International Society for the Systems Sciences: Journals ISSS
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Appreciating Systems Changes via Multiparadigm Inquiry: Architectural Design, Ecological Anthropology, Classical Chinese Medicine, Systems Rhythms
No full textIn which ways is the subject of systems change(s), as a first-class concept, distinct from a reduction into (i) systems and (ii) changes? For practice, theory, and methods to be authentically rigourous, the philosophy underlying an approach to systems changes can be explicated. Through an appreciative systems framework, presumptions are surfaced as to (i) what are and are not systems changes; (ii) when, where, and for whom, systems changes are prioritized for attention; and (iii) how systems changes should be addressed. Philosophies of (i) architectural design; (ii) ecological anthropology, (iii) Classical Chinese Medicine and (iv) rhythms, are explored through multiparadigm inquiry, and open theorizing. The resulting influence of these four philosophies is considered, leading to a philosophy of systems rhythms more explicitly proposed as a foundation on which to approach systems changes
Systemic Ageing Policies - a Global Problématique as an example for Systems Sciences and Systems Practice with Cybernetics and Ancient-Modern East-West Systems Thinking: 系統老齡化政策 – 一個全球性問題的古今中外系統科學與系統應用
No full textActive and healthy ageing has been investigated by the World Health Organisation WHO and governments in many countries. If anything is an open system, then the Elderly system could not be closed! Hence we need to investigate the possible and important connection between the Elderly system and other systems. A healthy society would require a dynamic balance among different sub-systems and the environment. We would like to compare the two possible solutions from a reductionistic approach and that of a systemic one. This would involve systemic wisdom from different SIGs to work together to address issues arise from the current balancing points of different Yin-Yang spectrums with Cybernetics and Ancient-Modern East-West Systems Thinking. Possible spectrums could be the elderly-youth population system, retirement-workforce society, duties-rights ethical perspective, ancient-modern culture establishment in societies. This would involve concepts from Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. The human body will fail eventually with ageing, but systems scientists have the responsibility to implement systemic strategies that could help the elderly to fail gracefully and systemically. Elderly healthcare is not only about the physical body but also involves Mental, Emotional, Behavioural, and Spiritual aspects. Innovation is the process arises from the emergence of functional new systems supported by various stakeholders-observers who could realise the new connections between different existing sub-systems. Therefore stakeholders-observers' involvement is of utmost importance. Such an active and healthy systemic ageing systemic proposal could well be applied to ISSS itself
COMPLEXITY PATTERNING: A LANGUAGE AND STRATEGY FOR THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF COMPLEXITY COMPETENCE
No full textEducation is the main site for preparing young people for co-generative participation with the emerging future. Therefore, teaching and learning today needs to support students to gain knowledge and skills for effective responses to the challenges facing humanity. Complexity competence is one such skill, comprising complexity perception, thinking, knowing, and understanding, as well as practical strategies for application. This paper presents a project developed and implemented by the author for the teaching and learning of complexity competence. A simple patterns-based design called Complexity Patterning was developed and implemented as a language and educational process and strategy, to provide a foundation for reworking students’ conceptual and practical engagement with and within complex phenomena. The patterning process can be adapted for any complex phenomenon of interest and focus, and has a low cognitive load, making it useful for a wide range of ages and groups. Complexity Patterning also forms an identity emergence approach to learning, and learning complexity, through using the relational becoming of identity as an experiential gateway phenomenon of focus. Initially emerging from attempts to disrupt reductive and linear temporalities in educational curriculum and practice, the patterns-based design was implemented with secondary students over several years in the developmental phase. The design and process were then refined and implemented with four cohorts of undergraduate students in a recent doctoral inquiry project. Complexity Patterning provides a sound foundation of complexity competence for practical application, as well as for further teaching and learning in a wide range of knowledges and disciplines. Through nurturing the capacity for co-generative engagement with complex phenomena, Complexity Patterning supports human emergence as attractors of coherence, as purposeful patterners of a healthy future
The Other Pardigm: Freedom
No full text It is well known and accepted that science is identified with materialism, and has a preference for deterministic explanations. All events in the real world are assumed to have causes that can be mathematically modeled and predicted. Thus anything that looks like a decision is merely the inevitable result of the scientific laws of cause and effect. This has been adapted in the last century to add that those events not mathematically predictable are random events and, though not individually predictable, their distribution is, and follows a bell shaped curve. The idea of making plans or setting goals is considered a delusion referred to as the “intentional fallacy.” We can trace this metaphysical system back to its origins in medieval nominalism and in classical times to Aristotle.
