An article on “Rethinking Systems Thinking”, evolved from the ISSS San Jose 2012 plenary, is nearing publication. The speech, as presented in fall 2012, covered a lot of content. In written form, the narrative may be less colourful, but the citations may be easier to follow.
An article on “Rethinking Systems Thinking”, evolved from the ISSS San Jose 2012 plenary, is nearing publication. The speech, as presented in fall 2012, covered a lot of content. In written form, the narrative may be less colourful, but the citations may be easier to follow.
A guest lecture on systems thinking for the Creativity Sustainability program at Aalto University provided an opportunity to stretch out on the plenary presentation that I had given at ISSS 2012. In San Jose last July, plenary speakers (including myself) were constrained to 45 minute slots preceding dialectic panelists. In Helsinki in November, the luxury of time allowed me to explain the ideas more fully. The lecture took 85 minutes, and was then followed by a question and answer session.
The presentation on “Rethinking Systems Thinking” is probably the most comprehensive talk that I’ve given (and may ever give). It is a personal perspective on systems, gained since the attending my first ISSS meeting in 1998 — that’s 14 years with the society. My focus has recently shifted from the international audience to the local audience around Toronto, with Systems Thinking Ontario. Systems thinking can be doled out in smaller chunks. Over the Internet, viewers may choose to use the pause button.
A guest lecture on systems thinking for the Creativity Sustainability program at Aalto University provided an opportunity to stretch out on the plenary presentation that I had given at ISSS 2012. In San Jose last July, plenary speakers (including myself) were constrained to 45 minute slots preceding dialectic panelists. In Helsinki in November, the luxury of time allowed me to explain the ideas more fully. The lecture took 85 minutes, and was then followed by a question and answer session.
The presentation on “Rethinking Systems Thinking” is probably the most comprehensive talk that I’ve given (and may ever give). It is a personal perspective on systems, gained since the attending my first ISSS meeting in 1998 — that’s 14 years with the society. My focus has recently shifted from the international audience to the local audience around Toronto, with Systems Thinking Ontario. Systems thinking can be doled out in smaller chunks. Over the Internet, viewers may choose to use the pause button.
Much of systems thinking, as commonly espoused today, was developed by a generation in the context of the 1960s to 1980s. Almost all of the luminaries of that era have passed on. In the 2010s, has system thinking changed with the world in which it is to be applied? Is systems thinking learning and coevolving with the world? Some contemporary systems thinkers continue to push the frontiers of theory, methods and practice. Others situationally increment the traditions of their preferred gurus, where approaches proven successful in prior experiences are replicated for new circumstances. Founded on interactions with a variety of systems communities over the past 15 years, three ways to rethink systems thinking are proposed:
Reorient systems thinking beyond “parts and wholes” towards “learning and coevolving”.
Learn where the service economy and the anthropocene are new, anticipating deutero and trito levels.
Coevolve the episteme, techne and phronesis across systems thinking, for both the living and non-living.
These proposed ways are neither exhaustive nor sufficient. The declaration that systems thinking should be rethought may itself be controversial. If, however, systems thinking is to be authentic, the theory, methods and practices with which we engage a changing world may require attention
Much of systems thinking, as commonly espoused today, was developed by a generation in the context of the 1960s to 1980s. Almost all of the luminaries of that era have passed on. In the 2010s, has system thinking changed with the world in which it is to be applied? Is systems thinking learning and coevolving with the world? Some contemporary systems thinkers continue to push the frontiers of theory, methods and practice. Others situationally increment the traditions of their preferred gurus, where approaches proven successful in prior experiences are replicated for new circumstances. Founded on interactions with a variety of systems communities over the past 15 years, three ways to rethink systems thinking are proposed:
Reorient systems thinking beyond “parts and wholes” towards “learning and coevolving”.
Learn where the service economy and the anthropocene are new, anticipating deutero and trito levels.
Coevolve the episteme, techne and phronesis across systems thinking, for both the living and non-living.
