Abstract: This article examines contemporary efforts to control climate change through the lens of social systems theory, particularly by drawing comparisons to rain dances and shamanic rituals. It argues that modern climate control strategies bear functional similarities to archaic rituals aimed at influencing weather patterns, despite the absence of direct causality. Using Niklas Luhmann’s concepts of autopoietic systems and functional equivalence, the article demonstrates that both historical and contemporary approaches to climate influence rely on blame‐shifting mechanisms and the social production of scapegoats, with failure often attributed not to the rituals or solutions themselves but to noncompliance or impurity among participants. The originality of this article lies in its application of social systems theory to link contemporary climate control strategies with ancient rituals, positioning them as functionally equivalent social phenomena. By drawing comparisons between shamanistic practices, corporate consulting, and global climate governance, the article provides a unique lens for understanding that the primary function of modern climate efforts may be to regulate social behaviour rather than achieving concrete natural environmental outcomes.
Category Archives: Discussion
A view or perspective on the world
The end is the beginning – from AI back to the Viable System Model – Lambertz (2024) – free VSM GPT
After 2,5 years of silence it is time to get back to blogging. A lot has happened. I had the pleasure to apply the Viable System Model at BOSCH Mobility, moved part-time to Gerlingen and I published a new book about Weak Signals. But now it is time to share my latest insights and potential use cases for the VSM.
VSMGPT – the virtual Viable System Model assistant
The end is the beginning – from AI back to the Viable System ModelAfter 2,5 years of silence it is time to get back to blogging. A lot has happened. I had the pleasure to apply the Viable System Model at BOSCH Mobility, moved part-time to Gerlingen and I published a new book about Weak Signals. But now it is time to share my latest insights and potential use cases for the VSM.VSMGPT – the virtual Viable System Model assistant
Continues in source…
The end is the beginning – from AI back to the Viable System Model –
Refactoring “Autonomy” & “Freedom” for The Age of Language Models: For whose freedom are we coding? Garfield (2024) – Substack
For whose freedom are we coding?
Oct 24, 2024
Refactoring “Autonomy” & “Freedom” for The Age of Language ModelsFor whose freedom are we coding?MICHAEL GARFIELDOCT 24, 2024
✨Refactoring “Autonomy” & “Freedom” for The Age of Language Models
Neural Interpellation – Allado-McDowell (2024)
The Safety-Critical Systems Club
The SCSC is the UK’s professional network for sharing knowledge about system safety. It brings together engineers and specialists from a range of disciplines and industries working in system safety, academics researching the arena of system safety, providers of the tools and services that are needed to develop the systems, and the regulators who oversee safety.The SCSC provides seminars, workshops and tutorials throughout the year, with a three-day annual Safety-Critical Systems Symposium in February.
Safety-Critical Systems Club
Grounding cognition: heterarchical control mechanisms in biology – Bechtel and Bich (2021)
and
Published:25 January 2021
https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0751
Abstract
We advance an account that grounds cognition, specifically decision-making, in an activity all organisms as autonomous systems must perform to keep themselves viable—controlling their production mechanisms. Production mechanisms, as we characterize them, perform activities such as procuring resources from their environment, putting these resources to use to construct and repair the organism’s body and moving through the environment. Given the variable nature of the environment and the continual degradation of the organism, these production mechanisms must be regulated by control mechanisms that select when a production is required and how it should be carried out. To operate on production mechanisms, control mechanisms need to procure information through measurement processes and evaluate possible actions. They are making decisions. In all organisms, these decisions are made by multiple different control mechanisms that are organized not hierarchically but heterarchically. In many cases, they employ internal models of features of the environment with which the organism must deal. Cognition, in the form of decision-making, is thus fundamental to living systems which must control their production mechanisms.
link:
Grounding cognition: heterarchical control mechanisms in biology | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Complexity & Management Conference 6-8th June 2025
Chris Mowles announces:
At next year’s conference we are delighted to have Carolyn Pedwell, Professor of Digital Media in the Sociology Department at Lancaster University, as key note speaker to explore these themes with us. Amongst Carolyn’s publications is her book Revolutionary Routines: The Habits of Social Transformation (McGill-Queens UP, 2021), which explores the paradoxical quality of habits, which enact the possibility of continuity and change both at the same time.
