International Society for the Systems Sciences: Journals ISSS
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Aphanipoiesis
No full textAphanipoiesis
Abstract
The multiple entities of a living system are always mutually responding to the shiftings of each other in ways that constitute both stability and change. It may be possible to name the changes that form, but before such naming, deeper abductive possibilities have already begun to quicken. Gregory Bateson sometimes described abduction as the way one context describes another. Charles Sanders Peirce more often described it as a way to hypothesize between contexts.
A New Word to Describe an Aspect of Living Process: Aphanipoiesis
Pathology and vitality in living systems may be observable and describable; however, the ways in which they come to occur are at least in part unseen. “Insidious” describes dangerous outcomes that “creep up” through the combination of unseen contributing processes. But a way to describe a parallel but opposite process, by which vitality, healing, and creativity come into being by the coalescence of multiple unseen factors, is lacking.
Aphanipoiesis (n.) combines two words from ancient Greek to describe this way in which life coalesces toward vitality in unseen ways. (Aphanis comes from a Greek root meaning obscured, unseen, unnoticed; poiesis is from one meaning to bring forth, to make.) Other words which also carry the root aphanis include phantom, diaphanous, and phenomenon, while the root poiesis is familiar from the word poetry, along with Maturana and Varela’s autopoiesis.
Hypothesis and Aphanipoiesis
According to Peirce, abduction is the process of forming an explanatory hypothesis and is the only logical operation which introduces any new idea.
Central to abductive process is the notion of hypothesis. But what does a hypothesis say about the anticipatory systems of perception of any given observer? In noticing aphanipoiesis, it becomes relevant to explore the realm of unseen contributors coalescing to produce the foundations of hypothesis itself. Hypothesis is limited by pre-existing anticipatory patterns. If one listens only for what one knows to listen for, that is what will be heard. In the study of aphanipoiesis, hypothesis is an indicator of those pre-habituated perceptions through which new information will be filtered. Familiarity with something in one context enables a kind of description of another context to become a basis for experiencing newness. A new flavor is explored through the experience of known flavors; a new form of music is explored through the understanding of other forms. Ultimately, abductive process becomes a zone of untamed, unnamed, unseen, and essential contributors to what may later be called emergence.
Keywords: abductive process, anticipatory systems, transcontextual mutual learning, aphanipoiesi
Cybernetic Crisis Resolution in a Federal System – Insights from the Covid Pandemic
No full textThis contribution aims to help improving the resolution of pandemic crises from a complexity stance. My focus is on federal systems, as these are particularly powerful in dealing with environmental complexity. Spanning five waves of the pandemic, over two and a half years (2/2020-2/2022), we studied how the Swiss Federation weathered the crisis. This unit of analysis has been chosen for two reasons: First, Switzerland has built an effective response system for coping with the crisis. Second, and more important, the form of state here is the federation, and the form of governance is democracy. Both are classical approaches to enabling the survival of social systems: Federal structure and democratic participation are the two pillars of viability.
This project concentrates on three research questions: (1) How is the management of the Covid-19-Crisis organized in Switzerland? (2) How effective is this organization in coping with the dynamics of emergency? (3) What lessons can be learned for the design of crisis resolution in the future? We apply the Viable System Model (VSM) as a framework for our study, elaborating a diagnosis and a design for coping with epidemic or pandemic crises. The VSM embodies the structural concept with the most rigorous theoretical claim. As a conceptual tool it is particularly strong for analyzing federal systems. The diagnosis and design we ae developing provides insights for mastering pandemic crises in the future.  
THE VALUE TO SYSTEMS SCIENCES OF DIALOGUE METHODS WHEN ENGAGING WITH GLOBAL CHALLENGES
No full textOverview
Purpose: To explore the use of ‘dialogue’ to improve knowledge sharing when system scientists engage with Global challenges.
Participants: Conference attendees with experiences of or interest in the use of non-competitive knowledge sharing techniques in their systems’ practice.
Methods: Storytelling, rich picturing, emergence, Mural and WindTunneling software.
Outcome: Articulation of the role, value, and techniques of dialogue as systems sciences increasingly engage with global challenges.
Keywords: Collective thinking, Dialogue, experiential knowledge, rich picturing, emergence.
Abstract
Since the 2021 ISSS Online Conference a group of Systems Practitioners has met monthly to discuss the role of dialogue in their system activities and the techniques used by group members in various circumstances. The group has also critically reviewed papers on dialogue.
One of the emergent themes from these discussions (dialogues) has been the increasing polarization about dialogue as a useful method within systems practices. As systems thinkers, designers, negotiators, etc. engage with global challenges (enunciated elsewhere in this Conference) the process of understanding the complexity of associated systems requires dialogues between stakeholders rather than debates or other competitive techniques. This is because it is increasingly unlikely that any one person knows enough about a specific challenge to adequately inform its resolution. We assume, therefore, that we are all dependent on the insights that emerge from sharing our separate experiences and learning.
