This introduction to the world of cybernetics provides the basics and discusses the most important thought leaders, models as well as theories. Practical examples from the fields of biology, ecology, technology, society, and politics are used to illustrate the theoretical material. Questions at the end of the chapters stimulate reflection, and the author does not owe the answers. A central theme in all cybernetic considerations and a guiding theme of the book are information exchange and communication.
This textbook on “Cybernetic Worlds” could also be titled: “The Power of Negative Feedback”. Negative feedback is a process taking place between at least two subjects or objects that links a reinforcing and a balancing effect.
Chapter 2 introduces the topic of circular thinking, which is inherent in cybernetics, with a special look at the origin and way of thinking of cybernetics. Starting with the central question “What cybernetics is and what cybernetics is not”, with related practical examples, you will be confronted with numerous definitions of cybernetics, all derived from the respective fields of application of cybernetics. Finally, special attention is given to “Systemic and Cybernetic Thinking” in six circular steps.
In Chap. “Basic Concepts and Language of Cybernetics”, various basic concepts of cybernetics are discussed in the necessary detail, which contribute to a fundamental understanding of complex cybernetic relationships. Graphic representations with practical process examples of cybernetic applications complement the texts and familiarise the reader with the various social, technical and economic areas that are interspersed with cybernetic systems of the most diverse kinds.
This chapter introduces a number of representatives of cybernetics who have had a decisive influence on the development of this interdisciplinary discipline. The one who gave the greatest impetus to cybernetics as a scientific branch and broad application was undoubtedly Norbert Wiener, which is why we begin with him.
The number of influential people from a wide range of disciplines who have each made their contribution to cybernetics is too large to be assembled here in full. On the internet alone, 56 people are mentioned, of whom some influential minds will be mentioned in due course (cf. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_bekannter_Kybernetiker. Accessed 25.01.2018).
Natural, social and technical-economic systems are interspersed with cybernetic principles or features as discussed in detail in chapter “Basic concepts and language of cybernetics”.
They are—in the case of natural systems per se—open systems to the environment with which the three basic flows of our life process, energy, matter and information, are exchanged.
The following three cybernetic systems sections “Cybernetics of Mechanical Systems”, “Cybernetics of Natural Systems” and “Cybernetics of Natural Systems” are intended to provide a clear introduction to their organisation with associated principles, whereby the content is largely based on Probst (1987, pp. 46–52 Self-organisation. Order processes in social systems from a holistic perspective. Parey, Berlin/Hamburg) and drawing on recent additions to thematic complexes, which took place in the context of a conference “Exploring Cybernetics—Cybernetics in Interdisciplinary Discourse” in 2015 (Jeschke et al. 2015 Exploring Cybernetics. Cybernetics in interdisciplinary discourse. Springer, Wiesbaden).
Finally, the concluding sections “1st order cybernetics” and “2nd order cybernetics” describe two interconnected well-known order characteristics of cybernetic systems.Due to their systemic character, the presented cybernetic models interpret three central pillars of sustainable development: ecology, social affairs and economy (technology/economy), as they were elaborated by the Brundtland Commission in 1987 and on the basis of which the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development took place in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992.
With this chapter “Cybernetics and Theories” we enter a room full of theories whose common reference is cybernetics. However, it is not the aim and purpose to describe all the listed theories and even more extensively, which would fill books that have already been written on the respective topics of the sub-chapters. Therefore, we will put concise statements on the individual theories in the foreground of this chapter and start with systems theory.
In the concluding chap. “Cybernetic Systems in Practice” we will get to know cybernetic systems from different areas of practice. We will focus on four dominant environmental areas that affect us all—nature, technology, the economy and society. These will be concretised through a wide variety of “application scenarios”, from control circuits of the human organism and the forest ecosystem to control mechanisms of various technical apparatuses and tools, economic models and management tools, to models in sociology/psychology, “cybernetic governance” or even in the field of the military. A brief overview of the cybernetic “status quo” of these four environmental areas is given as an introduction.
Chapter 2 introduces the topic of circular thinking, which is inherent in cybernetics, with a special look at the origin and way of thinking of cybernetics. Starting with the central question “What cybernetics is and what cybernetics is not”, with related practical examples, you will be confronted with numerous definitions of cybernetics, all derived from the respective fields of application of cybernetics. Finally, special attention is given to “Systemic and Cybernetic Thinking” in six circular steps.
