Overview

This book expands the foundations of general systems theory to enable progress beyond the rich heuristic practices available today. It establishes a foundational framework for the development of scientific transdisciplinary systems principles and shows how these can amplify the potential of individuals and teams working in multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary contexts or striving to translate their progress across disciplinary boundaries. Three general scientific systems principles are presented, and their relevance to the design, analysis, management and transformation of systems is explored. Applying lessons from the history and philosophy science, this book disambiguates key concepts of general systemology, clarifies the role of general systemology within the field of systemology, and explains how general systemology supports other forms of transdisciplinarity. These insights are used to develop new perspectives, strategies and tools for addressing long-standing challenges to the advancement and transdisciplinary application of general insights into the nature of complex systems.The material presented in this book includes comprehensive models of the structure of systemology as a disciplinary field, the structure and significance of the general systems worldview, and the role of general systemology as the heart of systems science, systems engineering and systems practice. It explains what a fully-fledged general theory of systems would look like, what its potential is, what routes are available to us to develop it further, and how to leverage the knowledge we have attained so far. Many examples and analogies show how general systemology has the potential to enable scientific discovery, insightful theory building, and practical innovation in all the disciplines as they study, design, nurture or transform complex systems. This book is essential reading for anyone wishing to master the concepts, terminology, models and strategies needed to make effective use of current general systems knowledge and to engage in the further development of the philosophy, science, and practice of general systemology.

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9789811338175

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David Rousseau PhD BEng FRSA  is Director of the Centre for Systems Philosophy, President of the International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS),  and chairs the ISSS’s Systemic Inquiry Groups (SIGs) on ‘Systems Philosophy’ and on ‘Research towards General Systems Theories’.  He is a Visiting Fellow of the Centre for Systems Studies in the University of Hull, a Scientific Council Member of the Bertalanffy Centre for the Study of Systems Science, an Honorary Research Fellow of the Alister Hardy Religious Experience Research Centre in the University of Wales, and leader of the ‘Systems Philosophy for Systems Engineering’ project in the Systems Science Working Group of the International Council on Systems Engineering.  His current research is focused on developing general scientific systems principles, worldviews for exploratory science, and the ontological foundations of values. Jennifer M. Wilby is visiting research fellow with the Centre for Systems Studies, Business School at the University of Hull; Academician of the International Academy of Systems and Cybernetic Systems (IASCYS); Past President and Trustee for the International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS); and Member of Scientific Council, Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science. She received her PhD from the University of Hull in Management Systems and Sciences and prior to retirement from the University of Hull Business School has taught in management science and focussed research in trans-disciplinary systems approaches and interactions with critical systems practice, general systems theory, and hierarchy theory. Julie Billingham is Retail Industry Principal at Salesforce Inc, where she leads the development of consultancy products for digital business transformation, working with some of the world’s largest brands and retailers.  As an advocate of systems approaches to organization design, she is a keen explorer of emerging ideas insystems research and philosophy, looking for early opportunities to translate and operationalize these to provide business value. Throughout a consulting career rooted in Operational Research and spanning a broad range of industries from Aerospace to Environmental Management, she has been particularly interested in finding novel ways to deploy systems perspectives in support of decision making in complex, unprecedented situations. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics from the University of Pretoria and is Scientific Advisor at the Centre for Systems Philosophy. Stefan Blachfellner is the Managing Director of the Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science in Vienna, Austria, Conference Manager for the European Meetings on Cybernetics and Systems Research, Special Adviser to the European Commission for Mobility and Transport, Chair on Socio-Ecological Systems and Design and former Vice President of the International Society for the Systems Sciences, former Vice President of the International Federation for Systems Research, Founding Editor of the journal Systema, and an author, guest editor and reviewer for several international peer-reviewed journals and reputable publishers. He has broad international experience as an entrepreneur and business consultant and has taught at several universities and in professional training programs in Austria, Germany, China and the USA. His current work is focused on advancing a General Systems Transdiscipline, Systems Design and Systemic Innovation.

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