Underlying Assumptions of Several Traditions in Systems Science

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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

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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 doesnt naturally surface
philosophical assumptions.
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Philosophical Assumptions

• self-organization
• observation
• causality
• reflexivity

• environment
• relationships
• holism
• determinism

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Emerging Worldview Assumptions as Polarities
L
R
L-
R-
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Problem Solving

• dissolve, not solve, problems
• problems cant be isolated
• no tiger teams, regular course of things
• mess management - continuous balancing and
  navigating of complex, interrelated messes, not
  problems

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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)

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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

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Systems Science Traditions

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

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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

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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.