These proposed ways are neither exhaustive nor sufficient. The declaration that systems thinking should be rethought may itself be controversial. If, however, systems thinking is to be authentic, the theory, methods and practices with which we engage a changing world may require attention
With the release of General Systems Yearbook 2023, a full-text, read-only version of "Appreciating Systems Changes via Multiparadigm Inquiry", SRBS v40 n5 is available for colleagues of the author on Article Sharehttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author/YEVWGPGURZ5IVE7AWQRM?target=10.1002/sres.2973 https://coevolving.com/commons/2023-09-appreciating-systems-changes-via-multiparadigm-inquiry-srbs #SystemsThinking
Web video on #HistoricalSynthesis with #DrMichaelBonner and #ZaidKhan for #SystemsThinking Ontario. Learning about the present by sweeping in the past, including the rise and fall of the Second Persian Empire circa 7th century. https://coevolving.com/blogs/index.php/archive/historical-synthesis/
Think the first step in #SystemsThinking is defining the boundary? If the systems sciences are an open system, then learning involves the sweeping-in process. Excerpt from #CWestChurchman (1982) _Thought and Wisdom_. https://coevolving.com/blogs/index.php/archive/the-sweep-in-process-of-systems-science-churchman/
For the @RSDSymposium in October, an "Explaining Systems Changes Learning: Methods & Translations", an in-person workshop was conducted in Toronto. Interested in joining in our rhythm of triweekly meetings? Slides at https://coevolving.com/blogs/index.php/archive/explaining-systems-changes-learning-rsd12/ #SystemsThinking #SystemsChange
Web video of #JudithRosen on Anticipatory Systems, Evolution, and Extinction Cascades, extending mathematical biologist #RobertRosen at #SystemsThinking Ontariohttps://coevolving.com/blogs/index.php/archive/anticipatory-systems-evolution-extinction-cascades-rosen/
The selection of readings in the “Introduction” to Systems Thinking: Selected Readings, volume 2, Penguin (1981), edited by Fred E. Emery, reflects a turn from 1969 when a general systems theory was more fully entertained, towards an urgency towards changes in the world that were present in 1981. Systems thinking was again emphasized in contrast […]
In reviewing the original introduction for Systems Thinking: Selected Readings in the 1969 Penguin paperback, there’s a few threads that I only recognize, many years later. The tables of contents (disambiguating various editions) were previously listed as 1969, 1981 Emery, System Thinking: Selected Readings. — begin paste — Introduction In the selection of papers for this […]
In a recording of the debate between Michael Quinn Patton and Michael C. Jackson on “Systems Concepts in Evaluation”, Patton referenced four concepts published in the “Principles for effective use of systems thinking in evaluation” (2018) by the Systems in Evaluation Topical Interest Group (SETIG) of the American Evaluation Society. The four concepts are: (i) […]
How might the quality of an action research initiative be evaluated? — begin paste — We have linked our five validity criteria (outcome, process, democratic, catalytic, and dialogic) to the goals of action research. Most traditions of action research agree on the following goals: (a) the generation of new knowledge, (b) the achievement of action-oriented […]
After 90 minutes on phone and online chat with WesternUnion, the existence of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland is denied, so I can’t send money from Canada. TicinoTurismo should be unhappy. The IT developers at Western Union should be dissatisfied that customer support agents aren’t sending them legitimate bug reports I initially tried the […]
Following the first day lecture on Philosophy of Chinese Medicine 1 for the Global University for Sustainability, Keekok Lee continued on a second day on some topics: * Anatomy as structure; physiology as function (and process); * Process ontology, and thing ontology; * Qi ju as qi-in-concentrating mode, and qi san as qi-in-dissipsating mode; and […]
The philosophy of science underlying Classical Chinese Medicine, in this lecture by Keekok Lee, provides insights into ways in which systems change may be approached, in a process ontology in contrast to the thing ontology underlying Western BioMedicine. Read more ›
In conversation, @zeynep with @ezraklein reveal authentic #SystemsThinking in (i) appreciating that “science” is constructed by human collectives, (ii) the west orients towards individual outcomes rather than population levels; and (iii) there’s an over-emphasis on problems of the moment, and…Read more ›
In the question-answer period after the lecture, #TimIngold proposes art as a discipline of inquiry, rather than ethnography. This refers to his thinking On Human Correspondence. — begin paste — [75m26s question] I am curious to know what art, or…Read more ›
How might our society show value for the long term, over the short term? Could we think about taxation over time, asks @carlotaprzperez in an interview: 92% for 1 day; 80% within 1 month; 50%-60% tax for 1 year; zero tax for 10 years.Read more ›
For the @ArchFoundation, #TimIngold distinguishes outcome-oriented making from process-oriented growing, revisiting #MartinHeidegger “Building Dwelling Thinking”. Organisms are made; artefacts grow. The distinction seems obvious, until you stop to ask what assumptions it contains, about the inside and outside of things…Read more ›