Although materialist philosophy is the dominant metaphysics of Western culture, there has always been another metaphysical model which can be traced back to medieval realism and in classical time to the philosophy of Plato. In the last century the inability of materialism to account for freedom and creativity in human beings and in nature has brought a rediscovery of Platonic ideas in the role of communication and decision making in the structure of nature and human societies. The discoveries of gestalt psychology, information systems, and cybernetics have brought ideas back as a central cause in understanding events in the real world, and place freedom at the centre of life. The recognition of the role in natural processes of information and communication, as well as matter and energy, is essential to creating a unified theory of systems
An Introduction to the Confluence Toolset
No full textHow do complex patterns affect our lives, families, teams, communities, organizations, and societies? What are the practical implications of self-organization as it intermingles and interacts with our intentional actions? Confluence is a set of thinking tools and a group exercise designed to help all of us make sense of how the twin forces of self-organization (spontaneous patterns) and organization (purposeful plans) flow together through the situations we face and the decisions we make. In this paper, the author introduces the concept and purpose of Confluence and illustrates its use with a worked example that employs all seven tools in the Confluence toolset. The author hopes to help more people learn how to use and benefit from Confluence, and to build a community that will continue to refine and improve it in the future
CRITICAL SYSTEMS THINKING IN EDUCATION : A LITERATURE PERSPECTIVE AND DEMONSTRATION
No full textFor people who are illiterate, the opportunities for employment and improving their situation presents an overwhelming challenge. In the world of the 21st century people who are data illiterate, will increasingly find themselves in the same situation, irrespective of their field of employment. Companies and society need people who can analyse data and use the resulting information to direct decisions.
Another aspect of the 21st century that society struggles with, is the increasing prevalence of mental illness due to work pressures, failing marriages, torn family structures, isolation and so forth. The mental health of students is a major cause for concern since one in three students show signs of depression and anxiety.
Within this context there is a need to develop a plan to address the instructional design for data science students. They need to learn relevant content in a manner that will equip them to succeed in the workplace and society at large within a context where their wellbeing will be nurtured.
The study employs the Systems Informed Positive Psychology perspective to direct the process of improving the design of data science modules. Critical Systems Thinking determines how different components are interlinked, and how they can best be changed to attain the overall goal by listening to the voices of all the affected parties. Directed content analysis of comments received from 284 students participating in an introductory statistics module at a South African university indicates that students intuitively mentioned several aspects of the Flourishing Classrooms Systems Model, thereby indicating that students would like a thriving classroom.
The students’ voice indicated that things like emotional bonding and supportiveness are important to them. Little classroom flexibility is experienced by the students, it may be due to lecturers who are lacking in leadership in the classroom and are unwilling to negotiate on matters with the students. Students indicated the importance of proper classroom communication – clarity and listener skills are crucial for students to flourish in a class. Finally, several aspects of classroom wellbeing were mentioned: strength focus rather than zooming in on shortcomings, lecturers’ emotional management, students’ increased attention through active learning, improved coping through better planning and time management, and the forming of good study habits.
