Measuring the Performance of a Research Strategic Plan System Using the Soft Systems Methodology’s Three ‘Es’ and the Viable System Model’s Indices of Achievement

We explore problems involving the measurement of the performance of a system. We outline two systemic approaches that have come from different epistemological positions: one from the interpretivist paradigm (soft systems methodology) and the other from the cybernetic paradigm (viable systems model). These two systemic methodologies that have tackled problems involving performance measurement are considered and discussed: (a) Checkland’s systems ideas of ‘managing and controlling’ a system throughout a set of three measures of performance: efficacy, efficiency and effectiveness; and (b) Beer’s concepts of Actuality, Capability, Potentiality of the firm and his claims that the performance of a system needs to be quantifiable and resumed on ‘pure’ numbers which should reflect the survivability of the firm. A parallel is drawn between the two approaches concluding that although the paradigms underpinning them are in some way different, the practicalities of these approaches to control, measure and improve the performance of a system are very similar. A case involving the measurement of a proposed research strategic plan for a Manchester Metropolitan University Business School’s department is used to illustrate the systemic approaches.     

复杂性范式：一种新的科学世界观

复杂性范式是随着复杂性科学的兴起而形成的一种科学新范式,它具有丰富的内涵,在本体论、认识论和方法论诸多方面都与传统科学范式相区别,并在许多领域逐渐取代传统科学范式。科学范式的复杂性转向正在掀起一场新的科学革命,并引起了科学世界观的变革。     

复杂网络与社会网络研究范式的比较

从研究范式方面对复杂网络与社会网络研究进行比较.认为发生学视角的时间维度的分析与知识论域视觉的空间维度的分析相结合,可以提供历史与全面地认识事物的可能.首先分别从发生学及知识论域体系的视角,在比较中发现了复杂网络与社会网络研究范式的特点,然后以广州软件产业CEO社会网络与竞争关系复杂网络的研究为例,对这些特点做了具体的说明,最后进一步通过该产业的企业衍生社会网络与竞争关系复杂网络的联系,得出社会网络是产业竞争关系复杂网络的基础的结论.     

广义信息序量范式建构初步

广义信息的序量符号范式将潜在信息、无序的物质能量、显在信息符号表示为：0（1,0）、0（0,1）、1（1,1）,并作为符号范式体系的初始框架。序量是信息实际表现的有序度,各种信息系统序量的定义,是建构广义信息符号范式体系的重要步骤。普遍的序量范式,将多倍、多层次系统的序量表达为基层、基本系统序量的一定运算结果。以序量范式表述广义信息相互作用规律,具有凸现本质的优点。     

Systems Practice in China: New Developments and Cross-Cultural Collaborations

This short paper introduces a special issue of Systemic Practice and Action Research on new developments in Chinese systems practice. It focuses on the recent history of systems thinking in China, describing a paradigm shift that is currently taking place from an "objectivist" to a more pluralistic stance. Details are provided of the Hull–Beijing research program, which has contributed to this paradigm shift. In one way or another, all the papers in this special issue can be seen as having a connection with this research program.     

传感器网络推拉混合模式代码传输方法

代码传输是实现无线传感器网络应用重构的关键技术.首先研究传感器网络环境自适应应用重构(EAAR)模型的两种代码传输模式-拉模式和推模式,并结合两种模式的特点提出一种适用于分簇传感器网络的能量有效代码传输模式-基于簇的混合代码传输(Cluster-based Hybrid Code Transmission, CHCT).在该模式下,簇头节点采用拉方式从基站获取代码,簇内节点采用推方式进行代码传输.仿真实验验证了方法的有效性并讨论了影响CHCT性能的主要参数.     

