Dealing with coercion: Critical Systems Heuristics and beyond

This paper begins with an introduction to the philosophy and methodology of Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH). Following this, various citicisms of CSH are reviewed. One particularly important criticism is that CSH should not be seen as a replacement for other systems approaches, but as complementary to them. It is this idea of complementarity that has led several Critical Systems thinkers to take CSH, along with a number of other systems methods, and try to show that they are most appropriately used in different contexts. CSH, it is said, is at its most useful when we are confronted with coercive situations. However, in this paper it is argued that coercion is usually characterised by closure of debate. Therefore CSH, which depends upon the possibility of communication (or arbitration) between stakeholder groups, becomes redundant when coercion is experienced. It is further argued that coercion can only be addressed adequately by widening our definition of systems practice to include campaigning and direct political action. There is still considerable scope for developing these areas in the systems domain.     

An Assessment of the Application of ‘Critical Systems Heuristics’ to a Policy Development Process

Through the presentation and analysis of a case study of a policymaking process for the quality assurance of higher education by an external government agency, this paper seeks to highlight the contribution of Ulrich’s critical systems heuristics as a method for enhancing the social rationality of policymaking. It is claimed that the use of CSH enabled the researcher to elicit rich qualitative data that captured different world-views, values and boundary judgments of social actors representing the different groups of stakeholders involved in or affected by the policy. The use of CSH contributed to a policy settlement that involved substantial improvement to the reformulated policies. However, it is argued that, in the context of a new democracy with a weak public sphere, CSH was unable to counter the unequal power relations between the government agency and the universities and the historical-political fractures of South African society that caused divisions within and across Ulrich’s social roles.

Total systems intervention: A practical face to critical systems thinking

This is the first exposition of a new methodology (or perhaps meta-methodology) for systems practice known as Total Systems Intervention (TSI). Designed to overcome the weaknesses of hard, cybernetic, and soft systems approaches and build on their strengths, TSI represents a practical face of critical systems thinking. It advocates combining three building blocks-systems metaphors, system of systems methodologies, and individual systems methodologies—in an interactive manner which is deemed to be particularly powerful and fruitful. In this paper the philosophy, principles, and phases of the TSI methodology are set out and two very different examples of its use are provided.     

改进的质量功能展开——（Ⅰ）理论框架

在系统地研究和总结传统的质量功能展开（ＱＦＤ）理论与方法及最新进展的基础上，以顾客满意程度为总体目标，以层次分析法为系统分解、展开的原理，建立了ＱＦＤ理论的改进框架，即顾客满意递阶层次结构，并对其合理性和正确性进行了分析。所建立的改进框架，从理论研究而言，克服了传统的展开框架——质量屋（ＨｏｕｓｅｏｆＱｕａｌｉｔｙ）所存在的严重缺陷，大大改进了顾客满意展开精度和评价结果的精确程度，从而进一步完善和发展了ＱＦＤ的理论与方法；从应用前景和现实意义而言，增强了ＱＦＤ的有效性和适用性.     

用系统哲学原理剖析劳动剩余价值论——评介乌杰教授对劳动剩余价值理论最新研究成果

在十九世纪中叶正当资本主义兴起并快速发展时期，马克思对资本主义生产过程和剩余价值等重要问题给出了开创性的研究与革命性的贡献。站在我们当前社会主义初级阶段立场，考察上述剩余价值等问题时，就会产生这样的问题：时至21世纪的今天，如何看待剩余价值、公平、分配、剥削和其他相关问题？本文主要介绍乌杰教授以科学的系统观对劳动剩余价值理论问题的最新研究成果。     

同一时代的两种哲学思潮——试论系统哲学与后现代哲学的异同

系统哲学与后现代哲学都是西方学者提出的概念,它们是同一时代的两种哲学思潮。一些系统哲学家和后现代哲学家都从不同的角度互相提及,那么,系统哲学与后现代哲学到底有什么关系,本文试图简要分析这一问题。     

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.     