The conference begins on Friday 6th June 2025 and finishes at lunchtime on Sunday 8th. The currency of the conference is conversation and exploration in large groups and small.
I will put up a payment site in the New Year. Look forward to seeing you there.
Accountability sinks, bonkers companies and terrible decisions – Simon Caulkin review of The Unaccountability Machine by Dan Davies
Unreachable companies and impersonal institutions: a crisis of unaccountability is fuelling popular rage and a mushroom cloud of conspiracy theories, a new book suggests. For answers, ignore economics and look to cybernetics, says Dan Davies
28 October 2024
h/t Arthur Battram
Accountability sinks, bonkers companies and terrible decisions – Simon Caulkin
Upcoming systems event – from the excellent ISSS newsletter
Upcoming Systems Events . Dear colleagues! We invite you to take part in the
VIII INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC-AND-PRACTICAL CONFERENCE-BIENNALE “SYSTEMS ANALYSIS IN ECONOMICS – 2024”.Date: December 12-14, 2024.Host organization: Financial University, Moscow, Russia.Participation formats: in person and online.Topics to be discussed:system-based economic theory and modelling methodology;ensuring sustainable innovative development of a person, organization, society in the light of systemic principles;systems analysis and modelling in the practices of public administration, regional, municipal and corporate governance;systems analysis of problems in the scientific-and-educational sphere;other applied aspects of the systemic paradigm.Registration will be available on the website: https://sae.systemeconomics.ru/en/ from November 6, 2024. The deadline for speakers is November 30, for listeners – December 9.The main working language of the Conference is Russian. But we would like to accept several papers in English. And on December 14 we are planning to hold an International Methodological Discussion on the issue: “How to ensure sustainable innovative development of a person, organisation, society in the light of systemic principles?”If you already know the topic of your paper and/or want to participate in the International Methodological Discussion, please write to me, and we will start forming the programme.Sincerely yours,Dr. Viacheslav (Slava) Maracha,Member of the Conference Programme Committee,Member of ISSSe-mail: maratcha@yandex.ru9th Business Systems Laboratory International Symposium: TECHNOLOGY and SOCIETY. Boon or Bane?
Location: University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
Dates: January 23-24, 2025
Submissions for extended abstracts are open until December 6, 2024.
For more information, please visit the event webpage:
https://bslab-symposium.net/Varese-2025/BSLAB-Symposium-Varese-2025.htm Other Events Cornell Systems SummitSun 3rd to Tues 5th Novemberhttps://www.systemseng.cornell.edu/cornell-systems-summit
INCOSESE Lab Demo Day 001: Overview of the Ansys Digital Engineering solutions in the INCOSE SE LabMon 4th November 11am-12pm EThttps://www.incose.org/events/event-detail/2024/11/04/default-calendar/se-lab-demo-day-001-overview-of-the-ansys-digital-engineering-solutions-in-the-incose-se-lab
INCOSEINCOSE Canada: Think Like an Ecosystem: Deploying MBSE within your OrganizationMon 4th November 8-9pm EThttps://www.incose.org/events/event-detail/2024/11/05/default-calendar/incose-canada-think-like-an-ecosystem-deploying-mbse-within-your-organization
