Total systems intervention and human inquiry: The search for a common ground

Total Systems Intervention (TSI) is an approach to intervening in problem situations which has much to offer where complex interacting issues need to be addressed by the complementary use of intervention methodologies. That such an approach has much in common with Action Research (AR) has been recognized, with much recent effort being devoted to the relationship between AR and Critical Systems Thinking (CST), the theoretical endeavor underpinning TSI. This paper further develops this line of debate and relates AR or Human Inquiry (HI) more directly to TSI, using an information systems intervention to enhance the study. The outcome is a demonstration of how TSI implicitly uses techniques informed from the field of Action Research, and how a more thorough synthesis of HI with TSI might serve to improve the overall intervention process.     

复杂生产系统的平行管理方法与案例

为实现复杂生产系统的综合管理目标,提出了平行管理理论,即构建与生产系统相一致的人工系统,采用计算实验方法对系统规律进行研究,通过实际系统与人工系统的平行运行和交互实现对实际复杂生产系统的管理。结合乙烯生产系统长周期生产管理的应用实例,开发的平行培训系统加强了对员工标准行为的培训,平行评估系统主要侧重于对管理制度的评估,而最终形成的平行管理系统将实现对复杂生产过程的综合管理,全面提升企业的管理水平和综合竞争力。     

Systems Thinking and Systems Practice: Working in the Fifth Dimension

This paper describes how a messy organizational problem was tackled using a systems approach which led to a resolution of the problem and to an improvement in the working relationships of the people involved. The example also shows how people who are not familiar with systems thinking, as such, can quickly be helped to develop a shared systemic view of a complex situation using activity modeling. At a deeper level, the paper also shows how the underlying dynamics of the problem situation was altered as a result of using a cooperative, dialogical working method, leading to an improvement in the quality of service provided by that part of the organization. The paper uses Peter Senge's five disciplines of a learning organization, together with various systems concepts, as a framework for describing how the process of change was brought about through the simultaneous management of task and social processes, leading to both individual and organizational learning.     

从系统管理到复杂系统管理——写于《系统管理学报》创刊30周年之际

系统性是一切管理活动、理论与问题的基本属性。这样，“系统管理”就是以“系统性”为思维原则的管理范式；当今，我们正面临着人类深刻的时代性变革，这是当今时代最现实的管理复杂性的渊源，这一重大现象被人们称为复杂系统管理时代的到来。复杂系统管理是对复杂系统中一类还原论不可逆性问题的管理范式，钱学森的复杂性思维与复杂系统观是这一复杂系统管理思想的内核与底蕴。人类管理活动正出现从系统管理到复杂系统管理的转移；复杂系统管理已经以其新的内涵成为当今具有学术引领性、前沿性与厚重感的管理新领域。     

How to Make Iranian Banks Customer Oriented with Use of Customer Relationship Management Concepts? Methodology and Comprehensive Architecture

This paper focuses on finding solutions to two important questions regarding making Iranian banks customer-oriented with the use of customer relationship management (CRM) concepts: What is a practical architecture for the CRM of a bank that can bring about benefits of CRM to the organization, and what is the method to achieve such architecture? This research uses an Action Research (AR) approach in one of the largest Iranian banks to achieve answers to the aforementioned questions. In brief, it concentrates on the AR cycle and its reflexes. In the plan stage, extended literature review, pioneer banks studies, and benchmarking provide a preliminary plan. Later, in the act stage this plan can be confirmed, extended, or customized based on more precise examination of the organization, managers and employees’ interviews, and customer opinion surveys. In the check stage, university and bank experts will review the plans and in the last stage of the cycle, reflected results, lessons, and experiences that help system design in the second bank will be discussed. The efficient method of achieving the CRM architecture (which in the beginning we had only general knowledge about) as well as the improvements that can be done based on experts’ opinions in order to receive more applicable results, are among the issues that will be discussed in this paper.     

Action Research: Its Role in the University/Business Relationship

The Action Research (AR) PhD program at Monash University had its genesis in Systems Thinking and Organizational Learning. This paper discusses the role of the university in AR projects in business and the central role that AR projects can have in a Faculty's strategic positioning. The issues that have emerged in the project to date are discussed.     

