Systems Theory Research Network

1
Systems Theory Research Network

• What are we talking about
• What do we want to achieve
• How do we go about it

2
Key Words - Large / Complex

• Large
•         number of elements,
•         variety of elements
•         hard to define boundary
•  
• Complex
•         types of Interaction between elements
•         each element has a range of responses /
  behaviours
•         variety of system outcomes / behaviours
•         many levels
•  

3
Key Words - Hard / Soft

•  Complementarity ?
• same system but different aspects or problems
  require different approaches
• different classes of problem / system require
  different approaches
•  
• If 1 then large complex is most likely to call
  for combined approaches.
•  
• 2 is unsatisfactory unless there is a unifying
  theory behind.
•  

4
Examples ?

• Systems that are hard to control
• unintended effects
• Failures and disasters
• Spectacular successes

5
Process

• What page are we on / would like to be on
• What would be a good outcome?
• How do know when we have got there?
• What processes do we need to move in that
  direction?