Systems science Impression of systems thinking about society. Systems science is an interdisciplinary field that studies the nature of complex systems in nature, society, and science itself. It aims to develop interdisciplinary foundations that are applicable in a variety of areas, such as engineering, biology, medicine, and social sciences.[1] Systems science covers formal sciences such as complex systems, cybernetics, dynamical systems theory, and systems theory, and applications in the field of the natural and social sciences and engineering, such as control theory, operations research, social systems theory, systems biology, systems dynamics, systems ecology, systems engineering and systems psychology.[2] Theories[edit] Since the emergence of the General Systems Research in the 1950s,[3] systems thinking and systems science have developed into many theoretical frameworks. Systems notes of Henk Bikker, TU Delft, 1991 Systems analysis Systems design System dynamics Systems engineering Systems Methodologies
A Tool too far: A Systems Perspective of Targets There can be few things that provoke more emotive responses in public sector workers than the subject of targets. Centrally imposed targets have been cited as underlying factors in many of the recent major public sector scandals including MRSA infection rates, Staffordshire Hospital and Baby P. Recently, some senior local authority managers, including some who are members of SOLACE, have released a report ( ) providing evidence of the damage that is being done by targets in their services. To discuss targets invites a return to definitions. Often information is provided to senior managers and leaders in the form of averages (weekly, monthly, annual). Figure 1. performance over time shown with upper levels of performance and lower levels of performance Each x relates to a team or individual’s performance over a period of time which could be a day, a month or even a year. Figure 2. One common reaction is to cheat to meet the target. Figure 3. Another example is from housing repairs.
Generalization A generalization (or generalisation) of a concept is an extension of the concept to less-specific criteria. It is a foundational element of logic and human reasoning.[citation needed] Generalizations posit the existence of a domain or set of elements, as well as one or more common characteristics shared by those elements. As such, they are the essential basis of all valid deductive inferences. The process of verification is necessary to determine whether a generalization holds true for any given situation. The concept of generalization has broad application in many related disciplines, sometimes having a specialized context or meaning. Of any two related concepts, such as A and B, A is a "generalization" of B, and B is a special case of A, if and only if every instance of concept B is also an instance of concept A; andthere are instances of concept A which are not instances of concept B. Hypernym and hyponym[edit] Examples[edit] Biological generalization[edit] Geometric generalizations[edit]
Sociotechnical systems Sociotechnical systems (STS) in organizational development is an approach to complex organizational work design that recognizes the interaction between people and technology in workplaces. The term also refers to the interaction between society's complex infrastructures and human behaviour. In this sense, society itself, and most of its substructures, are complex sociotechnical systems. The term sociotechnical systems was coined by Eric Trist, Ken Bamforth and Fred Emery, World War II era, based on their work with workers in English coal mines at the Tavistock Institute in London.[1] Sociotechnical systems pertains to theory regarding the social aspects of people and society and technical aspects of organizational structure and processes. Overview[edit] Sociotechnical refers to the interrelatedness of social and technical aspects of an organization. Principles[edit] Responsible autonomy[edit] Adaptability[edit] The second issue is that of complexity. Whole tasks[edit] Job enrichment[edit]
Complex system This article largely discusses complex systems as a subject of mathematics and the attempts to emulate physical complex systems with emergent properties. For other scientific and professional disciplines addressing complexity in their fields see the complex systems article and references. A complex system is a damped, driven system (for example, a harmonic oscillator) whose total energy exceeds the threshold for it to perform according to classical mechanics but does not reach the threshold for the system to exhibit properties according to chaos theory. History[edit] Although it is arguable that humans have been studying complex systems for thousands of years, the modern scientific study of complex systems is relatively young in comparison to conventional fields of science with simple system assumptions, such as physics and chemistry. Types of complex systems[edit] Chaotic systems[edit] For a dynamical system to be classified as chaotic, it must have the following properties:[2]
Peak uranium Peak uranium is the point in time that the maximum global uranium production rate is reached. After that peak, according to Hubbert peak theory, the rate of production enters a terminal decline. While uranium is used in nuclear weapons, its primary use is for energy generation via nuclear fission of the uranium-235 isotope in a nuclear power reactor.[1] Each kilogram of uranium-235 fissioned releases the energy equivalent of millions of times its mass in chemical reactants, as much energy as 2700 tons of coal, but uranium-235 is only 0.7% of the mass of natural uranium.[2] Uranium-235 is a finite non-renewable resource.[1][3] However, the current reserves of uranium have the potential (assuming improved technology) to provide power for humanity for billions of years, until the death of our sun, so nuclear power can be termed sustainable energy.[4] Observers contend that idea of "energy independence" is an unrealistic concept in relation with Liquid metal fast breeder reactor.[5] M.
Theories of Explanation Within the philosophy of science there have been competing ideas about what an explanation is. Historically, explanation has been associated with causation: to explain an event or phenomenon is to identify its cause. But with the growth and development of philosophy of science in the 20th century, the concept of explanation began to receive more rigorous and specific analysis. A theory of explanation might treat explanations in either a realist or an epistemic (that is, anti-realist) sense. In contrast to these theoretical and primarily scientific approaches, some philosophers have favored a theory of explanation grounded in the way people actually perform explanation. This article focuses on the way thinking about explanation within the philosophy of science has changed since 1950. Table of Contents 1. Most people, philosophers included, think of explanation in terms of causation. A physical theory is not an explanation. Duhem claimed that: For Hempel, answering the question “Why?” 2.
