Systemic Worldview
Erkki Laitila PhD/software eng
Good Reason Tmi
Post grad seminar: Åbo Akademi 15.11.2012
Motivation from the blog: Worlds of Systems: Einstein knew the value of ‘system’ as a notion to stimulate thinking. He, a physicist, was a ‘systems person’. So too was von Bertalanffy, who was a biologist.
Abstract
• The world is getting more complex – in spite of our continuous efforts to make it easier. Systems thinkingis a generic approach for studying practical life.
• Systemic worldview is a generic perspective updated by the observer - above the “mechanistic worldview” -for understanding systems, which model the world.
• GoodReason is a technique for explaining system based phenomena using certain visual metaphors in order to tackle a writing challenge in a high level – being a tool for approaching the systemic worldview.
Background
Background: Short Step from Symbols to Systems
2008 – 2009 Thesis:
Program Comprehension
2010 How to find bugs
in source code
2012 Introduction to
Systems thinking
Reduc-tionist
Reduc-tionist
Agenda
Agenda as well as Logic for GoodReason
Nr and name of the phase Definition and parts of this file
1 Abstract & intro A Why this topic is important? Relevance and rigor
2 Background B ”Related work”, literature review, google study
3 Context C Hermeneutic circle, learning cycles
4 Systems S Conceptualisation: semantics of systems and sub-systems?
5 Functionality F Working: services in general?
6 Intentionality I Purposes and special features: what does the system want?
7 Reactivity R Reality: how to understand reaction in real life situations?
8 Decision phase D Enlightening and synthesis: what scenarios can be seen?
9 Goals, setting final thesis G Making a plan: how to select best scenarios for future
10 Thesis for listeners T Conviction: presenting a plausible proposal to stakeholders
To Summary
Idea for ”Exp
Dataflow for GoodReason: Many Purposes
Idea
A
B
S
C
F R I
G
T
D
Proposal
Mnemos
Abstract
Background
System(s)
Configuration
Function.
Intention
Reaction
Decision
Goal
Thesis
To Summary
1. Introduction for This WorkHistory and Motivation for GoodReason
Surprise:• What?• Why?• How?• So what?
Relevant and rigorous questions typical for systems thinking
A system collapseThere is a need for better reasoning technologies
Related work
Quantitative Qualitative Systemic Holistic
Economy aspects: micro & macro
Financing policies Investment infra-structure: model
Philosophy for a steady-state infra
What Why Which context?Complexity?
Which spaceRelevancy?
To calculate To categorize To describerelations
To describe generic problems, solutions
Solve hypotheses Find answers Understand connections
Understand and avoid problems
Ontology, mapping, semantic net … systemic model
Metaphysicsphilosophy,
1.1 Research Methodologies: An Example: Financing infrastructure
R.L. Ackoff (1968) has outlined the system as a problem-solving methodology that handles research problems (IAMSR Annual Report 2011).
Systemic ”WorldView” is relevant over the mechanistic approach.
Our research problem
1.2 1st Google Hit for Systemic WorldView
Jack M. Lethin is one of numerous authors promoting spiral diagrams.
”An obedient machine” has no reasoning abilities outside its scope local optimization.The systemic approach is needed for mapping them to an infrastructure. Energy (values) is needed to optimize and control the infra-structure.
1.3 2nd Google Hit: Spiral Diagrams
Human consciousness has developed through: I, it, we and its to form personality
for human being a spiral based learning curve. A really multidisciplinary proposal.http://wakingdownintegral.com/category/spiral-dynamics/
1.4 3rd Hit: Explaining Human Evoloution Metaphysical Assumptions about Being
www.vitis-tct.be/SpiralDynamics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world by asking: What is there? What is it like?
Is it reliable science or not?It depends on the topic.
Dev
elo
pm
ent
Where are we now?