Knowing Wuli,Sensing Shili,Caring for Renli: Methodology of the WSR Approach

This paper presents an outline of an Oriental systems methodology: the Wuli Shili Renli approach (WSR). The basic theme of WSR contends that wuli (regularities in objective existence), shili (ways of seeing and doing), and renli (patterns underlying human relations) constitute a differentiated whole that conditions systems projects. WSR suggests that we should design and employ appropriate methods to address and tackle wuli shili and renli elements in a theoretically informed and systemic way. The background, philosophy, process, principles, and some practical applications of the methodology are preliminarily outlined.     

Soft System Dynamics Methodology (SSDM): Combining Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and System Dynamics (SD)

Soft System Dynamics Methodology (SSDM), a systemic methodology product of the combination of two widely used systems-based methodologies from two different systems thinking paradigms, Systems Dynamics (SD) and Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), is presented. The paper argues that by combining some of SD and SSM stages, within the intellectual framework proposed by SSDM, a methodology developed by one of the authors¹ much can be gained in a systemic intervention to tackle complex social problematic situations. A framework for comparing the ontological, epistemological and methodological principles of SD, SSM and SSDM is proposed and the synthesizing and dialectical role of SSDM is advanced. The 10 stages of SSDM are outlined and illustrated by an application on a small Peruvian company; and a set of conclusions and points for further research are discussed.     

Dealing with Human Relations in Chinese Systems Practice

This paper is about the Wuli, Shili, Renli (WSR) systems methodology. An important concept within this, Renli, has been developed from Confucian philosophy to clarify to Chinese researchers the necessity of dealing with human relations in systems practice. At present, the only formal means of operationalizing Renli that people are exploring in China is to import from the West methods for organizing debate. However, the concept of Renli suggests that more is needed than methods alone. In particular, facilitation skills are required. It is argued that the development of facilitation skills can be enhanced if researchers can gain both theoretical and practical knowledge of group dynamics, and engage in activities of self-reflection to look at, and alter, their own roles in these dynamics and the wider sociopolitical system. There are therefore three aspects to Renli: the use of systems methods for organizing debate, the acquisition of facilitation skills, and self-reflection geared toward the development of facilitation skills and enhanced critical awareness of the politics of intervention.     

竞争环境下高耗能制造企业节能方式选择

研究了两家竞争性制造企业面临自我节能和节能效益分享两种节能方式如何选择最优节能方式问题.首先建立两家制造企业相互对称的多阶段博弈模型,分析制造企业节能方式选择的均衡策略.结果表明存在两个对称的纳什均衡,当节能服务公司与制造企业的投资成本系数比率较小时,制造企业均应选择后者;反之,制造企业均应选择前者.之后将基本模型分别拓展到两家制造企业的投资成本系数不对称、初始能效不对称和分享期小于节能系统生命周期三种情形,进一步揭示了三种情形下制造企业节能方式选择的均衡策略.有意思的是,研究结果表明,在前述四种情形下两家制造企业的竞争强度均不会对制造企业节能方式选择均衡策略产生影响.     

Generalized confidence regions of fixed effects in the two-way ANOVA*

The authors discuss the unbalanced two-way ANOVA model under heteroscedasticity. By taking the generalized approach, the authors derive the generalized p-values for testing the equality of fixed effects and the generalized confidence regions for these effects. The authors also provide their frequentist properties in large-sample cases. Simulation studies show that the generalized confidence regions have good coverage probabilities.     

Pyramids or Silos: Alternative Representations of the Systems Thinking Paradigms

This paper is written from the perspective of a practitioner-researcher coming to terms with methodologically or theoretically pluralist practice. Common depictions of the relationship between the hard and soft paradigms are discussed, including the influence of the problem of paradigmatic incommensurability. The consequences of different ways in which this relationship is depicted are examined, in light of various perspectives on the relationship of Critical Systems Thinking to these paradigms. Alternative models of this relationship are provided, followed by discussion of how these models can be extended to combinations of other paradigms in different contexts.     

