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

SYSTEMS METHODOLOGIES 1)2)

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There are various types of systems methodologies, according to their respective aims and uses. (see G. DYER, ISSS, 1992, p.1186). Hereafter a probably quite incomplete listing:

- Hard Systems Methodology: "Systems based methodology, also known as "systems engineering", for tackling real world problems in which an objective or an end to be achieved can be taken or given. A system is then engineered to achieve the stated objective" (R. RODRIGUEZ ULLOA, Glossary, 1999)

The objective is in general functional, material or organizational in quite precise limits. Human psychological, social and cultural factors are not considered.

- Soft systems methodology, applicable to ill-structured problems (P CHECKLAND and his followers, principally in England, including more evolved Total System Intervention

- M.C. JACKSON, R.L. FLOOD and others)

- Global Design and Interactive Management, based on Interpretive Structural Modeling and assorted practical networking methods (J. WARFIELD and followers in U.S, Mexico and various developing countries)

- Architecture of Complexity, applied to the study of the internal structures of complex systems, in order to manage them rationally (H. SIMON)

- Reconstructability Analysis and General Systems Problem Solver, aimed at creating more adequate models of complex systems and ways to manage them (G. KLIR)

- Coparticipative Design, aiming at a better integration of human groups in their own design projects (B. BANATHY and the FUSCHL Group)

- Management Science, developed principally along metadisciplinary concepts and corresponding practical methods (R.L. ACKOFF and his Pennsylvania University team)

- Systems Dynamics developed in order to simulate complex systems on computers (with sometimes doubtful results) (J. FORRESTER and his M.I.T. team)

- The Viable System modeling, aimed at defining the basic parameters of complex systems in order to modelize them and evaluate their viability or the changes to be introduced (S. BEER)

- Expert systems, based on human experts knowledge transfered to computers and applicable to specific situations

In some cases Systems Analysis and Systems Engineering techniques are used within these larger reference frames.

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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