Systems thinking,systems practice,and practical philosophy: A program of research

IfSystems Practice is to serve the cause of socially rational decision making, its understanding of systems approach must open itself up to the communicative dimension of rational practice uncovered by contemporary practical philosophy. This programmatic paper argues that building the bridge between the two traditions of systems thinking and practical philosophy is a key challenge to be faced by the systems community. A three-level framework of rational systems practice is suggested as a point of departure for a program of research.     

增强系统辩证论的认同感

系统辩证论的提出和阐述，引起了人们的关注、兴趣和重视。它与唯物辩证论在本质上是一致的，既坚持了唯物主义，又是立意更高的唯物辩证论的另一种表达形式；它有马克思主义哲学和系统科学两个理论来源，出自实践并接受实践的检验，是哲学“走出书斋”的重大理论成果，用它来认识事物已越来越成为一种趋势；它不是对唯物辩证论的否定，而是对马克思主义哲学的丰富和发展，是对系统科学的超越，是哲学领域思想解放的生动体现。     

Meta-Decision Making: Concepts and Paradigm

This Research Note outlines some preliminary findings of a meta-decision making study. The paper introduces the idea of meta-decision making and develops this into a new broader approach. The notion of the dual role, or identity, of the decision maker is put forward: s/he is both an ego-meta-decision maker and an ego-decision maker. These concepts are based on the idea of being "detached from oneself," an important element of the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism. Additionally a framework of meta-decision-making tasks is discussed.     

社会经济系统评价指标体系设计:方法论原理及其实现———以产业集群竞争力评价为例

目前,在各类社会经济系统评价领域中,关于影响因素及评价指标的选取往往存在较大主观随意性.针对此问题,提出四种相互匹配的指标体系设计方法论原理,分析这些原理所依据的哲学基础,阐述其具体实现步骤,并以我国产业集群竞争力评价体系设计为例,剖析这四种原理在实践中的应用过程,使其不仅具有理论指导作用,而且具有现实操作性.     

社会系统哲学与唯物史观

社会系统哲学的直接理论渊源是具有自然科学特点的系统哲学,同时又是唯物史观原则和方法的具体体现和发展。明确社会系统哲学的研究对象与理论特征,特别是科学界定社会系统哲学与唯物史观的关系,是其自身存在和发展的内在要求。社会系统哲学与唯物史观是一般与具体和继承与发展统一。     

The Role of the Qualifying Function Concept in Systems Design

In this paper I explore potential benefits with using the concept qualifying function as a tool for systems design. The concept originates from the philosophy of Herman Dooyeweerd and refers to the function or character that guides and directs the internal structure of an entity or activity. This means that if the qualifying function for an entity or activity changes, its structure as a whole will change as well. Due to this, the concept and its related theory can help people to view situations from new and different perspectives and to explore the consequences of different views. It can provide a common base for the design around which accommodation more easily can be reached and from where further discussions can be continued. Finally, it has the potential to point at fundamental differences of opinion between participants and stakeholders.     

A Critical Heuristic Approach to the Establishment of a Software Development Process

The software development process for large software systems can be very complex, mainly in the case of development of innovation. There is no ready-made solution for this process. Rarely, if ever, can a solution be applied in a straightforward manner. Those involved in such software development need to make choices that will determine the features of the development process with consequences for its clients, who were not involved in the development but are affected by its results. The choices are inevitably influenced by the beliefs and values of the developers. Their judgments need to be made explicit so that people who are affected can eventually question these judgments.The Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH) is a systems methodology that makes it possible to examine the judgments made by those involved in the software development process. It offers tools to question such judgments.The application of the CSH to the software development process helps to illustrate the heuristic ability of the methodology to make evident the potential sources of misconception and its critical ability to identify imperfections in the conception of the software process.     

