ISSN:0731-7239    

DOI:10.1002/sres.3850050101

出版商:John Wiley&Sons, Ltd.    

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0731-7239    

DOI:10.1002/sres.3850050102

出版商:John Wiley&Sons, Ltd.    

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThetotal framework for inquiryis formulated as consisting of seven hierarchical levels. The lower five, as described previously (Syst. Res.2(1985), 95–104), are concerned with representing knowledge; the sixth level has the function of testing and contains ‘inquiring systems’; and the seventh level contains the function of wonder. Theinquiring systemsare an image of the framework and therefore also form a seven‐level hierarchy, in which the lower five levels have been identified previously by Churchman (The Design of Inquiring Systems, Basic Books, New York, 1971). Two further inquiring systems are described: The sixth is the ‘dialogic’ and the seventh is the ‘contemplative’. Thecore testing processeswhich underlie each of the seven inquiring systems and provide each with its different guarantee of truth are distinguished. Each core testing process (and hence each inquiring system) is shown to be underpinned by a particular level in the inquiry framework. Various symmetries and the possibility of homology between the two hierarchical structures are b

ISSN:0731-7239    

DOI:10.1002/sres.3850050103

出版商:John Wiley&Sons, Ltd.    

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe basic premise of this paper is that when engaging in design in the context of human activity systems, the design methods chosen should match the type and characteristics of the system we are designing. The presentation is grounded in a general theory of human systems, a systems approach to design, experience in designing design inquiry, and carrying out design in the context of human activity systems. The paper is developed in three interdependent components that jointly constitute the argument for the need to select design methods that are appropriate to the type of system we are designing. These components are as follows.1. The construction of a map that will enable us to make distinctions among the various types of human activity systems and their systemic characteristics.2. The implications of the different system types and characteristics in the construction of criteria in selecting design methods that are appropriate to various system types and match their characteristics.3. The examination of the implications of the findings of the exploration introduced in this paper to: (a) design inquiry, (b) design education, and (c) design research.An example highlights the issue of selecting design methods that match system type and systemic characteristics.The focus of this article is on the exploration of the relationship between design methods and system types, which is only one of the aspects of the richness of considerations one has to contemplate in design inquiry.

ISSN:0731-7239    

DOI:10.1002/sres.3850050104

出版商:John Wiley&Sons, Ltd.    

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractComparison of Western, Indian and Chinese civilizations as cultural systems exhibiting persisting ideals constituting important structural differences reveals that two taproots of Western civilization (the Hebraic stressingwilland the Greek stressingreason) as characteristics essential to the nature of the world and man, are opposed in Hindu culture idealizingNirguna Brahmanas complete absence of both will (desire) and reason (distinctions) and yogic endeavor designed to eliminate both from persons, are partially integrated as complementary opposites in Chinese taoisticyin‐yangideals about both the universe and man. Opportunities for further research comparing cultural systems seem unlimite

ISSN:0731-7239    

DOI:10.1002/sres.3850050105

出版商:John Wiley&Sons, Ltd.    

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe theory of organizational genetics underwrites the application of biological models into some organizational contexts. Three such models are presented and discussed: (i) the evolutionary basis for optimal data redundancy; (ii) safety factors for support structures and systems; and (iii) allocation of resources for defense against herbivory. These models are translated into their corresponding organizational settings following a brief review of their meaning in biology. All three are quantitative models, allowing predictions to be made in an organizational context as well. Application of any of the models presupposes a prior analysis of the organization's data model and determination that organizational genetics accurately describes the organization.

ISSN:0731-7239    

DOI:10.1002/sres.3850050106

出版商:John Wiley&Sons, Ltd.    

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe attempt to define living systems in terms of goal, purpose, function, etc. runs into serious conceptual difficulties. The theoretical biologists Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela realized that any such attempt cannot capture what is distinctive about them: Their autonomy and unity. Goal, purpose, etc. always define the system in terms of something extrinsic, whereas living systems are unique because they maintain their unitary continuity of pattern despite the ceaseless turnover of their components. So, system‐closure is a prerequisite of their adequate conceptual comprehension. Maturana and Varela themselves found that system‐closure pertains exclusively to their organization, i.e. the set of relations among system‐components which unify them. For living systems this comprises the relation between the system‐components and the processes which they undergo. This relation is self‐referential because it is closed, i.e. it essentially (re)produces itself.While this model worked very well in the biological domain, attempts to extend it to the social domain met with serious conceptual obstacles. The reason for this is that Maturana did not make a consistent enough application of it. He understood the components of social systems biologically (individuals, persons, etc.) and the relations between them socially (language). This inconsistency ruptured the system's organizational closure. Consequently organizational closure (autopoiesis) can be maintained only when both the components of social systems and their processes are of the same type: Social. This interpretation can be found in the work of Niklas Luhmann who recognizes that the components of social systems are not persons, individuals, actors or subjects but communicative actions themselves. This preserves the organizational closure of the system and permits the concept of autopoiesis to be used as a powerful instrument of social

ISSN:0731-7239    

DOI:10.1002/sres.3850050107

出版商:John Wiley&Sons, Ltd.    

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThere are currently available a variety of methodologies which aid the improvement of problematic situations which can legitimately claim to be grounded in systems approaches. These have emerged over many years and each methodology has unique features which enable it to be used successfully in particular types of situation. Recently several attempts have been made to structure this set of methodologies. In these contingency theories the nature of the problem and the characteristics of the methodologies are matched in such a way that the strengths and weaknesses of the methodologies are brought out.In this paper this theoretical work is extended by developing a methodology for methodology choice. In this methodology the insights provided by the contingency theories are used to support a set of procedures which enable an informed choice of systems‐based problem‐solving methodology to be made. Two examples of the use of the methodology are given to illustrate its potential as a means of improving the ability of systems theorists to intervene successfully in real‐world i

ISSN:0731-7239    

DOI:10.1002/sres.3850050108

出版商:John Wiley&Sons, Ltd.    

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0731-7239    

DOI:10.1002/sres.3850050109

出版商:John Wiley&Sons, Ltd.    

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0731-7239    

DOI:10.1002/sres.3850050110

出版商:John Wiley&Sons, Ltd.    

年代:1988

数据来源: WILEY