DSI 2004
Annual Meeting Boston
Panel
Discussion
Why a combination of theories and insights coming from
different disciplines are needed to explain complex societal phenomena
Organized by
D Petkov, ECSU, D DeTombe, Int OR WG on Complex Societal
Problems
and O Petkova, CCSU
ABSTRACTS
Complex Societal Problems need a multi-disciplinary approach
How can we make this possible?!
Dorien DeTombe, Ph.D
Chair
International Society on Methodology for Societal Complexity
E-Mail: DeTombe@lri.jur.uva.nl
http://www.geocities.com/doriendetombe
Complex Societal Phenomena such as large city problems, immigration
issues, floods, educational issues or stock exchange events are not restricted
to one discipline. A discipline only focuses on a part of reality. In order to
understand what is going on one needs knowledge coming form many disciplines. Combining
this knowledge in a fruitful way gives the opportunity to see the whole
picture.
Each discipline explains and has a view on a (small) part of reality.
Focusing on the societal complexity one realizes that in order to explain this
complexity one needs theories coming from different disciplines. A way to combine the knowledge is to create a
structured environment in which experts, each with a small and different view
on reality, can combine their knowledge. One of the methods that takes care of
this is the method Compram. In the first step of the Compram method groups of
experts make an analysis and a description of a complex societal phenomenon.
This knowledge description includes a power and emotional analysis of the
actors involved.
On The Role of Multiple
Perspectives
Olga Petkova
School of Business, CCSU petkovao@ccsu.edu
It has been now 20 years since Linstone’s book on the role of Multiple
Perspectives in systems inquiry. Why do we need still to talk about it? Have we
succeeded in promoting this simple but powerful idea? Why do we need to stress
that it is different from a multi disciplinary approach?
A Systems-based Journey toward
the Resolution of Today’s
Complex Societal Problems
Dr. Rexford H. Draman
Chair, Operations
Concentration
School of Management &
Business
The complex societal problems we are currently facing did not develop
overnight. They have been in the making
for a long time. By believing their
growth and development is a byproduct of our societal system that has evolved,
I draw support from Einstein’s understanding of problem solving - one can not
solve a problem with the beliefs that created it – to frame and develop a
solution. This leads to identifying the
foundational assumptions, beliefs and practices that provided the framework
upon which our current society evolved.
My search led to the Renaissance and the works of Descartes, Newton, and
their peers who established the perspective of the world as a machine whose
understanding is obtainable through analysis (reductionism).
Drawing on the fields of philosophy and psychology led to establishing
the hierarchical nature of the development / evolution of thought and
thinking. Given this understanding, the
ongoing transition from the traditional / current belief system which is based
on independence and reductionism to one based upon the acceptance of systems
which includes inter-dependence, cooperation and synthesis is strongly supported. By highlighting the journey systems and
systems thinking has taken over the last fifty plus years I was able to put
forth my thoughts on its continued growth, which leads to a society whose
foundational assumptions are focused on inter-dependence and cooperation. Getting there, involves two stages /
steps. The first is focused on
transitioning businesses and organizations to a systems paradigm. In support of this change, my current
systems-based business model is introduced as one possible transitional
path. The second stage, the
establishment and growth of a systems-based society, is dependent on the
continued pulling – demanding the development and adoption of systems-based
solutions – by the ever-growing number of individuals within our society that
understand the benefits of this holistic approach. While this can easily be construed as an
evolutionary approach to today’s societal problems, I also recognize the work
of some of today’s true visionaries that are putting forth thoughts and visions
about this systems-based future which each of us, who are concerned about the
problems within today’s society should read.
Applying
Systems Thinking to Complex Societal Problems
Steven G. Brant, Business Futurist
Founder and Principal, Trimtab Management Systems www.trimtab.com
Affiliated with the Ackoff Center for Advancement of
Systems Approaches at the University of Pennsylvania www.acasa.upenn.edu
To apply Systems Thinking to society’s problems, we must acquire the
influence needed to implement the systemic redesign solutions. Only when the
public learns what kind of education, health care, government, and – yes –
society-as-a-whole is possible will the public demand the future we have the
power to help society have.
Management
Flight Simulators as Aids for Decision-makers in
Health
and Human Services
Gary B. Hirsch
Consultant, Creator of Learning Environments
Wayland, Massachusetts
Management Flight Simulators, also known as
Microworlds and Interactive Learning Environments, can be valuable tools for
helping decision-makers better understand the complex systems they manage. This is especially true in health and human
services where there is constant change and complex interactions between
services and the problems they are designed to deal with. Management Flight Simulators offer the potential
for rich learning experiences in which decision-makers can engage with
simulated problems rather than simply hearing an expert’s advice about how to
deal with those problems. The result can
be an intuitive understanding of how these systems work, how narrowly-focused
strategies can be ineffective or create new problems, and how well-balanced
approaches are necessary for managing health and human services effectively.
The author has developed several of these
management flight simulators and used them extensively with decision-makers in
health care and human services. One of these simulators, called “Mastering the Transition to Capitation”,
was created to help health care providers adapt to changing payment
patterns. Another, called “Creating Integrated Care and Healthier
Communities” (CICHC), was developed in conjunction with a consortium of
fourteen health care providers, the New England Health Care Assembly, and the
American Hospital Association with support from Pfizer. CICHC helped providers deal with fundamental
changes in how health care is organized and focus on how to keep communities
healthier rather than simply treating people when they get sick. The author will provide examples of how this
latter simulator is used. A model for
managing patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart failure
will also be presented. This model
extended the part of the approach to improving health in the CICHC by applying
it as a tool for designing strategies focused on particular illnesses.
Following the trend and in many
case successful outsourcing of IT in the private sector, the public sector
followed the same route. The results were much more diversed
and not always encouraging. Many public organizations are contact and data
intensive externally and internally thus dependent on IT for service delivery and
internal work.This presentation investigates and
analyzes the reasons behind the IT outsourcing in the public sector and
consequences of it for outsourcing organizations and outsourcers as well as for
other parts involved such as politicians and outsourced personnel and the
public sector’s clients: citizens and businesses.
IT Global Outsourcing
- a systems
perspective might help
D Petkov
Dept Business
Administration, ECSU,
petkovd@easternct.edu
Global outsourcing is a hot
topic. It is probably misunderstood by managers and politicians. Economists
treat it without consideration for any boundaries. A simple systems perspective
with consideration of the notions of subsystems, systems and boundaries might
be appropriate in attempting to understand the different points of view on this
issue.
Applying Conversation Theory
while studying Complex Societal Problems
Stephen G. Taylor
Biology Department
Champlain Regional College
900 Riverside Drive
St-Lambert, QC, J4P 3P2, CANADA
staylor@champlaincollege.qc.ca
Cybernetics and systems science methods require model building and
model testing. Pask studied cybernetics
more than forty years ago and then began applying this approach to the study of
learning and the processes of education.
He developed Conversation Theory as a result of his work and it provides
us with an approach to developing a modeling approach to understanding the use
of concepts. Complex societal problems
often involve a differential use of the same language and conceptual schemes. Asking people to build knowledge webs as a
way of recording their conversational transactions about a definite is offered
here as an aid to help in the understanding of problem solving methods.