International Society for the Systems Sciences: Journals ISSS
Not a member yet
1073 research outputs found
Sort by
Developments in Critical Systems Theory: On Paradigms and Incommensurability
No full textThis paper is an investigation of the still unresolved issue of onto-epistemologically incommensurable paradigms. It chronicles several developments in systems thinking which attempt to incorporate multimethodological approaches to systemic research, design and practice into theories which explain and justify them. With the advantage of hindsight, this research explains how each newly developed theory reflected an increased sophistication of what it means to act multimethodologically, across paradigms. Improvements result from active debates and rigourous criticism between members of the systems community laying open newly discovered shortcomings in contemporary Critical Systems theory. 
SPT II.: HOW TO FIND & MAP LINKAGE PROPOSITIONS FOR A GTS FROM THE NATURAL SCIENCES LITERATURE
No full textThis paper continues a series that further develops the Systems Processes Theory (SPT) – as a candidate general theory of systems (GTS) that is tightly coupled to the experimental results of the several natural sciences and a half-century of systems research in an attempt to produce a true “science” of systems. This paper focuses on the discovery and documentation of mutual, causal “influences” between 55 systems processes (SPs) that were critically selected in a previous paper (Friendshuh & Troncale, 2012). We call these mutual, non-linear, causal influences, or other impacts or relations, Linkage Propositions (LPs). LPs create a “net” of interacting systems processes that we claim explains, “how many systems work” in a more detailed and experimentally verified manner than many previous systems theories. This paper begins by defining LPs and suggests criteria for determining what is and is not an LP. It continues with 30 case studies of finding possible LPs in the peer-reviewed literature of the natural sciences from quantum physics to astronomy to chemistry to geology to biology to ecology to network theory, even to human systems. We emphasize the steps that could be used by any informed investigator to find their own LPs between systems processes in personal scans of the available scientific literature. The paper continues by comparing several available computer tools that could be used to graphically portray the SP-LP network. Each is evaluated for usability, simplicity, and breadth of applicability. The tools are compared by applying them to making an overview map of the defining characteristics of Linkage Propositions. Then one of them, CMAP, is used to show how the new LPs suggested in this paper can be graphically related to previous CMAPs of the SPT. The paper closes with an image of future work that would further contribute to building, testing, and applying the SPT to complex systems of systems problems facing humanity today
Teaching communitarian ethics from systemic perspectives
No full textThis paper describes and examines a theoretical and empirical proposal for systemic research and practice that appreciate ‘communitarian ethics’ that come from a holistic ways of thinking and acting. We explore the nature of the process of action-based learning that examining one’s own actions and learning about the complexity of educational practice from both Western and Eastern systemic perspectives. As a virtual life regards as the good life from MacIntyre’s ethical perspective, we offer a theoretical basis for our approach to communitarian ethics that takes place from an experiential approach to reflective social practice, the narrative unity of a human life, and the systemic inquiry to the nature of a social practice where it needs to reassess where it is going, and how we will build our good life that communicates and shares with ‘others’ in society. Based on critical Eastern thoughts, we appreciate and present Zhuang Zu (Chuang Tzu)’s theory of Daoism in order to understand reflective social practice. It allows participants to be ‘critical thinkers’ in the given situations. Keywords: Communitarian ethics; Western and Eastern systemic perspectives; Zhuang Zu (Chuang Tzu)’s theory of Daois
Enacting Systemic Change of Health Promotion with Simplicity and Transformability of ϕ [fi]