Soccer coaching has changed a lot since I was studing the Charles Taylor FA manual to qualify to coach kids back in the day. This isn’t a proper survey, but just to say there is some really exciting stuff happening in sports coaching – check out this main piece.
WHAT IS RELATIONISM?
Jamie Hamilton
Mar 27
Recognising Patterns in Football’s Alternative Paradigm
In a return to original Systems Thinking Ontario format, we reviewed an (old) systems thinking paper from 1998. Mohammed Badrah served as reviewer. Kelly Okamura was the discussant. The author, David Hawk, was available during the discussion period for extended knowledge.
Sustainable Technology and the Entropy Argument | Mohammed Badrah, Kelly Okamura, David Hawk | Systems Thinking Ontario 2023-09-11 October 22, 2023 daviding 0 CommentsIn a return to original Systems Thinking Ontario format, we reviewed an (old) systems thinking paper from 1998. Mohammed Badrah served as reviewer. Kelly Okamura was the discussant. The author, David Hawk, was available during the discussion period for extended knowledge.
There is a call for papers for a special issue in the Public Health journal on Climate Resilient Health Systems. The call is open to papers that document the effects of climate change or specific climate hazards on health systems at any system level (from local to global), assess related health system vulnerabilities, and/or explore system changes and their consequences in response to climate hazards
Manuscripts should be submitted by 30th April 2024.
Call for submissions! Illuminate Network is seeking 10 high-quality content pieces exploring the intersections of equity, systems change, and collective leadership, for a blog series to be published online in 2024. An honorarium of $3,000 (US) will be provided to those invited to submit completed pieces. 🦋
To be considered, submit your abstract in English or Spanish by 21 October 2023: https://lnkd.in/e_vdwnjd
On LinkedIn (first links), Jessie Lydia Henshaw says:
I’m very pleased to say my newest paper – “Emergent Growth of System Self-Organization & Self-Control,” – was published yesterday by SRBS (the systems research journal). https://lnkd.in/eHNiCCkv.
Sometimes, it’s the small turns that matter, such as from accelerating to decelerating, reversing the innovation directions from multiplying to coordinating, and giving birth to the biggest changes of all, like relieving growth crises and revealing new visions of naturally healthy futures.
It turns out nearly all people already know a great deal about timing the creative turn from multiplying the expansion of startup designs to perfecting them as they grow up to become well-working and lasting designs. The same strategy applies to any scale, for innovations, relationships, and even ways of life that go from rapid profit growth to peak profit as they mature to reach their full potential.
Our economic world is designed to maximize profit, too, but mainly the fast and immature kind, stuck in maximizing the growth of systems that overshoot their resilience to become disruptive and risk their own collapse. It made the work of our lives fast and sloppy just to please finance, not our futures.
Being out of touch with nature and unable to mature kept our world from reaching its full potential, as most responsive growth systems naturally do, responding to their own cohesion to mature their designs inside and out, like our own bodies and minds did to fulfill our individual potentials.
System Conveners are an emerging group of changemakers whose roles are designed to bring people together across sector, organisational and community boundaries, enabling people to share learning across those boundaries and to create positive change in how systems like public services operate. Rather than concentrating on individual services or organisations, the focus is on changing systems, building connections, and being led by people who use services, as well as those who are currently let down or excluded from them.
The New System Alliance, working with Hackney Borough Council and NHS England/the Health Foundation’s Q Community, surveyed people to find out if the Systems Conveners we are aware of are part of an emerging field. We had over 80 responses, the overwhelming majority identifying themselves as Systems Conveners in some way. We are happy to share our briefing – System Convening – what you told us, summarising what was shared about the role, their learning and what they need to do their jobs well.
What we learned from the 80 Systems Conveners who responded to our survey about what Systems Convening is, what makes it work and not work, and what public service systems should learn from this emerging field
An attempt to define this emerging field, and to bring people together for mutual support and connection – you may be the only person doing system change work in your area or your organisation, but you are not alone!
Deciding whether there is a need and energy behind creating an ongoing community of practice, or action network, for Systems Conveners and if so, what it should focus on and do
This free event is open to people who contributed to the original survey, as well as people who are interested in the topic – it would be great to see you there!
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