控制世界——哲学的新功能

哲学的功能研究是哲学研究的重要方面。哲学的功能不仅是解释世界和改变世界,而且应包括控制世界。认识哲学的控制世界功能,有利于我们提高认识世界和改造世界的效果和效率,并更好地为人类的生存和发展服务。我们应当将控制世界范畴纳入哲学理论体系,并处理好其与认识世界和改变世界的关系,使哲学理论与时俱进,更好地为现实服务。     

探讨用系统哲学原理诠释科学发展观的科学内涵

我国经历了60年伟大的社会主义建设的发展实践,在60年的历程中,取得了丰富的成功经验和一系列的历史性教训。"科学发展观,是立足社会主义初级阶段基本国情,总结我国发展实践,借鉴国外发展经验,适应新的发展要求提出来的。"本文试图用学习系统哲学之体会,进一步理解与诠释科学发展观的科学内涵。文中根据系统哲学中的协同和谐原理、自组(织)涌现原理和整体优化原理来探讨科学发展观的含义,试图说明树立科学发展观就应学会用系统思维方法和系统哲学原理来思考问题和处理问题。文中还讨论了整体优化律发展了否定之否定律和人们的知识结构整体优化的有关问题。     

Science as Systemic Intervention: Some Implications of Systems Thinking and Complexity for the Philosophy of Science

This paper sidesteps the usual starting points for debate about complexity and the philosophy of science, which tend to assume that science is primarily about observation. Instead, the starting point is intervention, defined as purposeful action by an agent to create change. While some authors suggest that intervention and observation are opposites, it is argued here that observation (as undertaken in science) should be viewed as just one type of intervention. We should therefore welcome scientific techniques of observation into a pluralistic set of intervention methods, alongside methods for exploring values, reflecting on subjective understandings, planning future activities, etc. However, there is a need to explicitly counter a possible pernicious interpretation of this argument: intervention could (erroneously) be viewed as flawlessly preplanned change based on accurate predictions of the consequences of action. This is the mechanistic worldview that systems thinking and complexity science seek to challenge. Therefore, having redefined scientific observation as intervention, the paper revisits insights from systems thinking and complexity to propose a methodology of systemic intervention. Some brief reflections are then provided on the wider social implications of this methodology.     

试论复杂系统思想对于科学哲学的影响

复杂思想正在强烈影响科学哲学的说明方式、确证方式；本论文论证了这种趋势，依据CHooker的《复杂系统的哲学》（科学哲学手册第10卷）以及其他文献，本文在科学哲学的本体论、认识论两个方面对复杂系统思想给予科学哲学的冲击、可能形成的新科学哲学范式做出了初步的说明。     

Systemic Model for Diagnosis of the Micro,Small and Medium Enterprises from Two Cities from the Countryside of the State of <Emphasis Type="Italic">São Paulo</Emphasis> in Brazil

This article presents a proposal of a systemic model composed for the micro and small companies (MSE) of the region of Ribeirão Preto and the agents which influenced their environment. The proposed model was based on Stafford Beer’s (Diagnosing the system for organizations. Chichester, Wiley, 1985) systemic methodologies VSM (Viable System Model) and on Werner Ulrich’s (1983) CSH (Critical Systems Heuristics). The VSM is a model for the diagnosis of the structure of an organization and of its flows of information through the application of the cybernetics concepts (Narvarte, In El Modelo del Sistema Viable—MSV: experiencias de su aplicación en Chile. Proyecto Cerebro Colectivo del IAS, Santiago, 2001). On the other hand, CSH focus on the context of the social group applied to the systemic vision as a counterpoint to the organizational management view considered by the VSM. MSE of Ribeirão Preto and Sertãozinho had been analyzed as organizations inserted in systems that relate and integrate with other systems concerning the public administration, entities of representation and promotion agencies. The research questions: which are the bonds of interaction among the subsystems in this process and who are the agents involved? The systemic approach not only diagnosed a social group, formed by MSE of Ribeirão Preto and Sertãozinho, public authorities and support entities, but could also delineate answers that aimed the clarification of obscure questions generating financial assistance to the formularization of efficient actions for the development of this system.     

信息系统复杂性的哲学思考

复杂性理论引入信息系统开发是适应当今信息系统应用环境和软件工程环境发展的需要 ,也是信息系统开发理论和实践发展的必然趋势。以软件开发方法论的发展为主线 ,对软件开发方法的历史和现状进行了回顾 ;提出了信息系统复杂性的哲学思考 ,探讨了复杂信息系统不同于传统软件的主要特征