The Children's Planning Initiative: Researching Decision-Making for Children

This paper recounts the story of how a number of workers involved in the care of children decided that they needed to do more than improve their skills and began instead to question some of the assumptions on which child care planning processes are built. The paper records a growing consciousness about the value of action research in developing alternative models of decision-making. It leads us from early questioning, through model creation, and on into testing the model in a new and complex organizational setting. While other voices are quoted, the paper recounts the story from the viewpoint of two actors, practitioner/manager and consultant.     

基于HLA火灾联合救援行动视景仿真系统的设计与实现

依据HLA的基本概念、方法和原理,建立了一个火灾联合救援行动视景仿真系统,以解决城市中的突发性灾难事件,如火灾和交通事故等.在HLA的体系框架下,给出了联邦成员的分类及实现,FOM/SOM的设计和视景仿真系统的编程实现.该视景仿真系统能够向智能救援指挥中心(IRCC)提供对突发火灾事件的直接救援可选方案,并向每一个救援单位提供最好的救援计划.     

基于旋转角度的跑步运动仿真

提出基于旋转角度的方法仿真跑步运动.跑步时人体四肢和躯干都在绕关节做重复旋转运动,基于旋转角度的跑步模型根据各关节的旋转角度计算人体运动时不同部位的位置,进而求解跑步运动行为.根据该模型提出一种跑步运动仿真方法/程序,该方法可以用于跑步运动仿真和提供建模所需的人体部位的位置数据,因而可缩短建模周期.用一个慢跑仿真案例示例了该方法的仿真过程.     

Power-Based Arbitrary Decisional Actions in the Resolution of MIS Project Issues: A Project Manager's Action Research Perspective

As a management information systems (MIS) project manager and an action researcher, the author examined, over time, the influence on information system development (ISD) of the informal sociopolitical organizational actions. The paper reports two cases of action research findings concerning the effect on ISD project implementation processes of power-based arbitrary decisional actions in bureaucratic environments. The research focused on the relationship of such unilateral actions to the interconnected subprocesses of deliberate and conscious attempts by the ISD project members to define and resolve system implementation issues. A suggested conceptual framework for the issue-resolution processes (IRP's) and obstacle-coping processes (OCP's) is based on the author's IRP/OCP-related behavioral constructs and theoretical models dealing with soft-systems issues, especially appreciative system theory and soft-systems methodology, and innovative flexible, "complementarist" (Sinn, 1998) or pluralist problem-solving approaches.     

A Systemic Evaluation of the State of Affairs Following the Negative Outcome of the Referendum in Cyprus Using the Structured Dialogic Design Process

This paper reports the results of the first of a series of co-laboratories organized by Cypriot peace pioneers 30 months after the negative outcome of the referendum concerning UN General Secretary’s plan for reunification of the island. The purpose of this co-laboratory was to support a diverse group of disengaged and disappointed peace pioneers and activists representing Turkish and Greek communities of Cyprus develop a shared understanding of factors contributing to the perceived widening of the gap between the two divided communities in Cyprus. The co-laboratory was organized using the structured dialogic design process (SDDP) approach within the context of a rich web-based communication environment. The root causes contributing to the widening of the gap are discussed and are also compared with those identified during a similar co-laboratory employing the Interactive Management methodology 12 years earlier.

防卫行动指挥训练模拟系统研究

反恐斗争是一种特殊的军事斗争形式,是当前军事训练领域的一个重要内容。为满足国内城市“反恐、防恐”的需要,满足驻城部队军官指挥行动训练的需求,我们研制了防卫行动指挥训练模拟系统。首先介绍了该训练模拟系统要达到的总体战技指标、实现的主要功能,然后给出具体实现的硬件构成和各相应的模块子系统、各个分系统的相互关系,以及电台模拟与实时语音通信技术,最后介绍了系统研制过程当中所采用的关键技术。该系统在某装甲步兵分队应用后,反映效果较好、收效明显,对驻城区部队的“反恐”训练具有很强的推动作用。     

From Cybernetics and VSD to Management and Action

This paper uses Stafford Beer's Viable Systems Diagnosis (VSD) to suggest that the development of a model for actionable theory in organizations would take the form of a three-step process. The first step involves the definition and explanation of an appropriate theory base, the second theory interpretation into a coherent set of action principles and the third contextual action in organizations. We contend that even for a well-informed and widely read manager gleaning the theoretical basis for this process from the recognized Beer trilogy “Brain of the Firm,” “The Heart of the Enterprise” and “Diagnosing the System” is difficult to justify in terms of time, understanding, and action. We maintain that a sound set of action principles emanating from Beer's primary work must be considered before tackling the noted trilogy. We use Beer's initial text “Cybernetics and Management” to trace some fundamental operational research and the interdisciplinary tripartite science of cybernetics. We commence our action model process with some introductory thoughts into operational research, cybernetics, VSD, and contextual action. Our first step toward action involves some primary definitions and principles of cybernetic theory and the prospect of controlling overwhelming variety. Our second step provides our set of coherent potential action principles fundamental to cybernetic theory. The paper is written in a journalistic rather than academic style reflecting the need to couch the interpretation of the theory in a language that the well-informed manager may readily translate into third step contextual practice.     

基于Agent的作战单元行为规划方法研究

在海军多兵种协同攻击蓝方海上舰艇编队的作战想定背景下,为拟制红方参战兵力联合作战协同行动规划计划,采用智能体理论和多智能体技术,将担负作战任务的作战突击兵力定义为作战单元智能体,建立了作战单元智能体的BDI原型结构模型。基于分布计划的分布规划方法,定义了作战单元智能体的协同作战行为规划范围,建立了其协同行为规划问题求解操作方法类模型和行为规划模型,描述了作战单元智能体拟制协同作战行动计划方案的整个规划过程。通过规划形成决策功能,完成了协同行为规划初步计划方案,通过行动计划管理功能完成领域行为规划库的管理。     

Rhetorics and Realities in Public Service Organizations: Systemic Practice and Organizational Learning as Critically Reflexive Action Research (CRAR)

This article sets out to develop an argument and theory-in-practice related to organizational learning and systemic practice as critically reflexive action research (CRAR). It explores principles and concepts associated with CRAR, in the context of different emphases in understandings of and approaches to managing or working with change. The notion of epistemologies of practice is developed, as the basis for introducing on-site and off-site CRAR as interweaving cycles of managerial and organizational learning. A multilayered illustration of an improvisational CRAR environment, using principles of dialectical enquiry and critical learning theater, is offered. A diagrammatic analysis provides the framework for describing and reflecting critically on key CRAR processes. This is expanded with a consideration of possibilities for documentation that can assist with the validation of quality in CRAR processes and outcomes. This has relevance in the context of postpositivist action research at postgraduate levels or within project-based CRAR partnerships. This leads to a further discussion of principles and concepts, in the context of other literature and pressures on public services.     

A History of the Action Learning,Action Research,and Process Management Association (ALARPM): From Brisbane (Australia) to the World Through Inclusion and Networks

Action Learning, Action Research, and Process Management Association (ALARPM) is an organization of volunteers dedicated to the international expansion of action learning, action research, and process management, through world congresses. It has existed for over a dozen years now, despite significant stresses and strains, and has successfully conducted five world congresses with a sixth one in 2003. This history of ALARPM shows that a small group can set out to be international and inclusive from the beginning, so long as it also develops processes to sustain itself internally.