INCOSEINCOSE UK: Annual Systems Engineering Conference 2024Tues 5th and Wed 6th Novemberhttps://www.incose.org/events/event-detail/2024/11/05/default-calendar/incose-uk-annual-systems-engineering-conference-2024
MetaphorumThe Great TransformationWed 6th November @5pm GMThttps://metaphorum.org/events/webinars/metaphorum-webinar-series-2
INCOSEWebinar 177: Traceability – The Threads That Link SE Artifacts Together Across the LifecycleWed 6th November 12-1pm EThttps://www.incose.org/events/event-detail/2024/11/06/default-calendar/webinar-177-traceability—the-threads-that-link-se-artifacts-together-across-the-lifecycle
System Dynamics Society12 South African System Dynamics Conference – 2024 – VIRTUALThurs 7th and Fri 8th Novemberhttps://systemdynamics.org/event/12-south-african-system-dynamics-conference-2024-virtual/2024-11-07/
System Dynamics SocietyNovember Health Policy SIG: April Roggio – Getting High in New York State: Exploring Equity and Social Impact of Cannabis LegalizationThurs 7th November 2-3pm ESThttps://systemdynamics.org/event/november-health-policy-sig-meeting-april-roggio/
INCOSEINCOSE LA & San Diego: 2-Day Joint Technical ConferenceSat 9th and Sun 10th Novemberhttps://www.incose.org/events/event-detail/2024/11/09/default-calendar/incose-la-san-diego-2-day-joint-technical-conference
INCOSESE Lab Demo Day 002: Real-time collaborative system modelling with Ansys System Architecture ModelerMon 11th November 11am-12pm EThttps://www.incose.org/events/event-detail/2024/11/11/default-calendar/se-lab-demo-day-002-real-time-collaborative-system-modelling-with-ansys-system-architecture-modeler
INCOSEINCOSE LatAm: Webinar 14 – Architectures Optimization with DSM4 Capella (en Espanol)Tues 12th November 11am-12pm EThttps://www.incose.org/events/event-detail/2024/11/12/default-calendar/incose-latam-webinar-14—architectures-optimization-with-dsm4-capella-(en-espanol)
INCOSEINCOSE LA: It’s Not Easy Being Green – Considering the Environment in System Development EffortsTues 12th November 5.30-7pm PThttps://www.incose.org/events/event-detail/2024/11/13/default-calendar/incose-la-it-s-not-easy-being-green-considering-the-environment-in-system-development-efforts
INCOSEINCOSE Enchantment: Perspective and Influence and Leverage, Oh My! Leadership for Systems EngineersWed 13th November 4.45-6pm MThttps://www.incose.org/events/event-detail/2024/11/13/default-calendar/incose-enchantment-perspective-and-influence-and-leverage-oh-my!-leadership-for-systems-engineers
INCOSEINCOSE North Star: SysML v2 PreviewWed 13th November 6-7pm CThttps://www.incose.org/events/event-detail/2024/11/14/default-calendar/incose-north-star-sysml-v2-preview
INCOSEINCOSE AISE (Italy): Convention AISE 2024: “Systems Engineering, bridging University, Research ed Industry” (in Italiano)Wed 13th to Thurs 14th Novemberhttps://www.incose.org/events/event-detail/2024/11/13/default-calendar/incose-aise-(italy)-convention-aise-2024-systems-engineering-bridging-university-research-ed-industry-(in-italiano)
INCOSEINCOSE GfSE: Tag des Systems Engineering (TdSE) 2024 (auf Deutsch)Wed 13th to Fri 15th Novemberhttps://www.incose.org/events/event-detail/2024/11/13/default-calendar/incose-gfse-tag-des-systems-engineering-(tdse)-2024-(auf-deutsch)
SCiO IrelandSystemic evaluation in an uncertain worldThurs 14th November 11am-12pm GMThttps://www.eventbrite.ie/e/systemic-evaluation-in-an-uncertain-world-tickets-1042178643377?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=1
