The field of cybernetics originated in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s in a series of meetings sponsored by the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation. Norbert Wiener named the field after the Greek word, cybernetes, for governor. In 1948 he defined cybernetics as control and communication in animal and machine. Social systems were soon added. Although originally based on the study of biological and social systems, information technology has progressed so rapidly, the prefix “cyber” now means either computers or the internet to most people. There are currently no academic programs in the U.S. that cover the broad field of cybernetics. The authors of articles in cybernetics journals used to be predominantly from the U.S. Now most articles are by authors from European countries or China. This paper reviews the history of cybernetics in the U.S. and other countries and points out some nontechnical aspects of cybernetics with security implications.
Cybernetics: A General Theory that Includes Command and ControlStuart Umpleby527 Views18 Pages1 File ▾History of ScienceThe field of cybernetics originated in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s in a series of meetings sponsored by the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation. Norbert Wiener named the field after the Greek word, cybernetes, for governor. In 1948 he defined cybernetics as control and communication in animal and machine. Social systems were soon added. Although originally based on the study of biological and social systems, information technology has progressed so rapidly, the prefix “cyber” now means either computers or the internet to most people. There are currently no academic programs in the U.S. that cover the broad field of cybernetics. The authors of articles in cybernetics journals used to be predominantly from the U.S. Now most articles are by authors from European countries or China. This paper reviews the history of cybernetics in the U.S. and other countries and points out some nontechnical aspects of cybernetics with security implications.
An overly simplistic history of Cybernetics by S. A. Umpleby. W. R. Ashby was already doing "biological cybernetics" in the '50s ("Design for a Brain" was published in 1952). Also, having three "versions" of a "general systems" theory may defy its purpose.https://t.co/jYIqcEPJs0pic.twitter.com/mPyvjeTOYj
— ᛕᎥᕼᗷᗴᖇᑎᗴ丅Ꭵᑕᔕ (@Kihbernetics@qoto.org) (@Kihbernetics) February 6, 2024
An overly simplistic history of Cybernetics by S. A. Umpleby. W. R. Ashby was already doing “biological cybernetics” in the ’50s (“Design for a Brain” was published in 1952). Also, having three “versions” of a “general systems” theory may defy its purpose.
“Being Whole Stephen Nachmanovitch “I begin by thinking of my friend and mentor Gregory Bateson, but the questions here are broad and relate to the experience of many people, and many kinds of people. Gregory was known as a great polymath. But that is not quite right. In truth, he was a holomath, if we can coin that word. A polymath is a person who turns to, and sometimes excels in, multiple fields of endeavor. A holomath is a person who sees multiple fields as being really the same enterprise, circling a central pattern from different angles and points of view.”
This thesis by publication examines the application of systems thinking to health promotion in Healthy Together Victoria (HTV). HTV was a large-scale, multi-site initiative that adopted a complex systems approach to reduce obesity in Victoria, Australia from 2012 to 2016. Data were collected through 31 semi-structured in-depth interviews with HTV participants. The findings are described with respect to implications for systems practice, theories, tools and capacity for health promotion professionals. This thesis includes four peer reviewed journal articles and two practice reports.
Publication year
2022
The application of systems thinking to health promotion: complexity-informed community-based prevention in Healthy Together VictoriaAuthorBensberg, MonicaAvailable versionsMonica Bensberg ThesisAbstractThis thesis by publication examines the application of systems thinking to health promotion in Healthy Together Victoria (HTV). HTV was a large-scale, multi-site initiative that adopted a complex systems approach to reduce obesity in Victoria, Australia from 2012 to 2016. Data were collected through 31 semi-structured in-depth interviews with HTV participants. The findings are described with respect to implications for systems practice, theories, tools and capacity for health promotion professionals. This thesis includes four peer reviewed journal articles and two practice reports.Publication year2022
The VSM Canvas allows a quick start with diagnosing the structures, the decision making and the information systems of an organization. For a workshop, you may want to download the template and print it in a large format, e.g. A0.
The VSM CanvasThe VSM Canvas allows a quick start with diagnosing the structures, the decision making and the information systems of an organization. For a workshop, you may want to download the template and print it in a large format, e.g. A0
Publication date (Electronic, pub): 12 December 2023
On facebook, Gerald says:
Here is a new paper of mine on the systemic intervention approach. It is open access, so downloadable for free. The download button is just below my name, the journal title and the paper’s keywords.
Midgley G (2023). The Systemic Intervention Approach. Journal of Systems Thinking, 3, 1-24. DOI:10.54120/jost.000050
ABSTRACT
This paper presents a systemic intervention methodology that starts with boundary critique: exploring different boundaries and values that might matter to stakeholders when framing the purposes of an intervention. Boundary critique helps people develop an enhanced understanding of the situation being addressed, and it focuses attention on dealing with conflict and marginalization. Systemic intervention also offers a theory and practice of methodological pluralism: creatively mixing methods from a diverse range of methodological sources in response to the initial boundary critique, so systemic improvements can be designed. This creative mixing of methods yields a much more flexible and responsive approach than might be possible with a narrower range of methods. The value of a systemic intervention approach is illustrated through several practical examples.
This dissertation examines a design practice that is intended to help solve complexity challenges in urban design. To this end, the historical foundations of computer-aided architecture and urban design are examined from an ecological perspective. Understanding computer-aided design process as a branch of architectural ecology is identified as a fundamental research problem. The work uses cybernetics as a methodological tool for observation, analysis and evaluation of systemic complex networked spatial organizations. The result of the research is a proposal for a design framework for urbanism that is designed and generated by embedding information and epistemology. The approach links to the idea of a human-machine interface. It considers the emergence of a new architectural culture characterized by code and self-organization. Furthermore, the dissertation suggests that the changes in our relationship to architecture and to our built physically and digitally constructed virtual environments, is characterized by interacting communicating elements, architectural production, and dynamic organization. This initiates a shift in the focus of architectural consciousness from delineated discrete objects to networked subsystems. It is divided into 4 parts. Part 1 establishes a theoretical framework, Part 2 a conceptual framework of historical foundations. These first two parts refer to linear analog systems and the beginnings of digital production of architecture, as a phenomenon of interaction and learning. They apply an integrative research method with descriptive literature and project research. Part 3 presents design research of progressive design strategies, including algorithmic, parametric, and bio-inspired approaches. It thus illustrates the development of a new architectural ecology. It applies experimental design research as research method. Part 4 demonstrates a new systemic methodology for conducting a structured design operation as research result. It is a pervasive digitization that fuses data and knowledge embedded in the physical environment in a structured way. A prerequisite for an Untailing Ecology, a Framework for an informed Urbanism.
AbstractThe explicit, above-the-water-line paradigm of information science is well known and widely discussed. Every disciplinary paradigm, however, contains elements that are less conscious and explicit in the thinking of its practitioners. The purpose of this article is to elucidate key elements of the below-the-water-line portion of the information science paradigm.Particular emphasis is given to information science’s role as a meta-science–conducting research and developing theory around the documentary products of other disciplines and activities. The mental activities of the professional practice of the field are seen to center around representation and organization of informationrather than knowing information. It is argued that such representation engages fundamentally different talents and skills from those required in other professions and intellectual disciplines. Methodological approaches and values of information science are also considered.
2024-02-11
Systems Community of Inquiry 
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