This study shows that by employing systems thinking, the inter-connectedness of diverse factors emerged more clearly, enabling educationists to develop better solutions that may make a difference in the lives of many students
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMS SCIENCE AND ITS THREE CONTRIBUTIONS TO PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
No full textFor a century since its inception in 1920s, systems science has constantly and consistently explored complexity, raising numerous new philosophical questions. Scholars have taken different approaches to understanding the development of systems science, which is of great significance to appreciating its philosophical value. In this regard, we concur with H. Simon that there have been three eruptions of interest in complexity and complex systems. We consider as the first eruption the research pioneered by A. Bogdanov and featuring Bertalanffy's general system theory, which marks the formation of systems science. The second eruption refers to the research of self-organization theory that developed from dissipative structure theory and synergetics. The third eruption refers to the research of complexity theory represented by complex adaptation system theory. We propose that there has formed a fourth eruption, as researchers now widely apply the concepts and methods of systems to economic, social and environmental systems, giving systems science research a strong application orientation. The advances in systems science have challenged some classical philosophical ideas and raised a new range of philosophical questions. Furthermore, the Elsevier Handbook of the Philosophy of Science incorporated Philosophy of Complex Systems into the framework of philosophy of science for the first time. We propose that the contributions of systems science to the philosophy of science manifests in the following three aspects: First, systems philosophy developed by Bertalanffy, including systems ontology, epistemology and value, has laid the foundation for systems philosophy to become a school of philosophy of science. Second, systems science addresses the relationship between whole and part, existence and evolution, and seeks to provide new justifications for ontological problems such as relational realism. Third, systems science also challenges the epistemological problems, carving out new explanatory approaches to complex systems emergence with condition-dependent laws and other principles of systems science
TOWARDS ECO-SYSTEMIC LIVING : LEARNING WITH INDIGENOUS LEADERS IN AFRICA AND INDONSIA THROUGH A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE : IMPLICATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND PANDEMICS Advances in Systems Sciences and Systems Practice
No full textProblem The big issues of the day are poverty, climate change and pandemics linked with rapid habitat loss and urbanization in Africa and Asia. The root causes are a lack of representation of multiple species, a lack of accountability and an unsustainable way of life. We are addressing ways to address governance and re-generative living to protect the commons with Indigenous communities in Africa and Indonesia
In Venda , The Tshidzivhe Project and Bamboo co-operative has been set up as part of an action research project. The aim is to learn from Indigenous leaders) to raise awareness and capabilities for co-operative social enterprise in line with Indigenous local knowledge systems and to assess the process.
The project responds to the UN policy to address food, energy and water security and the need to redress high rates of urbanisation and the cascading impact on human security (UN Urbanisation Report, 2014, UN Sendai Risk Platform, 2030, IPPC, 2020). In terms of innovation we draw on and adapt the principle of the ‘One Village, One Product approach’, decreed by President Jokowi (2014) in Indonesia, to enable working across sites to facilitate the mapping of opportunities and the cross fertilisation of ideas . It uses a gender mainstreaming and relational multispecies lens to support wellbeing.
Rationale: The rationale is that forests need to be protected as they are ‘the lungs of the planet’, to cite Chief Raoni, nobel peace price nominee for 2020.
Methodology: We are using participatory action research and mixed methods. The focus is on values, perspectives and ways to make a difference through addressing a range of practical concerns, such as: food, energy and water security. Ontologically our perspective is shaped by recognising kinship with nature, as expressed by Indigenous custodians. Epistemologically we explore ways to enhance education based on working across cultures and disciplines using a cross cultural approach and mixed methodology. Our team includes members with social , cultural and policy knowledge as well a a team member with high level computing skills. Axiologically we support the notion of transformative research that promotes balancing non-anthropocentrism with an approach that draws on Indigenous wisdom whilst addressing patriarchal notions through gender mainstreaming . The Balancing Individualism and Collectivism Special integration group has focused on learning by doing using an applied mixed methods approach. It is based on a community of practice spanning NGOs, community projects and university departments. Some of the fieldwork is supported by a small NRF fund, some funding from UNISA and in kind support from participants who meet regularly on line. We work together because of shared values and mutual respect .