SCiO FinlandOpening the Box – Communicating Systems ThinkingThurs 14th November 4-5.30pm EEThttps://www.systemspractice.org/en/events/opening-box-communicating-systems-thinking
INCOSEINCOSE Orlando: What System Engineering Quality Management (SE-QM) Really MeansThurs 14th 5.30-8.30pm EThttps://www.incose.org/events/event-detail/2024/11/14/default-calendar/incose-orlando-what-system-engineering-quality-management-(se-qm)-really-means
INCOSEINCOSE Michigan: Creating Our Future: INCOSE’s Strategic PlanThurs 14th 6.30-8pm EThttps://www.incose.org/events/event-detail/2024/11/14/default-calendar/incose-michigan-creating-our-future-incose’s-strategic-plan
SCiO UKSCiO UK Virtual Open Meeting – November 2024Mon 18th November 7.30-10pm GMThttps://www.systemspractice.org/en/events/scio-uk-virtual-open-meeting-november-2024
System Dynamics SocietyHow to Build a Dynamic Business Model – Fast and Reliably!Wed 20th November 11am-12.30pm ESThttps://systemdynamics.org/event/how-to-build-a-dynamic-business-model-fast-and-reliably/
System Dynamics SocietyWebinar: Enabling and accelerating model-based decision support – Reflections on opportunities and the roadmap aheadThurs 21st 1-2pm AEDThttps://systemdynamics.org/event/webinar-model-based-decision-support/
INCOSEINCOSE New England: 6th Annual Fall WorkshopThurs 21st Novemberhttps://www.incose.org/events/event-detail/2024/11/21/default-calendar/incose-new-england-6th-annual-fall-workshop
System Dynamics SocietyModeling with Soft Variables and Limited DataWed 27th November 11am-12pm ESThttps://systemdynamics.org/event/modeling-with-soft-variables-and-limited-data/
Join the ISSS here:
A Framework for the Application of the Viable System Model and a Taxonomy of Organizational Pathologies – Perez Rio (posted on LinkedIn)
(IX) How to apply the Viable System Model to get a fast design or diagnosis of an organization (Introduction-Part IX)
LinkedIn
This chapter briefly describes the framework for applying the Viable System Model (VSM) and the whole set of organizational pathologies.
One of the fastest ways to apply the VSM to diagnose an organization is to check if some known pathologies fit the issue. Similarly, as a medical doctor uses their knowledge about human pathologies by identifying which ones affect a patient to decide what to do, the manager facing an organization can do something similar to check which organizational pathologies are affecting the organization and determine what to do about them.
Systems Thinking Toronot: What Can Systems Thinkers Learn from Grieving – November 11 18:20-20:15, in person Toronto
Monday, November 11
What Can Systems Thinkers Learn from Grieving
A discussion about grief at the ‘Space for Grief’ installation with its designers: Calla Lee, Fran Quintero Rawlings, and Ziyan Hossain.
By Systems Thinking Ontario
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Date and time
Monday, November 11 · 6:20 – 8:15pm EST
Location
Evergreen Brick Works 550 Bayview Avenue Toronto, ON M4W 3X8 Canada
link:
What Can Systems Thinkers Learn from Grieving Registration, Mon, Nov 11, 2024 at 6:20 PM | Eventbrite
Systems Change Directory from Transformations Community (mostly sustainability)
And their news page seems updated and very good, in the same space
https://www.transformationscommunity.org/general-news
Find Systems Change Programs
Explore the world’s first global directory of systems change education programs, brought to you by Transformation Community.