This workshop invites all users of dialogue methods in their systems practice to join and share their short stories about their experiences of using dialogue and comment on what they see as the future use of dialogue techniques in engaging with global challenges. Data from all the stories and comments will be pooled using Mural software to create a rich picture of ‘Dialogue use in systems practice today.’ Themes and emergent insights will be identified in the ‘rich picture’ and used to inform a statement about future uses of dialogue methods to engage with global challenges.
Conference attendees are asked to participate even just for a brief visit, to contribute their short stories to the pool of experiences. The more stories the more significant and useful will be the emergent learning for us all. If because of time constraints participation is not possible synchronously you are invited to use the online software program to contribute your stories and comments. Link to https://join.windtunneling.com/user/registration/ where you Create an Account using the ‘Join Project Code’ ISSS2022 and follow the prompts to make your contribution. All contributions will be visible (without author identification) after the Conference along with other related activities in this Project for those interested
Learning online: Application of Idealized Design for the generation of adaptation strategies of traditional education towards virtual and remote models in the university environment
No full textThe numerous technological advances and conjuncture situations have led traditional education to reinvent, transfer and support to virtual learning models. During the past year and because of the pandemic, both professors and students began the search for new methods and tools that would allow them to achieve their educational objectives. However, this task has not been easy, since important barriers have arisen that affect the development of virtuality (connectivity, family problems, health troubles). In this sense, the university community of Universidad de los Andes has not been unaware to the presence of these difficulties. Additionally, a strong change has happened as we are embracing new ways of learning.
Consequently, a variety of studies were carried out for study this situation in Colombia. Despite that, many of them did not contemplate a holistic view, including the omission of crucial actors as students or professors. At this point, each of the specific situations of the members of the community, their own opinion on the subject and the pluralism of educational environments involves a diversity of perspectives that become a wealth of the utmost importance. Thus, being able to know each point of view closely is a task that should not go unnoticed and that comprises a fundamental field of action of Systems Thinking in Engineering.
Therefore, using Ackoff's Idealized Design, various adaptation strategies to remote environments were formulated from the inclusion of multiple views. These perspectives were studied by using a systemic methodology that allowed us to work with students, professors and experts in a collaborative way. In this sense, the problematic situation was studied in detail (both statistically and qualitatively) by applying massive surveys to students and interviews with professors. These were carried out with the purpose of understanding their perspectives, what they have done in their classes and how they have found ways to embrace virtuality.
In a second moment, selected students form different semesters and careers were called to create the ideal designs. Thus, a creativity strategy was formulated that sought expression through collaborative blackboards guided by questions, where students wrote, draw and represented their vision of virtuality. This process allowed them to identify strengths, difficulties, critical points and lights of change. At this moment, it is essential to highlight how the expert opinion has been taken into consideration for the study, but it is not the unique and true way to understand the mess. Only with the group work of the students was possible to formulate an ideal scenario and from there, find the feasible and viable changes, and pursue an improved scenario.
Finally, the synthesis of this last state was achieved, and it was expressed through commendations for the student and for the professors. These final suggestions were published on a public website.
About the ongoing work, the study carried out was rated by those who participated in it and a considerably good rating was obtained. Despite this, there is a long way to go for future facilitators. It is important to contemplate in this study new perspectives after a considerable time of virtuality introduction and to examine how they have changed, what has remained constant and what points have improved. Likewise, it is important to increase these recommendations in order to formulate a clear and detailed action plan, reviewing other limitations that may arise along the way
A Critical Systems Thinking Reflection on the Impact of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace Tribunal (JEP) in Colombia
No full textFor two months Colombia, one of the ‘strongest democracies’ in Latin America, is under national strike. The levels of violence reported are unprecedented. The initial but questioned optimism of the peace treaty signed in 2016 between the government and the largest and oldest guerrilla group, FARC-EP (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army), is vanishing quickly. A key role in this situation is played by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace Tribunal- JEP aimed at consolidating the transition towards overcoming conflict.
This paper reflects from a Critical Systems Thinking perspective on the impact of JEP as system from which a “reverse hierarchy of oppression” emerged in Colombian society. It reveals that this special tribunal for justice involved assuming a reductionist approach that generated undesirable outcomes: (a) a weakened justice system (impunity) and (b) a cracked institutionality of the government; overall, a rationale of assuming crime as a form of social justice.
 
The next round of combogenesis has already started
No full textThis aim of this talk is to frame and examine the world situation within the context of a big history cavalcade of what I have termed a “grand sequence” of combination and integration from the quanta of the standard model to the geopolitical state, which, I submit, has been the level of human history for thousands of years. But as many have noted, a new scale—that of the planetary--seems to be manifesting, perhaps haltingly, with steps forward and steps back. To what extent can we utilize the evolutionary successes of the grand sequence (focusing on its biological and cultural events) to both generalize and highlight differences in the dynamics of an integration in progress? I use patternings from those past events to point to general tensions and/or synergies that are ongoing in the shaping (or not) of the new scale: centralized vs. distributed; strongly interdependent binding versus loose binding; and emergence along with a new style of evolutionary dynamics versus emergence within an already operating style of evolutionary dynamics. 
