A CONTRIBUTION TO &#39;THE PURPOSE AND MISSION OF THE ISSS&#39;

janos korn

A CONTRIBUTION TO 'THE PURPOSE AND MISSION OF THE ISSS'

janos korn

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, Mini-symposium George Mobus presented his view 'Purpose and mission of the ISSS' of the current state of the Society with reference to 2023 Bylaws but the view has implications for the whole of the 'systems thinking industry'. I quote from the 'view' : '…. many members have expressed a desire for the ISSS to get involved in applying systems thinking to find solutions.' 'There is a deep conviction that, indeed, systems thinking holds the key to solving these problems.' 'My view [George's] is that systems thinking need be firmly based on system science.' '…..operates [ISSS] like a book club….' 'Referring to the 2023 Bylaws : 'This purpose reflects the scientific society (SGSR) that was originally intended, but it also recognises a leaning toward systems practice. But the actual ''operation of the society, as mentioned, does not seem to implement the stated purpose.''' Summary There are opinions 'to find solutions', an even stronger view : '… holds the key to solving these problems'. Please note expressions '…. solutions..', '…problems…'. The term 'book club' presumably refers to the highly speculative nature of activity, endless discussions, no tangible outcome, lack of existence of fundamentals and agreement on core concepts and applications, fragmentation. This was also discussed in [Korn J, Crisis in systems thinking, Kybernetes, v49, n7, 2018].

1 A CONTRIBUTION TO ‘THE PURPOSE AND MISSION OF THE ISSS’ janos korn [email protected] 2nd December 2023, Mini-symposium George Mobus presented his view ‘Purpose and mission of the ISSS’ of the current state of the Society with reference to 2023 Bylaws but the view has implications for the whole of the ‘systems thinking industry’. I quote from the ‘view’ : ‘…. many members have expressed a desire for the ISSS to get involved in applying systems thinking to find solutions.’ ‘There is a deep conviction that, indeed, systems thinking holds the key to solving these problems.’ ‘My view [George’s] is that systems thinking need be firmly based on system science.’ ‘…..operates [ISSS] like a book club….’ ‘Referring to the 2023 Bylaws : ‘This purpose reflects the scientific society (SGSR) that was originally intended, but it also recognises a leaning toward systems practice. But the actual ‘’operation of the society, as mentioned, does not seem to implement the stated purpose.’’’ Summary There are opinions ‘to find solutions’, an even stronger view : ‘… holds the key to solving these problems’. Please note expressions ‘…. solutions..’, ‘…problems…’. The term ‘book club’ presumably refers to the highly speculative nature of activity, endless discussions, no tangible outcome, lack of existence of fundamentals and agreement on core concepts and applications, fragmentation. This was also discussed in [Korn J, Crisis in systems thinking, Kybernetes, v49, n7, 2018]. I would add that similar considerations apply to the whole of the ‘systems thinking industry’ supplemented by outdated, nearly forgotten methods like VSM, SSM which was a significant step at the time because it attempted ‘problem solving’. It may be possible to conclude that ‘Current purpose is not implemented by current society’. So, a change appears to be needed. There is a choice : 1. Devise a new purpose to fit current society, or 2. Devise a new purpose to reflect the introduction of a knowledge base derived form consideration of the empirical world to supplement creative, inspiring thinking. From the last paragraph of George’s writing I think he proposes the 1st course, I propose the 2nd which I outline here. How the current situation of ‘systems thinking’ has arisen This topic is discussed more fully in [Korn J, Existence as a web of problem solving systems, Kybernetes, doi.org/…2023]. There appears to be five reasons : 2 1. von Bertalanffy and followers such as Boulding, 1956, considered ‘symbolic structures’ such as branches of conventional science seeking ‘isomorphisms’ which they thought would lead to a General Systems Theory. This was followed by researchers like Ackoff who discussed, for example, topics like ‘systems of systems concepts’. 2. Systems thinking is regarded ‘science’. If it is meant ‘conventional science of physics’, this is inappropriate because conventional science seeks ‘reliable knowledge’ which is not the job of systems thinking. 3. Systems thinking is seen as a ‘free standing’ disciple. People are interested in application of ‘systems approaches’ to describing problematic scenarios and other similar methods usually self-invented which are claimed to follow systems thinking [Jackson, 2000]. 4. Lack of interest or awareness of the need for elementary, structural properties. 5. Lack of questioning how closely the concepts generated can be related observables. These points have been transmitted to the present day and affect current thinking. Introduction of a knowledge base ‘Systems thinking’ is the structural view of parts of the empirical world [concrete, symbolic, abstract, imaginary]. It is observable otherwise we would not be aware of it, just like parts of the world modelled in terms qualitative, quantitative properties or predicates qualified in terms of such properties. To construct a systems theory we need to find the appropriate structural properties, the elements in terms of which complex static and dynamic structures can be constructed. The dynamic complex structures are the agents the function of which is to change the equilibrium state of entities or objects with problematic issues i.e. problem solving. Static, dynamic complex structures are called physical or mental products the function of which as part of the dynamic systems, is to generate interrelations which are actually needed to execute the change. Problem solving is an innate, universal activity of living things, survival, a universal need, and achievement of ambitions, peculiar to humans, depend on it. ‘Systems theory’ imitates naturally occurring problem solving. There are TWO KINDS problem solving : 1. Initiated/driven by perception of a need to change the state of an already existing entity like ‘changing your shirt’, your upper body becomes covered, 2. Initiated/driven by invention or a spark of an idea of a not yet existing entity like ‘bow and arrow’. Animals rarely engage in the 2nd alternative and use objects as they find them usually without alternation. Conclusions The structural view of parts of the world is obvious and has created a great deal of interest but it has been used incorrectly by its current practitioners due to the five points mentioned above. This sort of thing had happened before, first with Aristotle’ four causes, second with control systems theory during and after the 2nd WW. 3 There are two means of creating theoretical structures : The elementary constituents of qualitative, quantitative and structural properties. The first is used by conventional science of physics with a great deal of success in creating predictive, mathematical models and the second : ‘1 – and 2 – place sentences in natural language leading to linguistic modelling’. Both kinds of ‘problem solving’ are used by individuals, organisations and societies. In fact, all these entities are engaged in incessant ‘problem solving’, perhaps there is nothing else. According to A. Einstein ‘Life is life a bicycle, if you stop pedalling you fall off’. The analytical form of both kinds can be described in terms of ‘linguistic modelling’ which enables them to be expressible in operational form and offer a methodical, creative approach to trying to resolve problems. The suggested approach to supplement creative, inspirational thinking may be helpful in achieving the part many people desire the systems thinking industry would play in the life of individuals, organisations and society [Korn, Co-evaluation of technology and society, 2024]. Also, consideration of a novel approach could contribute to the redraughting the ISSS purpose.

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