Results: The work in progress paper reflects on the lessons from two case studies in order to discuss 1. how they address Elinor Ostrom’s principles to protect the commonsand 2. Implications for social, economic and environmental challenges with a practical focus on food, water and energy security through regenerative enterprise. The two case studies are of forest communities in Venda in South Africa and Ciptagelar, West Java, respectively. They are discussed in terms their social, environmental and economic approaches. The research is conducted together with local leaders who contribute to praxis and writing up the results. We hope to set up and monitor a project to support organic farming in Venda and to learn from these ( already functioning )organic communities, so that lessons can be scaled up and shared in the hope that people will be encouraged to follow their examples, in line with President Jokowi’s One Village, one or many (organic) enterprises which has resonance in South Africa. In both cases the communities see themselves as related to nature, in the case of Venda, they express this as a totemic relationship and have been inspired to apply an ecological calendar which was taught to them during the time Mphatheleni Makaulule (second author) spent time learning from Amazonian leaders. In the case of Ciptagelar , the nomadic way of life is based on a sense of being stewards who do not commodify rice, a sacred source of life , which is in turn dependent upon all the co-existent creatures and ultimately the forest which is their home. In both communities the environment and people are priorities managed by observing the natural cycle. Both communities rely on an ecological calendar to guide the planning and harvesting of crops. In Tshidzivhe Venda a rigorous approach to planting crops, harvesting from the forest and re-planting the forest is observed and the entire community acts as caretakers and are required to ask permission before harvesting from the forest. Similarly, in Ciptagelar, West Java the chief reads the signs when it is time to move to another area and follows a careful approach to biodiversity ensuring that paddy is grown only for certain months so that other creatures can thrive during other months.
Key words: principles, protecting the commons, circular economy and regeneration
 
An Examination of Private K–12 School Boards Around Issues of Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Culturally Responsive Practices
No full textThis document-based, mixed methods research study draws from the theoretical lens of systems theory. Six local private K–12 school boards associated with a wider religiously affiliated school system should function coherently in design and practice. In most cases, they do, but incoherence exists in the area of board training. This study’s findings may be important leverage points that indicate where improvements can be made within this otherwise well-designed system of schools. This research looked at data from board documents, semi-structured interviews, and survey questionnaires. The study sheds light on the functions of school boards within select local private K–12 school systems on North America’s East Coast, where there is sparse research about the way these uniquely constituted boards function within their local school systems, specifically around issues of curriculum, pedagogy, and culturally responsive practices
HOLISTIC NATURAL SYSTEMS - DESIGN & STEERING: NEW SCIENCE FOR INDIVIDUAL SYSTEMS
No full textAbstract
Great societies and their cultures grow from small beginnings, some becoming imperiled by challenges of their own making, as ours has with our ever-growing power causing conflicts both with ourselves and nature. It is now becoming possible to compare the functional designs of different kinds of growth systems in their natural contexts, using new methods of natural systems science. We start with easily recognized functional features of natural systems found in natural and human system designs. Some notably end up in trouble. Others reliably work out just fine. It exposes important functional differences as in how internal and external parts fit together. Better steering to focus more attention on the system contexts, inside and out, is often suggested. –– Learning to recognize natural systems starts with seeing how they begin, with a primed nucleus, seed, or germ of design in a nourishing place and compound growth. The result may be a snowflake, tree, person, business, organization, culture, etc., all needing to maintain their healthy coupling with their environment(s) as each evolves for a short or long time. –– For people, there is a second nested coupling of relationships of concern, our separate mental and physical worlds. We have a long historical experience of our minds making us feel out of place in the world, not at home, as if reality were somewhat conceptual. So, this is the “kit of parts” we use to understand our world today, looking for what we can know about systems we rely on and do not control, asking what kind of steering might address present problems and issues. Simple diagrams help prompt good leading questions about how to make a future and feel at home