BCSSS

International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics

2nd Edition, as published by Charles François 2004 Presented by the Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science Vienna for public access.

About

The International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics was first edited and published by the system scientist Charles François in 1997. The online version that is provided here was based on the 2nd edition in 2004. It was uploaded and gifted to the center by ASC president Michael Lissack in 2019; the BCSSS purchased the rights for the re-publication of this volume in 200?. In 2018, the original editor expressed his wish to pass on the stewardship over the maintenance and further development of the encyclopedia to the Bertalanffy Center. In the future, the BCSSS seeks to further develop the encyclopedia by open collaboration within the systems sciences. Until the center has found and been able to implement an adequate technical solution for this, the static website is made accessible for the benefit of public scholarship and education.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

MODELIZATION METHODOLOGY (Systemic) 1)2)

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A. CASELLES MONCHO and J.L. USO DOMENECH propose the following general systemic modelization methodology:

"1. Identification of the elements to be considered according to the objectives of the modeler. Degree of detail or aggregation.

"2. To give a name, a unit of measure and a range of possible values to each element determined. So the elements are converted in mathematical variables.

"3. Identification of the causal dependencies among the variables considered.

"4. To assign an equation or table of values to each dependency previously identified.

"5. To program the model for a computer.

"6. To verify that the model fits real data.

"7. Validation of the model for another set of data obtained from another similar system.

"8. To use the model for testing user policies" (1993, p.457).

The authors aim is the study of decision making problems in enterprise management. This type of modelization could however be also used in other fields, as for example, ecology.

Their proposals should possibly be somewhat observed. In complex situations, it would be better to begin with a consensual critical scrutiny of the various participants objectives, in order to avoid man-made disasters due to unilateral views of some autocratic decision makers.

As to the 2nd point, it is not sure that all elements can be converted into mathematical variables, specially the motivations of the participants.

Causal dependencies may well be variable in time, i.e. at short, medium or long term.

Computer modeling (as stated by P. DENNING – see above), has some limits.

Finally, the model should be frequently recycled: Napoleon once said that the best way to lose a battle is to try to repeat a former victorious one.

Categories

  • 1) General information
  • 2) Methodology or model
  • 3) Epistemology, ontology and semantics
  • 4) Human sciences
  • 5) Discipline oriented

Publisher

Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science(2020).

To cite this page, please use the following information:

Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science (2020). Title of the entry. In Charles François (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics (2). Retrieved from www.systemspedia.org/[full/url]

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