Action Research: Its History and Relationship to Scientific Methodology

Scientific Methodology (SM) has long suited those who favour analytical and quantitative research in management. Thus the dilemma between the rigour and relevance of contemporary management research methods is fuelled by action researchers who keep wanting to contrast Action Research (AR) with SM. This paper presents a Western philosophical view on the development of belief systems and theory-based methods over time. It thus links the progressive and cumulative development of SM with the contemporary AR methodology. In doing this it presents a different point of view—that the traditions of SM and AR have much closer relationships than people often give them credit for.     

The Role of Action Research (AR) in Environmental Research: Learning from a Local Organic Food and Farming Research Project

We expand on the FMA model of inquiry elucidated by Checkland and Holwell (Syst Pract Act Res 11:9, 1998) and identify three kinds of research: interactive Action Research (AR), extractive participatory research, and traditional science, that were integrated into an interdisciplinary agro-environmental research project involving researchers from eight countries around the Baltic Sea. The research project held the goal of creating scientific understanding of the ecological, economic and social effects of the sustainable development of local food systems, while also having the explicit goal of implementing change in the studied systems. Based on our experience working as action researchers in the project, we highlight the role that normative goals and facilitation process competence play in complex interdisciplinary research projects. Our reflections focus on project design, including the relation between AR and other kinds of research when employed in a single project, and includes reflections on preconditions for stakeholder participation in AR projects.     

Knowledge Management for Social Workers Involved in Disaster Planning and Response in Malaysia: An Action Research Approach

This paper explores the idea of using a knowledge management system to support disaster planning and response (DPR) efforts for social workers involved in such efforts in Malaysia. The study was funded by the Government of Malaysia. Canonical Action Research was used to conduct the study. The Malaysian Association of Social Workers (MASW) was the client organization. The study began with problem formulation to ascertain issues inherent in DPR within the MASW. The next phase of the research, involved action planning—the team considered implementing a web-based knowledge management (KM) system to support DPR efforts for the organization. Post intervention, we conducted an evaluation of our action, based on interviews with key members affiliated to the MASW. Our findings are in tandem with prior work that has examined the role and relevance of KM systems in light of DPR efforts. The client organization in general forms the view that KM systems can support DPR efforts by providing vital information (pertaining to DPR) and assist the overall coordination and planning efforts for the organization.     

A Model for Design of Human Activity Systems

A background is given to the common failures of management information systems and the authors' view of the causes behind these failures. There seems to be a lack of effective methods for analyzing information requirements. Different scientific methods are discussed as to their propensity for analyzing the information requirements. The importance of the systems design approach instead of the system improvement approach is emphasized. The concept of Human Activity Systems is discussed and an analysis of the interdependence of the soft and hard parts of these systems indicates that an integrated view is necessary. A methodology based on a systemic and systematic analysis of the information requirements in an organization is proposed. This methodology focuses the settings of the decisions on all levels in organizations and also indicates organizational discrepancies and information imbalances. The methodology can be regarded as a dynamic, learning system.     

The Application of Critical Systems Thinking to Enhance the Effectiveness of a University Information System

Faced with the common problem of dissatisfaction with the outcome of investments in information systems (IS), the IS community has long sought ways to improve information systems development (ISD). This paper reports on action research (AR) that sought to improve the effectiveness a UK university’s student record system (SRS), which had exhibited persistent problems. Critical systems thinking (CST) is seen to have value for ISD and was used to guide the AR. In the first stage of this research, the issues with the initial design of the SRS were identified to have largely resulted from insufficient elicitation of the underlying assumptions about, and perspectives on, complex organisational issues. The second stage centred on examining the situation from an “ought” perspective analysing what should be done and how, in order to develop creative solutions to the problems uncovered. The third stage involved recommending solutions to address the problems identified in order to improve the effectiveness of the SRS. Overall, the AR indicates that CST enables those involved to view the design and implementation of the SRS as a holistic system, critically reflect upon broad and complex human, technological and organisational issues from different perspectives, and thereby identify creative solutions. The main contribution of this research is in generating support for an ISD intervention guided by CST. The results of, and the understanding developed from, this intervention are likely to be relevant to the problems that frequently occur in similar situations.     

