International Society for the Systems Sciences: Journals ISSS
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SOCIAL ADAPTABILITY OF COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE CASE STUDIES: A review of indicators and developments for economic sustainability
No full textComplex Adaptive Systems have been of interest to academic observers for approximately 60 years as a specialised area within complexity. Whilst some attention has been given specifically to Social Complex Adaptive Systems (SCAS), this area is not as well understood, with less attention and focus on both the adaptability of communities within SCAS and how they establish sustainable communities. Using case studies and paying attention to Communities of Practice (CoP) this paper will investigate specifically the use of CoPs to enhance an understanding of organisational dynamics and economic indicators for sustainable community development. This paper summarises some key elements regarding social complex systems and poses question for discussion; what are the fundamental relationship elements for socially adaptability of communities within social complex adaptive systems? To understand this question, elements from several case studies were highlighted and discussed, as a basis for identifying instances and their methodological approach that resulted in exposing interesting emergent properties that displayed through the following: 1. A CoP developing sustainable areas of importance through mutual mixtures of interest and consensus on several levels, individual, group and external interaction with the group. 2. Learning of the dynamics of interest and consensus interactive layers via a case of SME interacting with a larger organization for mutual sustainable business and economic developmen
Causal Loops in Automotive Recycling
No full textEach year in Australia, more than 610,000 cars reach the end of their use cycle; termed End of Life Vehicles (ELVs). The market-driven recycling of ELVs in Australia is done by operators in the automotive industry with no ELV-specific policies governing their operations. System Dynamics is applied to the automotive recycling sector. Across three Australian states, thirteen stakeholder interviews were conducted to identify the flows of materials in the system and the influencing factors driving these flows. This paper presents a discussion of the causal loops and scenarios identified from interview data and field observations around the dynamics of ELV Sourcing, Workforce, and Premises relating to the automotive recycling business. 
Yes, there is a general system principle, No it is not a theory
No full textABSTRACT
This and That in a Loving Relationship is Something Else. C = L( A, P
REMOVING THE CHASM WITH COMMUNICATION
No full textIn developing a global eco-community, communication is a key lever, as people adopt new ideas for different reasons and in different ways. Just like early markets and mainstream markets are different from each other in adopting products, also innovative and visionary actors in the field of sustainable lifestyles are different from the mainstream actors, who should also be involved in change. This difference creates a risk of a chasm in the flow of adoption of new ideas. To build a global eco-community, a more sustainable lifestyle should become mainstream. In striving toward this, it is important to see that most people act as pragmatists in adopting new ideas and that communication between different actors influences how panarchic systems change. 
Small businesses. Great businessmen. A different look to review their problems
No full textDuring last three years, in four cities of Argentine (Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Bariloche and Trelew) management´s students of University of Buenos Aires, National University of Córdoba, National University of Río Negro and National University of Patagonia S.J.B., under direction of Eugenio Zwarycz & Eduardo Fuks in Buenos Aires, Ana Leal in Córdoba and Adriana Fantini, Eduardo Scagnetti & Marta Dans in Patagonia, 474 interviews and a survey about SMES. In Ushuaia, informatics’ students under supervision of Jorge Ontiveros & José Artaza processed surveys. The research was conducted by Enrique Herrscher and Ricardo Barrera. We analyzed categories of SMES by size, activity under complexity paradigm, another surveys and bibliography, established to test hypothesis and theoretical framework, designed the survey and set operational standards for students to ensure high quality and homogeneity in that surveys. We investigated possible correlations and causal relationships, changed assumptions. We found “other” complexity: a step up in the category. It also emerged a new factor on the complexity: difference between level and trend. It also has challenged widespread views, in that many of those interviewed (40%) consider their size advantage over the competition
THE ROLE OF SYNERGY IN THE EVOLUTION OF LIVING SYSTEMS
No full textLiving Systems Theory (LST), as well as
System of Systems Processes Theory (SSP), Relational Biology and other theory
and research in the systems sciences and complexity science have illuminated
many aspects of how living systems work – their mechanisms, processes and
relationships. The Synergism Hypothesis,
originally proposed in 1983, addresses the evolution of “cooperation” in nature
and why there has been a secular trend over time toward increased complexity in
living systems. The theory highlights
the role of functional synergy – adaptively significant combined effects that
