  
Immersive and Interactive eLearning in Universities
No full textEducational systems in universities have changed very fast, e-learning is the most important change to improve the whole system in the last years and there are many specific technologies to be included in new solutions, In this paper, we propose how to select and integrate these technologies in a specific solution, combining Technology and Knowledge Management. The first task is to study and develop several TIC´s applications to improve the learning process. After that the main effort is to review the university infrastructure and its knowledge system. Besides , it is important design and organize an educational system applying proper pedagogical principles, using many available contents of knowledge and combining all them in classrooms with many tools to create a dynamic interaction, immersive visualization , collaborative work and permanent evaluation . Knowledge Managements help teachers achieve this objective of knowledge development. In universities, it is a combination of experience, values, specialized information and expert insight for creating and improving individual competencies. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the educational system in universities in order to define and use proper tools for integrating a new modernized system of e- Learning. If the available resources are low, the system is simple but if the technological resources are high we would have an immersive and interactive system
A CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF SYSTEMS THINKING LEADERSHIP IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES
No full textThe pluralistic and often competing goals of myriad constituents, the changing demographics of students, the uncertainty of funding, and the growing demands for accountability from stakeholders have increased the complexity of systems which community college leaders must manage. Emerging from the recent literature on community colleges is a call for new models of leadership in the context of leading in an increasingly uncertain and complex environment. Systems thinking offers a means to help leaders respond to these growing organizational complexities and move leadership from a traditional bureaucratic model to a more adaptive model better suited for today's dynamic community colleges. Despite a robust body of literature on systems thinking in myriad fields, there is comparatively scant evidence of systems thinking's application to organizational management or leadership per se in higher education and even less in community colleges. Hence, a systematic review of literature on systems thinking and complexity theory and their application in higher education was bolstered with evidence from healthcare. Findings reveal three reoccurring ways in which leaders apply systems thinking processes for improving organizational performance. A conceptual model for systems thinking leadership is proposed in which the three processes, characterized as discovery, framing, and action, can be enacted either individually or sequentially for enhancing organizational performance. The model draws upon boundary critique, critical systems thinking, systemic intervention, total systems intervention, systems dynamics, soft systems methodology, complexity theory and complex adaptive systems, yet uses language more readily identifiable and accessible to community college practitioners to encourage the use of these systemic practices. Systems Thinking Leadership, as proposed in this paper, provides a framework for community college leaders-presidents, chief academic officers, deans, department chairs, and faculty-to view their organization through a systems lens, and to enact and engage the adaptive and participatory practices of discovery, framing, and action for improving organizational performance.  
Leverage Points in Systemic Change, an Empirical Evaluation of Meadows Taxonomy
No full textA system intervention is usually done with the view of changing some aspect of the system. That aspect might be the boundary of the system, the desired results of the system, the ability to apply a given set of metrics to the system or some other aspect. The nature of the intervention is always a matter of delicate selection. Systems practitioners eventually learn that certain leverage points exist in all systems that can be used to initiate change in the system and thus avoid the frustrating effort of attempting to 'muscle" the system into a state of change. Of course the understanding of the existence of leverage points is really just the surface of the problem; the crux of the thing is the identification of the various leverage points in the system and the attempt to have some understanding of the possible unintended consequences of an intervention of that system through the adjustment of the identified leverage points. Meadows developed taxonomy of systemic intervention points in 1999. Those intervention points are arranged from the one with the smallest overall effect such as changing constants, parameters and numbers (such as subsidies, taxes, standards)to that having the most dramatic effect upon the system; changing the ability to transcend paradigms. As of 2012 this taxonomy had not been subject to empirical validation. During a two year period three different cohousing communities were studied for the purpose of exploring the dynamic of the ethical change. The data collected was analyzed and various themes were developed. Pivotal ethical moments were identified and the leverage point in each change was distinguished and inspected for the effects of its application. This paper discusses systemic leverage points from the perspective of a larger study of ethical change within three cohousing communities that were studied over a two year period. Its purpose is to discover if Meadows taxonomy can be empirically validated as a useful tool to design a process of system intervention to achieve the greatest possible effect, or alternatively the least possible effect upon the system. The communities that were studied were all located in the Northern California area of the United States and were selected through the process of snowball sampling as were the participants in the study. Data was collected though semi structured interviews and the personal observations of the researcher as well as an analysis of the public presentation of the various communities through their websites. The data that was collected was coded using Atlas.ti and themes developed from that data, in part focusing upon Meadows model. This paper is divided into an exposition of the various research sites and major pivotal moments within the sites. Those pivotal moments are then examined from the viewpoint of Meadows' twelve leverage points to determine if the data supports that model. Conclusions from the examination are drawn and suggestions for further research are made.