The Value of 5/25 RoundTables in a Workplace: Toward a Tool for Workplace Renewal: The Value of 5/25 RoundTables in a Workplace
No full textPrevious research on the use of RoundTables in both classroom and professional group settings (Gabriele, 2002, 2011, 2014, 2015) has demonstrated a positive impact on the creation of healthy learning communities, positive identity development, and respectful behavior. More specifically, the use of a RoundTable design fosters sustainable, inclusive, and emancipatory learning environments. RoundTables are designed with a strict format in which a Facilitator reads a script allowing five minutes of reading and twenty-five minutes of equal-turn comments among participants. The proposed research seeks to explore whether implementation of a monthly 5/25 RoundTable, conducted via Zoom, are generalizable in a workplace and to what extent employees perceive the use of a RoundTable format as fostering a 1.) sustainable, 2.) inclusive, and 3.) emancipatory learning environment. Additionally, this study seeks to determine whether employees demonstrate an increased desire for individual workplace learning after implementation of six, monthly 5/25 RoundTables. Use of participant surveys, observer mapping, and time-and-task analysis of RoundTable Guides and recorded sessions will be used as study data. In organizations where workplace and individual learning is not a priority, use of the monthly 5/25 RoundTable format may demonstrate positive results, not only in workplace culture, fostering positive identity and respectful behavior but will also affect an increased desire for individual learning and knowledge sharing among employees.  
Importance of Integrated Science Education in South Korea
No full textThe purpose of this study is to give meaning to the importance of learner-centered experiential learning and inquiry/experiment in the era of the 4th industrial revolution.
In order to give this meaning, we explore what the revised curriculum pursues, and through the policy trends of overseas science education of UNESCO (UNESCO) and the U.S. Research Council (NRC), materials helpful in establishing science education policy in Republic of Korea is to present. Key concepts and contents were extracted by collecting literature data through prior research related to the science education policy trends in Republic of Korea, and public notices, public documents, reports, and plan documents of the government, public institutions, and academic organizations. In addition, based on the subjects and core competencies corresponding to the seven crosscutting concepts presented by the US next-generation science standard (NGSS), we intend to consistently pursue and draw conclusions about learning for deep understanding.
 
A Systemic, Socio-Ecological Approach for Community Resilience: The Case Study Analysis Of The World Music School
No full textThis paper presents research and a discussion on aspects of community resilience informed by literature and the case studies of the World Music School (WMS) Helsinki community and the Shanghai WMS community of interest. Focus has been informed by issues of human community resilience, impacted through (and with) their immediate environments, both social and environmental. Based on discussion, feedback loops and observation, the question of our proximity to our environment and the links between human beings, seems to suggest an emergent result, being one of disconnection, however, what emergent combinations of these conditions are responsible? In a human centered paradigm, the disconnection of the individual, then of its community greatly reduces their capacity to operate as a resilient system. In an overall perspective of human and non-human, this disconnection or dis-integration, weakens simultaneously the socio-economic system, as well as the social-ecological system it is connected to or belongs to. An understanding of how connectivity organized itself was informed by Community of Practice (Wenger, 1998) and related literatures regarding the effects of resilience with NGOs (Robinson and Berkes, 2011; Berkes and Ross, 2013; Walker and Salt, 2012a; Aldrich and Meyer, 2015).
This research focuses on the critical roles, impacts and evolution for the World Music School as an NGO, teaching music and organizing events around dance and music. As an inclusive and connectivity enhancer, this work aims to investigate what and why of this NGO’s involvement in building community structure, including the inclusive of local diaspora leading to any supporting resilient subsystems within the overall social system. This research argues that the WMS communities bare the potentials to make a difference predominantly on individual level, and then on its close environment and subsequently enhancing the community resilience on the overall socio-ecological system level
Systemic Thematic Analysis: Data Structuring with Soft Systems Methodology
No full textThe rise of civil society begs for a more participatory form of governance, and evaluations of State-led interventions in social life. We live in an age of globalisation, and information can be easily transmitted, but this capacity is not always leveraged for civil society voices to be effectively heard. One such case was a face-veiling ban, passed in Bulgaria in 2016 without the participation of Muslim citizens. Because of this lack of participation, I sought to interview Muslims and understand their perspectives on the face-veiling legislation. To engage different perspectives is key during the planning of an intervention, as well as throughout its evaluation. Data were collected via semi-structured discussions with participants from all the main Muslim minorities in Bulgaria and respondents were asked about their attitudes to the face-veil as well as their attitudes to its restriction.
This paper discusses a methodological innovation for data analysis: a systemic method for organising qualitative data based on the relational identification of stakeholders and their perceptions of social transformations – in this case banning the face-veil. The data analysis used a blend of two approaches - soft systems methodology (SSM), an established approach for systemic enquiry, and thematic analysis, which helps researchers analyse and interpret patterns in qualitative data. The innovation here is the use of SSM for theory-informed coding.
While my project structured the data using SSM, there is a more general methodological principle at play here: any systems approach can be used for theory-informed coding in thematic analysis. Thematic analysis is a qualitative technique free from theoretical commitments, which makes it uniquely compatible with systems approaches