2.1. Research on Symbols, on SystemsUnderstanding Java by Symbols Understanding World by Systems
• World is a collection of systems hierarchies
• Each system has semantics
• Semantics drawn as a table• The system at focus
• Semantics of semantics, 2nd and higher order semantics
Systematic worldview
• Java has a grammar with its symbols
• A program is a set of symbols:
• static & dynamic & side effects
Semantics
main()
Context
2.2. Meta Something and Inter Somethingdescribe the Systemic Worldview
• Metaphysics
• Meta science : meta problem + meta solution
• Interdisciplinary topic intersystemic work when a discipline is a system
• Utm-theorem:– Output = Space::System:transform(Input, Args, SideEffects)
Technology spaces in IR*: software, hardware, grammarware, modelware, knowledgeware, maintenanceware…*) Laitila (2009) Symbolic Analysis as a Methodology for Program Comprehension
2 Expla-nation
3 Insight
4 Proposal
5 Impro-vement
1 Current state
3. Context for Systemic WorldView: Understanding Emergent Systems
Traditional learning cycle Understanding problems
Understanding emergence is important to eliminate problems, to win the game, to show completion, to maximize quality etc.
Most problems cannot be solvedusing quantitive or qualitative research.
Solutionprocedure
Metaphor for learning
System for a service
Norms
Business
Profit
Techno-logy
Pragma-tics
Giving
Service
Seman-tics
3.1. Limited ”Worldview” Top Down Approach for Financing
• Small and big picture
• System is a artifact
Systems thinking means how to use ”system” for explaining the limited world?
Client satisfactionStabile money
PoliticsFinancing norms
The following step is articulating systems.
4.1. Articulating Systems from Concepts
Concept S
Circle IIICircle
II
Kernel
Theory Prac-tice
State 1 State N
2. Functionality
1. System articulationEach cell has aspecific semanticsas well as eachcolumn and row
Nk1
Function F
Actor AS
1
4
5
6
3
2
Project plan using visualized items
3. Intentionality and speacialization
Turingmachine
Phases 1, 2 and 3 enable specifying a more accurate logic to describe reactivity (phase 4).
4.2. Building Systems using Visual Prolog
Ontology for the systemic worldviewinterface system
def = cell(property); vector(property*) ; row(property*); matrix(def*).
interface functionalitydef = flow(property::def).
interface propertydef = link(system*); flow(functionality*) ; int(intention*); react(reaction*) ; form(formula).
interface intentiondef = int(system, def*).
interface reactiondef = react(property, context, functionality).
interface statedef = state(nr, property); space(nr, model) ; era(nr, def).
interface worldviewdef = db(id, space, system*).
www.visual-prolog.com
This computer semantics allows prototyping system based models: relations & functionality.
Modeling ontology by Visual Prolog makes it possible to categorize all possible relation types rigorously in order to create a visualization implemantation or a deeper tool (xml etc).
5. Understanding Norms for Financing Combining Many Visualization Principles
Functionality of a service is defined as a path between cells and (sub)systems. If the (sub)system is ”reliable”, the only thing when specifying to ”match”.
eFinancing as a service
Deriva-tives
MicroCredit..
MatchingAgent
MacroDebit..
Conrolling& rules
Needs: profit
Values,ethics
Dealer 1 Dealer N
Motivation
Historic burdenof organizations
5. Challenges in Understanding Money Transfers
• Is it difficult to understand results of international money transfers?– Finland quarrantees
– Creece loans
– Market reactions
– EU, IMF contributions
Exceptional conditions because of the crisis!It is argued that Finland’s quarrantee for Greece is worth nothing.
This picture has a systemic approach and a nice visualization.
Our society has no organization for thinking of this kind of serious, expensive cases.
Essential conceptual principles: 1) Modeling sentences as graphs 2) Undestanding semantics 3) Formulating categories 4) Understanding subconceptual features
5.1 Understanding Systemic Relations Deeply: Many Principles for Conceptualization
1. J. Sowa: http://www.jfsowa.com/2. Conceptual Modeling. Boman & al.3. Conceptual Mathematics: Lawvere & al.4. Conceptual Spaces: Gärdenfors & al.
Tom believes that Mary wants to marry a sailor.
Person: Erkki Believe
ThmeYou
Expr
Expr Understand
Thme
Systems WorldDescribeT
Erkki believes that you understand that systems describe the world.