识别和选择顾客价值的系统方法论研究

顾客价值作为一种社会活动,它的多样性和主观动态特征导致了企业管理者在识别和选择顾客价值过程中遇到了很大的困难,这个困难促使本文从社会理论和系统科学的视域来重新考察了顾客价值这个概念的社会特征。根据这个特征本文采用了社会理论研究领域的诠释主义和功能主义两种范式来探讨对顾客价值的理解并在此基础上用软系统方法论构建出识别和选择顾客价值的系统方法论     

GM（1,1,α）模型背景值的变化对相对误差的影响

为了研究灰色GM（1,1,α）模型中背景值的变化对模型相对误差的影响,分析了GM（1,1,α）模型的建模机理与过程,提出了该模型的二级参数包;通过模型的二级参数包重点讨论了背景值的变化与模型的发展系数、 灰色作用量之间的关系;从理论上得出了背景值与模型的发展系数、灰色作用量之间的具体表达式;进而得到了背景值与相对误 差之间的具体表达式,并研究了它们之间的变化关系,从而达到通过调整背景值的大小来减小模型相对误差的目的;最后通过实例对这一结论进行了验证.     

ANALYSIS AND COMPUTATIONAL ALGORITHM FOR QUEUES WITH STATE-DEPENDENT VACATIONS II： M（n）/G/1/K

We study a single-server queueing system with state-dependent arrivals and general service distribution, or simply M（n）/G/1/K, where the server follows an N policy and takes multiple vacations when the system is empty. We provide a recursive algorithm using the supplementary variable technique to numerically compute the stationary queue length distribution of the system. The only input requirements are the Laplace-Stieltjes transforms of the service time distribution and the vacation time distribution, and the state-dependent arrival rate. The computational complexity of the algorithm is O（K^3）.     

论“系统科学”与“复杂性科学”之异同

“系统科学”不同于“复杂性科学”,但由于其兴起背景和演化发展过程、研究对象以及指导范式等因素上的相近性,它们实质上又是相互融合的,是易于混淆的两种提法。对它们进行细致的区分是进一步了解系统科学与系统哲学研究领域的必要过程。     

多跑道机场机动区滑行道运行方案设计及仿真评估

机动区滑行道系统运行方案对于促进多跑道机场场面资源的高效利用十分重要。研究多跑道机场机动区滑行道运行方案设计及仿真评估方法,给出了滑行道运行方案“固定、单向、顺向、循环”设计原则以及运行方案设计范式,提出了机动区滑行道空间占用指数和进离港滑行潜在冲突指数的概念。以海口美兰国际机场为应用场景,基于设计原则和范式给出了对应的机动区滑行道系统优化方案。对原方案和优化方案开展AirTOp仿真分析。结果表明：优化方案与原方案相比：在机动区冲突次数和航班在机动区的平均延误时间上,4种场景对应的优化方案分别有大幅度降低,降幅平均值分别为30.53%和37.75%。     

企业社会责任、购买意愿与购买行为——主动性人格与自我效能有调节的中介作用

理性行为理论认为，意愿是行为的有效预测变量；但企业社会责任相关研究表明，消费者的购买意愿与购买行为之间存在着巨大的差距。为了探究消费者响应企业社会责任行为对购买意愿的影响，并进而对购买行为的影响，以及购买意愿与购买行为之间的差距，构建了一个包含企业社会责任、购买意愿、购买行为、主动性人格与效能感的研究框架，通过情景化的自我报告问卷调查方法对研究框架进行了检验。研究结果表明：① 消费者一般会积极响应企业社会责任行为，其购买意愿部分中介企业社会责任与实际购买行为之间的关系；② 消费者由企业社会责任产生的购买意愿与购买行为之间存在较大的差距，企业社会责任可以解释25%的购买意愿，却只能解释20%的购买行为；③ 消费者主动性人格或效能感水平较高时，购买意愿对企业社会责任与购买行为之间关系的中介作用更强，可以有效减小伦理消费的意向-行为差距。