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Underlying Assumptions of Several Traditions in Systems Science

Underlying Assumptions of Several Traditions in Systems Science. Eric B. Dent, Ph.D. University of North Carolina, Pembroke ASC 2005 http://www.uncp.edu/home/dente. Premise.

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Underlying Assumptions of Several Traditions in Systems Science

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  1. Underlying Assumptions of Several Traditions in Systems Science Eric B. Dent, Ph.D. University of North Carolina, Pembroke ASC 2005 http://www.uncp.edu/home/dente

  2. Premise Systems science is not a unified field because different systems science traditions are making different philosophical assumptions. Systems thinking is more a practical than a theoretical approach which doesn’t naturally surface philosophical assumptions.

  3. self-organization observation causality reflexivity environment relationships holism determinism Philosophical Assumptions

  4. Reductionism Holism Emerging Worldview Assumptions as Polarities L+ R+ L- R-

  5. Problem Solving • dissolve, not solve, problems • problems can’t be isolated • no “tiger” teams, regular course of things • mess management - continuous balancing and navigating of complex, interrelated messes, not problems

  6. Communication is accurate translation (info exchange) • Linear, objective, reductionist • The primary (exclusive?) focus is on the words spoken • Communication can be divided into segments of dialogue • Coding and decoding of message is possible • Communication segments are unidirectional • Communication is cumulative (linear progress)

  7. Communication is about relationship (developing trust) • Mutually causal, perspectival, holistic • Primary focus is on the authenticity of expression • Communication is the whole package- context, intent, nonverbal, verbal, etc. • Communication is appropriate self-disclosure • Seek first to understand- discover the context of any communication expressed

  8. Systems Science Traditions • Operations research (systems analysis) • Cybernetics • Total Quality Management • Organizational Learning • General Systems Theory • System Dynamics

  9. Method: Sources Examined • OR - Handbook of Systems Analysis • Cyb - The Tree of Knowledge • TQM - 4th Generation Management • OL - Organizational Learning II • GST - General Systems Theory • SD - The Electronic Oracle

  10. Related Papers • Dent, E. B. (2005) The Observation, inquiry, and measurement challenges surfaced by complexity theory. In K. Richardson (Ed.), Managing the Complex: Philosophy, Theory and Practice. Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishers. • Dent, E. B. (2001). "Systems science traditions: Differing philosophical assumptions,” Systems: Journal of Transdisciplinary Systems Science. 6(1-2), 13-30. • Dent, Eric B. (1999). ”Complexity science: A worldview shift,” Emergence: A Journal of Complexity Issues in Organizations and Management. 1(4), 5-19. • Umpleby, Stuart A. and Eric B. Dent (1999). "The Origins and purposes of several traditions in systems theory and cybernetics," Cybernetics and Systems: An International Journal, 30(2), 79-103.

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