6. Modeling Intentionality as Matrix
A management concept, see: http://www.integralleadership.com/the-graves-quadrants.php
• Modeling personality and behaviour of an organization or a person (company, state etc): objective and subjective attitude as well as interobjective and intersubjective nature.
• Left side Graves Value System. Right side GoodReason’s system matrix.
Beliefs Intentions Goals Expectations Conditions
Imago Strategy Tactics Management Motivation
Idea Processes Resources Production Needs
Input Adaptation Refining Output Ad. value
ValuationDynamic
behaviourSuccess Measures Critique
A succeeding system works as a coherent and consistent flow using mental properties of Table X for all assumed services and prospects. All problems are mapped as path traversal problems
7. Some Notations to Describing Reactivity
• Reaction is a functionality for an action with a context (many other formalisms occur).
• GoodReason proposes some ways to describe reactivity visually for analysis, synthesis or other modeling. Each identified reaction is a function
• There are many formalisms for reactions (situation logic, chemistry etc)
Reaction R X YXS
N1
N2
N3
N4
N5
N6
8. Inspection Phase: Debt Crisis
Meta problem:
• The bubble
• System collapse
• Infrastructure is instabile: chaos, crisis
Meta solution(s):
1. Removing problem items
2. Correcting the whole
3. Scaling the harms
4. Splitting, divide & impera
5. Reconfiguring systems
6. Accord, forget it
7. New reserch, control
The only sustainable solution is harmony, solved by values.
Holistic worldview: to eliminate the bottleneck.
9. Realistic and Idealist OrganizationSystem Matrix Easily Defines Scenarios
”Modern” organization is an obedient Turing machine
Mission is to multiply
Goal ”Copy machine”
Imago Management for copying
Idea Book keeping
Input Accept Process Output Pack
Holistic organization with virtues is a new paradigm
Learn to be ”better”
Goal Insights, wisdom
Imago Co-operation, leadership
Idea Integrating to the environment
1 2 3 4 5
Turing machine upside down Higher level, meta functionality: 1. Listening customers2. Configuring user needs3. Solving user problems4. Providing knowhow 5. User satisfaction as a motivator
To get more money To promote better life
Pre-selected menu for 10 types and 3..5 subtypes each (total 40)
9. Applying Visual Thinking in Commercial ToolsThe GoodReason Principle
Some ideas come from metaphysics:
1. Internal, external (hierarchy)
2. Causality, successive parts
3. Time, cycles, hermeneutics, repetition
4. Systems (nature, nets, hierarchies)
5. Functionality (services, protocols)
6. Intentionality (subjectiveness)
7. Reactivity (monisuuntaisuus)
8. Perspectice made by the observer (SWOT)
9. Future scenario(s): Improvements
10. Confidence for presentations
Collected output:Paper, thesis…
Powerpoint
Copy & paste
Mnemos
Abstract
Background
Context
System(s)
Function.
Intention
Reaction
Decision
Goal
Thesis
Co
he
ren
cy
Levels of granularity
10. To summarize a holistic systemic view:
System
P
E
TEC
V
S
R
The research context PESTEC is extended here by Rand V:• R for research
(meta approach) for system
• V for evaluating system values
PESTEC (future research) means Politics & Economy & Social sector & Technology.
The extended PESTECRV – context provides hundreds of novel multidisciplinary research approaches for connecting more traditional topics with each other.
erkki.laitila @goodreason.fi
Thank you for interest!
10. To summarize
GoodReason is a schema for rational systems thinking combining reasoning and visualization.
Systemic worldview is an approach to understand relations of lower level worldviews.
Pro
gres
sW
ell f
are
Recessio
nC
risis, con
flicts
FINALLY..I am sorry
• The topic was different from typical IR research topics.
• Therefore the contents was not specialized for a certain exact purpose.
• The bad news is that it cannot be used as itself without any implementation efforts.
• The good news is that this large topic can lead to wide understanding/comprehension what is science, who we are and how it can help us in our normal life.
Many thanks! erkki.laitila @goodreason.fi
Further information
• http://www.anser.org/docs/systems_thinking_applied.pdf
• www.goodreason.fi