h/t David Ing
Systems Change Directory
ENSO Seminar Series – From performing to mapping and choreographing complex thinking: challenges and opportunities – Ana Teixeira de Melo, online Nov 7, 2024 11am UTC
ENSO Seminar Series
From performing to mapping and choreographing complex thinking: challenges and opportunities
Ana Teixeira de Melo
Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra
Nov. 7, 2024, 11 a.m. UTC // Nov. 7, 2024, 11 a.m. in UTC
In this presentation I will introduce a framework for the operationalisation of the practice of Complex Thinking conceptualised as a mode of coupling between an observer and their environment that: (i) attends to (describing, explaining, anticipating) and recognises properties attributed to complex systems and (ii) enacts and performs such properties as contributions to a complex coupling relation with a given target system of interest, showing an congruent organisation with the principles organising natural and social complex systems. I will introduce the Complexigraphy method as a qualitative visual method, based on ideograms for mapping, dynamically, the complexity of the thinking. These maps capture the dynamic relation between the parts of the thinking and its emergent whole as a dance to the complexity of the thinking. I will explore the notion of complex thinking as a dance to take a leap towards the possibility of physically choreographing the thinking through embodied and enactive strategies. I will explore possible pathways for the development of new tools, strategies and approaches in this domain.
Link to join/watch the seminar: https://youtube.com/live/TKnO9PAAuvI
h/t Ivo Velitchkov
ENSO Seminar Series
end-October 2024 monthly events mailing from SCiO international
This is the end-October 2024 monthly events mailing from SCiO. Please click on the flags or group titles below to go to the events that interest you. Please remember that you can attend online events organised by any of the SCiO groups if they are held in a language you speak/understand (and you are a member if it is a member-only meeting). Further details of events may be available by clicking on the event titles below and you can also book each event directly from the Book now text.Please note that some groups post events and add details quite late, so it is always worth checking the website – also for changes to dates and times. Please click here to see all the events in a browser.
Best Regards
Steve
SCiO – Systems & Complexity in Organisation
Mobile 07712 140422
e-mail steve.hales@systemspractice.org
website www.systemspractice.org
This message is confidential to the intended recipient. It does not constitute a legally binding document on the part of either the sender or the recipient. If this message has been received by you in error please reply to: steve.hales@systemspractice.org with UNSUBSCRIBE as the title
Systems and Complexity in Organisation Ltd is a company registered in England with Company Number: 3499590 Registered address: Unit 14 Tower Street, Century Building, Brunswick Business Park, Liverpool L3 4BJ UK______________________________________________________________
Virtual Open Meeting – November 2024
Mon, Nov 18th, 2024 19:30 – 22:00 GMT
SCiO organises Open Meetings to provide opportunities for practitioners to learn and develop new practice, to build relationships, networks hear about skills, tools, practice and experiences. This virtual meeting will be held on Zoom.
The first session speaker will be Ed Fish, who will talk about “Causation seen through a Sociotechnical Lens”
A second session will be posted as soon as the speaker is confirmed.
Causation seen through a Sociotechnical Lens – Ed Fish
All welcome; FREE; Online event; English; BOOK NOW
SCiO UK Virtual Development Event – December 2024
Tue, Dec 10th, 2024 19:30 – 21:30 GMT
SCiO’s Development Events offer an opportunity to draw upon the collective expertise of SCiO members in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. By taking Development Events online, using the Zoom meeting platform, we aim to make them accessible to more SCiO members. Development Events are both for members who are just starting out on a journey to explore Systems Thinking approaches, and for those who have many years of exploration and practice.
Members only; FREE; Online event; BOOK NOW
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SCIO-NL monthly meeting November 2024 (live in Vianen and in Dutch)
Fri, Nov 8th, 2024 13:30 – 17:00 CET
SCIO-NL komt elke 2e vrijdag van de maand live bijeen in Vianen (Hagenweg 3c). Er staan geen vaste onderwerpen op de agenda (daarvoor organiseren we specifieke andere meetings), maar de ervaring leert dat er altijd wel een interessant gesprek op gang komt over een systemisch onderwerp. Toegankelijk voor iedereen die de jaarlijkse fee voor de live-bijeenkomsten (€50,-) hiervoor betaald. En voor gasten. Neem contact op via ed@doitogether.nl als je interesse hebt, maar nog geen lid van de club bent.