AVID Leadership Dr. Sandy Husk, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sandy Husk joined AVID Center as Chief Executive Officer in January 2014, bringing more than 17 years of experience implementing AVID in the three districts where she has served as superintendent, most recently in Salem-Keizer, Oregon, the second largest district in that state. As superintendent of Salem-Keizer Public Schools in Oregon, her leadership resulted in the implementation of a districtwide strategic plan with an accountability system for all schools and departments. Prior to Salem-Keizer Public Schools, Sandy served five years as the director of schools for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System in Clarksville, Tennessee. Sandy earned her Ph.D. in Administration, Curriculum & Supervision from the University of Colorado, Denver; her M.A. in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Colorado, Boulder; and her B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Georgia, Athens. top Mark S. Granger B. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr.
System dynamics Dynamic stock and flow diagram of model New product adoption (model from article by John Sterman 2001) System dynamics is an approach to understanding the behaviour of complex systems over time. It deals with internal feedback loops and time delays that affect the behaviour of the entire system.[1] What makes using system dynamics different from other approaches to studying complex systems is the use of feedback loops and stocks and flows. These elements help describe how even seemingly simple systems display baffling nonlinearity. Overview[edit] System dynamics (SD) is a methodology and mathematical modeling technique for framing, understanding, and discussing complex issues and problems. Convenient GUI system dynamics software developed into user friendly versions by the 1990s and have been applied to diverse systems. System dynamics is an aspect of systems theory as a method for understanding the dynamic behavior of complex systems. History[edit] Topics in systems dynamics[edit]
Powell Memo: Text and Analysis The Powell Memo was first published August 23, 1971 Introduction In 1971, Lewis Powell, then a corporate lawyer and member of the boards of 11 corporations, wrote a memo to his friend Eugene Sydnor, Jr., the Director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The memorandum was dated August 23, 1971, two months prior to Powell’s nomination by President Nixon to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Powell Memo did not become available to the public until long after his confirmation to the Court. Though Powell’s memo was not the sole influence, the Chamber and corporate activists took his advice to heart and began building a powerful array of institutions designed to shift public attitudes and beliefs over the course of years and decades. Most notable about these institutions was their focus on education, shifting values, and movement-building — a focus we share, though often with sharply contrasting goals.* (See our endnote for more on this.) So did Powell’s political views influence his judicial decisions?
Background Theory Systems Thinking © Copyright Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD, Authenticity Consulting, LLC. Adapted from the Field Guide to Consulting and Organizational Development and Field Guide to Consulting and Organizational Development with Nonprofits. Three of the biggest breakthroughs in how we understand and successfully guide changes in ourselves, others and organizations are systems theory, systems thinking and systems tools. Sections of This Topic Include Basics -- Definitions - - - What's a System? Also seeRelated Library Topics Also See the Library's Blogs Related to Systems Theory, Chaos Theory and Systems Thinking In addition to the articles on this current page, also see the following blogs that have posts related to Systems Theory, Chaos Theory and Systems Thinking . Library's Business Planning BlogLibrary's Building a Business BlogLibrary's Coaching BlogLibrary's Consulting and Organizational Development BlogLibrary's Leadership BlogLibrary's Strategic Planning BlogLibrary's Supervision Blog What's a System?
Autopoiesis 3D representation of a living cell during the process of mitosis, example of an autopoietic system. The original definition can be found in Autopoiesis and Cognition: the Realization of the Living (1st edition 1973, 2nd 1980): Page 78: - An autopoietic machine is a machine organized (defined as a unity) as a network of processes of production (transformation and destruction) of components which: (i) through their interactions and transformations continuously regenerate and realize the network of processes (relations) that produced them; and (ii) constitute it (the machine) as a concrete unity in space in which they (the components) exist by specifying the topological domain of its realization as such a network. [1] Page 89:- [...] the space defined by an autopoietic system is self-contained and cannot be described by using dimensions that define another space. Meaning[edit] Criticism[edit] See also[edit] Notes and references[edit] Further reading[edit] External links[edit]
The Authoritarians (Home Page Preface Written in 2006) OK, what’s this book about? It’s about what’s happened to the American government lately. It’s about the disastrous decisions that government has made. It’s about the corruption that rotted the Congress. “Well,” you might be thinking, “I don’t believe any of this is true.” Because if you do, you’ll begin an easy-ride journey through some very relevant scientific studies I have done on authoritarian personalities--one that will take you a heck of a lot less time than the decades it took me. For example, take the following statement: “Once our government leaders and the authorities condemn the dangerous elements in our society, it will be the duty of every patriotic citizen to help stomp out the rot that is poisoning our country from within.” Or how about a government program that persecutes political parties, or minorities, or journalists the authorities do not like, by putting them in jail, even torturing and killing them.