are interdependent and otherwise unattainable – in shaping the “progressive” emergence
of complex living systems, an approach that is entirely consistent with modern
evolutionary biology and natural selection theory. It is thus radically opposed to various
orthogenetic/deterministic theories of complexity that have been proposed over
the years. This theory has recently
gained scientific support, and there is growing appreciation for the role of
various kinds of synergy as an influence in the evolutionary process
Hip-Hop street fashion, identity, and cross-Cultural appropriation in the Asian diaspora
No full textHip hop fashion originates from black American youths in the 1990s. The style of clothing has replicated and evolved from street fashion in inner cities where ethnic American blacks are the majority, to suburbs where the white middle-class predominates. On a world scale, these fashions are evident not only in Asian-American and Asian- Canadian communities, but also on the streets of Japan, Korea, China, and other industrialized economies. This paper examines whether (i) Asian-Americans and Asian-Canadians serve as a bridge to Asians, or (ii) Asians are adopting fashion trends directly.Ties run deep between the fashion styles in which a diasporic community dresses, and the hybrid identity in which they affiliate. This pattern of behaviour can be framed as cross-appropriation in the disclosing of new worlds. Contextual backgrounds are first provided on (i) clothing as a tool for identity, (ii) the origins of hip-hop fashion, and (iii) the origins of North America's diasporic Asian community. The phenomenon of hip-hop street fashion in the Asian diaspora is then described. Theories on identity and cross-cultural appropriation are outlined. Potential trends in the future are then projected
The concept of resilience in community and engineered systems - a cross sectoral feeding of ideas
No full textTECHNOLOGY POLICIES FOR EDUCATION SYSTEMS
No full textKnowledge is the main interest in universities, enterprises and research institutes. National systems of innovation and production are also related to technology and knowledge. Unfortunately technology policies and management knowledge policies in both levels seem to be inexistent in most cases or disconnected in few cases which are more or less defined. National Systems of Innovation may be viewed as a way of encompassing the many relationships between technology, economic development , trade, education quality and social improvement . Technological learning and its application across sectors of a country require of an education system strong, up dated and efficient to guarantee competitiveness in terms of production The links between national science, technology, industry, education, economic development systems are many and each of them receives the effect of the others- So the policies on each of them need to be defined as an integral whole-. Strategic orientation, formulation and integration is the support and a good way to have good results in the market competence. Public management In almost all countries is not enough systemic nor integral to make possible a design of a set of policies in the mentioned fields. Particularly in emergent countries it is necessary to make an effort to assure a better congruence between policies. This paper tries to help achieve this purpose. 
Apithological Systems Theory: Learnings from Ecology
No full textApithology is the field of study that considers the generative dynamics of living systems. A distinguishing feature of apithological praxis is the inclusion of the effects of the system dynamics of human thought. This involves the depiction of systems of thought as complex inter-linked hierarchies in multi-spatial arrangements. This generates distinctive questions for the framing of its observations. One field which has considered the problems of epistemological choices in formulating similar observations is the discipline of systems ecology. The proposition of this paper is that the learnings gained from the field of systems ecology may inform a theory of praxis for apithological systems inquiries. Bateson (1972) proposed that deutero-learning (i.e. Learning II) occurs when there is a progressive change in the rate of proto-learning (i.e. Learning I) by adaptation of learning to different contexts. The presence of proto-learning within one field of thinking (i.e. ecological systems) provides the opportunity for deutero-learning in the field of thought (i.e. apithological systems). Extending from the study of ecological systems, five questions are noted as junctures for the selection of framing choices in the observation of complex systems. Using a criteria for philosophical coherence, a conjunction of natural and service systems is proposed. From this base, five category errors of thinking that change the quality of the results of those framing choices are identified. Within this premise, specific learnings gained from the study of ecological systems are applied as deutero-learning opportunities and adapted for the study of thought-ecologies. To conclude, apithological principles applying those learnings are proposed for the observation of systems of thought. From this analysis, five observational protocols are derived as requirements for the praxis of apithology. Reflections are provided on the systemic effect of coherency in the presence or absence of these five considerations on the human capacity for knowing and unknowing. This leads to a third-order insight in practice for the enablement of generativity in the ecology of human thought