大型管理信息系统分解的模糊关联方法及其应用

针对大型管理信息系统功能结构分解问题，提出一种利用信息处理过程之间的模糊关联性来识别各个子系统，从而达到系统分解目的的方法，并将方法应用于某生产企业管理信息系统和广东省一个市级政府经济管理信息系统总体设计中.     

Soft Systems Methodology: Other Voices

This issue of Systemic Practice and Action Research, celebrating the work of Peter Checkland, in the particular nature and development of soft systems methodology (SSM), would not have happened unless the work was seen by others as being important. No significant contribution to thinking happens without a secondary literature developing. Not surprisingly, many commentaries have accompanied the ongoing development of SSM. Some of these are insightful, some full of errors, and some include both insight and absurdity. Checkland (1999, p. A42) opines, in the recently published 30-year retrospective, that "SSM has been ill-served by its commentators." Scrutiny of the secondary literature on SSM provides support for this view and also identifies some general characteristics and trends that are important to the development of SSM and, incidentally, reinforces some existing conclusions.     

Systems engineering research

In this paper, we propose selected research topics that are believed central to progress and growth in the application of systems engineering （SE）. As a professional activity, and as an intellectual activity, systems engineering has strong links to such associated disciplines as decision analysis, operation research, project management, quality management, and systems design. When focussing on systems engineering research, we should distinguish between subjects that are of systems engineering essence and others that more closely correspond to those that are more relevant for related disciplines.     

Study on the System Design of Multiple Expert Systems Integrated Decision Support System

There has been an increasing interest in integrating decision support systems (DSS) and expert systems (ES) to provide decision makers a more accessible, productive and domain-independent information and computing environment. This paper is aimed at designing a multiple expert systems integrated decision support system (MESIDSS) to enhance decision makers' ability in more complex cases. The basic framework, management system of multiple ESs, and functions of MESIDSS are presented. The applications of MESIDSS in large-scale decision making processes are discussed from the following aspects of problem decomposing, dynamic combination of multiple ESs, link of multiple bases and decision coordinating. Finally, a summary and some ideas for the future are presented.     

作战模拟中的体系问题研究

信息化条件下的作战异常复杂,其模拟涉及多个方面。从体系的角度分析联合作战模拟,研究联合作战模拟涉及的体系的分类、组成和关系,将其归纳为若干个模拟体系,包括模型体系、数据体系、技术体系、评估体系、标准体系和模拟系统体系,并讨论了各类体系的构建思路。这些体系从不同的角度反映了联合作战模拟的特征,可为联合作战模拟系统的建设和应用提供支持。

Abstract：

The information-based operation is an abnormally complex process. And operation simulation covers multiple aspects. From the view of system of systems, the warfare simulation was analyzed, and its category, organization and relationships were studied, including the warfare simulation. It was summed up to multiple simulation system of systems, i.e. system of systems of model, data, technology, assessment, standard and simulation system, and also the methodology of the structure of all system of systems mentioned was discussed. All the system of systems reflected the character of joint operation simulation from different points of view. They could support the building and application of joint operation simulation system.     

MIS用户界面设计中面向对象技术的应用

高层管理信息系统涉及的信息类型多、结构复杂，对用户界面的要求高。常用的关系型数据库管理系统所提供的图形设计能力很弱，影响了系统开发工作的效率。在一个实际系统的设计中，我们采用面向对象技术分析用户界面，定义出界面的各种对象和信息模型，提高了图形用户界面程序的可重用性，缩短了系统开发周期.     

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.     

组织效力与权力分配—— 一种数理解释

以组织效力为原则，通过数理分析提出了组织权力的最佳配置结构，以及伴随组织规模扩充最佳权力配置的转移规律。     

人口问题与人工社会方法:人工人口系统的设想与应用

提出利用人工社会的思想，结合复杂系统的理论和方法，建立人工人口系统以及相应的人口计算试验手段和人口管理平行系统的设想。主要工作包括人工人口系统的基本框架，计算试验与人口政策的评估、平行系统与人口的控制与管理，以及基本综合集成研讨厅的实现方式。