No full textIn the past decades, health promotion has been undertaken in the linear process between health and disease. Healthcare education has been advocated "multi-professional" for most undergraduate medical students to build "the skills necessary for the priority health problems of individuals and communities that are known to be particularly amenable to team-work" (The World Health Organization, 1988). Nowadays, medical education and clinical practice have become increasingly important approaches to deal with human disease problems. They have yet paid adequate attention to the prevention care which focuses on the core value and knowledge of maintaining a healthy life rather than searching the best treatments of disease. In Taiwan, the many thorny problems challenging the governmental health system, such as the burnout medical staff, excessive medical treatment, unevenly distributed medical resource, food products with contaminated by plasticizer etc. It is time that we collectively counteract these intertwined social, economic and biological problems with a systemic approach applicable to health promotion education and daily clinical practice. Indeed, neither health nor disease is an absolute or static state. In this paper, the author intends to re-conceptualize the linear model of disease and health by reframing health promotion from the systemic perspectives with simplicity and transformability of ϕ[fi]for both the professional and the public. The author will first explicate the essence of (1) Theory U and Golden ratio, (2) fundamentals of applying action learning, and (3) health promotion theory and practice. Then, she would inquire s three main research questions in order to explore the simplicity and transformability of ϕ[fi] to enact systemic change in health promotion. The three research questions are as below: (1)What approaches or viewpoints have been repeatedly used for health promotion? (2) How divergent or convergent are these approaches, and what is the fundamental approach needed? (3)How could health promotion arguments and modles be re-conceptualized for systemic practice? In this study, the author will use discourse well as reflexive method, including collecting, comparing, reorganizing and representing images and icons. The presumption of this study is that health promotion should not be approached in a linear process, but a spiral process (Figure 1.& Figure 2.). The primary findings of this study include: (1)The smallest unit for enacting systemic change (the spiral process) is ϕ (Figure 1.) which originates from the concept “Golden ratio (Figure 4.&Figure 5.)”by Leonardo diser Piero da Vinci. (2)The spiral process integrates the essence of the U-process manifested in Theory U by Otto Scharmer (2007), Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell (1949, 2008), Mythic Structure by Christopher Vogler (2007), and double helix model of DNA structure by Watson and Crick (1953). (3)The ϕ [fi]is a prototype signifying one to infinity and infinity to another one through a series of process: (A) shaping into U or V, (B) inverting and conjunctive, (C)replication and convergence, (D)separation and divergence, (E)reshaping the prototype, and (F) overlapping prototypes with the same or the different (Figure 6.). The ϕ[fi] is Φ[fi] of lower case, pronounced as /ˈfaɪ/ in English, and it is the 21st letter of the Greek alphabet, and it is a unit in many kinds of disciplines (Wikipedia, 2013).It could be the ideal prototype of the spiral of action research and action learning in the practice communities: (1) plan, (2)act, (3)observe, (4)reflect, and (5) back to zero or re-contemplative (Figure 7.).It is expected that with thoughtful application of the simplicity and transformability of ϕ, we can bring great benefit to healthcare education and clinical practice in the future
META SECURITY IN THE HUMAN HIVE: INTEGRALLY ALIGNING SUSTAINABILITY RESPONSES TO TRAJECTORY OF EVOLUTIONARY THREATS
No full textThis article explores a meta-theory for Global Environmental Change and Human Security (GECHS) as it relates to the human hive. It explores the Integral City Framework for environmental change in the Cosmosphere, Biosphere and Anthroposphere. Four maps reveal how humans in the city impact global environment, and how human security is tightly bound with global and human evolution. Elements of the maps include subjective/intersubjective and objective/interobjective perspectives; nested holarchies of whole systems; fractal development of holons and social holons; and eight levels of complex structures. A specific example of the city of Abbotsford is used to illustrate an integral approach to GECHS. The article concludes that the integral city meta-framework provides a GECHS approach that is fractal, scaleable, global, local, holistic, comprehensive, pluralistic, interconnected, evolutionary and developmental
Philosophical Conditions for Sustainable Outcomes to Complex Systemic Interventions
No full textConsideration of Alexander Laszlo’s inspiring vision for a sustainable thriving eco-civilization shows that it is grounded in three important assumptions. These may seem unremarkable at first sight but an analysis of their implications reveals that they commit us to positions that are deeply problematic in the academy. The systems movement will have to help find ways to resolve these issues as a prerequisite for attaining the presented vision. In my view this can be done, and in my presentation I will show what these problems are and how we might approach helping to resolve them. Alexander Laszlo’s three assumptions are that (1) a sustainable thriving eco-civilization is possible, (2) we can bring it about, and (3) it is important that we bring it about. I will show that these three assumptions