2013-10-17

October 17 is the tenth meeting for Systems Thinking Ontario. The registration is at https://st-on-2013-10-17.eventbrite.com/ 

Theme: Systems Thinking and Design Thinking: Cybernetic Principles

This meeting is the second in the series of three based on "Systemic Design Principles for Complex Social Systems", Peter H. Jones, a chapter in Social Systems and Design, Gary Metcalf (editor), Volume 1 of the Translational Systems Science Series, Springer Verlag (2013).  [published in 2014 by Springer]  [preprint available on request from Peter Jones]

Suggested pre-reading: 

From the list of 10 design principles, the fifth to seventh are are related to core cybernetic principles.

A core set of systemic design principles shared between design and systems disciplines is proposed. The following are based on meta-analysis of concepts selected from system sciences and design theory sources. Design principles were selected that afford significant power in both design and systems applications, and are sufficiently mature and supported by precedent to be adapted without risk.

• 1. Idealization 

• 2. Wickedness Appreciating complexity

• 3. Purpose (finding)

• 4. Boundary framing 

• 5. Requisite variety 

  • At the Principia Cybernetica, see "The Law of Requisite Variety" at http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/ASC/LAW_VARIE.html and ftp://ftp.vub.ac.be/pub/papers/Principia_Cybernetica/PCP-Web/REQVAR.html.

  • See Stafford Beer on Ashby's Law of Requisite Variety and Autonomy at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDRudRhNgy4

• 6. Feedback coordination 

  • See William Ross Ashby, Design for a Brain (1980), selected passages on Feedback, Adaptation and Security at http://www.panarchy.org/ashby/adaptation.1960.html

• 7. (System) Ordering 

  • See Harold Nelson, "Design inquiry as an Intellectual Technology for the Design of Educational Systems", Comprehensive Systems Design: A New Educational Technology, Reigeluth, C.M., B.H. Banathy, and J.R. Olson, editors, Spring-Verlag, Berlin. With NATO Scientific Affairs Division (1993) at http://www.advanceddesign.org/publications/art-2a-01-01-93.htm

• 8. Generative emergence 

• 9. Continuous adaptation 

• 10. Self-organizing 

While these principles may appear to assume universality across literatures, the intent is for applicability and adaptability of principles, not a fundamental baseline.  (Jones, 2013).

Participants should not feel limited to this suggested pre-reading, but should recognize that other attendees may have not read, or are reading differently, that article.

Agenda

Post-meeting artifacts

Bloogers are encouraged to write about their learning and experiences at the meeting. Links will be added to this page.