NL Members + guests; Free; Hagenweg 3c, Vianen, Netherlands; Dutch; BOOK NOW
SCIO-NL monthly meeting December 2024 (live in Vianen and in Dutch)
Fri, Dec 13th, 2024 13:30 – 17:00 CET
SCIO-NL komt elke 2e vrijdag van de maand live bijeen in Vianen (Hagenweg 3c). Er staan geen vaste onderwerpen op de agenda (daarvoor organiseren we specifieke andere meetings), maar de ervaring leert dat er altijd wel een interessant gesprek op gang komt over een systemisch onderwerp. Toegankelijk voor iedereen die de jaarlijkse fee voor de live-bijeenkomsten (€50,-) hiervoor betaald. En voor gasten. Neem contact op via ed@doitogether.nl als je interesse hebt, maar nog geen lid van de club bent.
NL Members + guests; Free; Hagenweg 3c, Vianen, Netherlands; Dutch; BOOK NOW
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Tue, Nov 12th, 2024 19:00 – 21:00 CET
In an era where the traditional corporate paradigm often views employees merely as cogs in the machinery of profit, Humanizing the Corporation: A Regenerative Leadership Playbook offers a revolutionary perspective. This insightful guide presents seven key principles to help organizations transition toward a more humane and sustainable way of operating. Jan De Visch and Kashmir Birk explain the key ideas of their new book….
All welcome; FREE; Online event; Dutch; BOOK NOW
Tue, Dec 10th, 2024 19:00 – 21:00 CET
We verbreden in deze Deep Dive reeks onze systemische kaders. Waar we in de vorige Deep Dives ons hebben verdiept in het Viable Systems Model laten we nu drie andere benaderingen aan bod komen: De kritische systeembenadering, de systeem dynamische benadering en de strategische optie formuleringsbenadering.
Members only + Guests; 150 euro (werkingskosten), Locn: tbc, Belgium; Dutch BOOK NOW
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Opening the Box – Communicating Systems Thinking
Thu, Nov 14th, 2024 16:00 – 17:30 EET
“Opening the Box: Systems Thinking for Transformative Conversations” delves into the core principles of systems thinking, offering practical insights to help individuals and organizations navigate complexity. Authored by Jan De Visch, Miguel Pantaleon, Namrata Arora and Tony Korycki, this book promises to be an invaluable resource for anyone interested in understanding and applying systems thinking in their personal and professional lives. This session will feature the book’s authors, sharing their insights and engaging in a transformative conversation, applying the book’s insights.
opening the box: systems thinking for transformative conversations – Jan De Visch – Miguel Pantaleon – Namrata Arora – Tony Korycki
All welcome; FREE; Online event; English/Finnish; BOOK NOW
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SCiO DACH (Deutschland, Österreich, Schweiz)
SCiO DACH: Kybernetik-Stammtisch und Abschlussfeier
Thu, Dec 19th, 2024 19:00 – 20:00 CET
Online-Jahresabschlussfeier für alle Mitglieder. Es besteht die Möglichkeit kurz zusammengefasste Ergebnisse der eigenen Forschung/Arbeit im Bereich Systems Practice des vergangenen Jahres den übrigen Mitgliedern vorzustellen.
All welcome, FREE, Online event. German; BOOK NOW
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Systemic evaluation in an uncertain world
Thu, Nov 14th, 2024 11:00 – 12:00 GMT
Evaluation is… “a way of thinking (and acting) that will not only aid your effectiveness, but also improve your capacity to make good decisions in your ordinary life” (based on Wadsworth, 2011). Why bother about ‘evaluation’? Many of us are familiar with evaluation as a tool used in public policy to assess policies, programmes, projects and other interventions. Governments and public institutions require evaluation as part of performance measurement and accountability, and a whole industry exists around demand and supply to fulfil these…
All welcome, FREE, Online event; English; BOOK NOW
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No meetings currently planned November/December. Please check Events on the website. Contact SCiO Espana through https://www.systemspractice.org/en/community/scio-esp.
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