confront us with three problems the systems movement has struggled with since its inception: (a) the disunity of knowledge and fragmentation of worldviews, (b) the semantic divergence between different disciplines, and (c) the absence of scientific support for non-constructivist theories about values. In situations characterised by complexity and value conflicts these problems subvert collaborative solution design, impede efficient execution of interventions, and undermine broad adoption of the solution features. I will argue that in order to overcome these problems we have to work towards broad acceptance of (i) a moderate ontological realism according to which the world has at least some properties that are stable and independent of our cognitive acts and that can bracket the possibilities for change, (ii) a modest epistemological realism according to which we have at least some access to true knowledge about these properties and boundary conditions, (iii) a robust model of the connectedness between, but distinctness of, objective and subjective kinds of knowledge, (iv) a principled way of developing a semantic framework that makes different disciplines mutually accessible, and (v) a moderate axiological realism according to which at least some values have an objective grounding in the nature of Reality. The problems surrounding unity, realism, knowledge, semantics and values are substantial ones, and the subject of deep divisions in the academy. However, I will argue that due to recent developments the systems movement is now positioned to make crucial contributions towards their resolution, and that it is likely that they will be resolved in a way that will support the validity of Laszlo’s assumptions. More broadly, such progress can help to reinvigorate the systems movement in general by improving the possibility of providing reliable interventions with sustainable outcomes
Scientific Research For The Mexican Satellite System
No full textA technology Management Model for the Mexican Satellite System, based on concepts from different writers is proposed such as: management and technology management. This latter concept involves creation, dissemination, use and transfer of technology. At the next step a Systemic Planning Model for the Mexican Satellite System, is proposed, in order to contribute to technological development.The Stages of Systemic Planning Model for the Mexican Satellite System are: 1 International analysis, 2 Satellite system .analysis, 3. Diagnosis of, national satellite system using the SWOT, 4.. Formulation and answer research questions 5. Proposed solution 6.Mission, vision, values and strategic objectives of the proposal, 7.Strategies, using SWOT: SO, ST, WO and WT combinations, 8. Action plan 9. Technological feasibility, 10.Technological development. From the analysis and diagnosis, it was found that one of the great strengths in our country is scientific research, including space developed since the 1940s, but it is isolated. It is proposed to found humanist satellite companies, to promote and preserve ecology consisting of self-financing, public, mixed or private initiative, that systemically integrates basic and applied scientific research, among other companies which are engaged in the design, construction and launch of satellites with the purpose of contributing to the technological development to provide an efficient, fast, safe and cheap service to meet the demands of domestic and international users. The problem is that, in Mexico as in most developing nations, scientific research is not a systemically integrated industry. For this reason, it is impossible for space technology to develop
ISS2014 Programme and Abstract Book
No full textThe full programme and abstracts for the ISSS 2014 conference
STUDY ON A MODEL FOR TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN VIETNAM BASED ON KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
No full textThe purposes of the study are to propose a new effective model for teacher professional development and examine the model’s effectiveness in Vietnam condition. As the first step of the study, the paper proposed a teacher professional development model, which is based on knowledge management in blended learning environment and pointed out how to validate it. The model is designed based on four knowledge management processes namely knowledge co-creation, knowledge internalization, knowledge sharing and knowledge evaluation. The knowledge in the model is co-created by the participatory method of learning community members. The teacher professional development process is based on the constructive approach that including activities as follows: self-paced learning, knowledge sharing, observational learning, peer evaluation, reflection, group discussion, and feedback, etc. The learners will receive the on going supporting, mentoring and coaching processes among community members. As the result, a lifelong professional learning community and a secondary school teacher network are established and developed