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Judith Rosen: The Modeling Relation And Anticipatory System Theory by Robert Rosen – YouTube

Judith Rosen: The Modeling Relation And Anticipatory System Theory by Robert Rosen

3 Dec 2020

Club of Remy

Discussion on Robert Rosen Judith Rosen, Lowell Christy, Jerry Chandler: Anticipation as the Signature of Life, and the Implications for Defining “Information” Because of It; Speed Dating of Ideas Club of Remy December 2, 2020

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Judith Rosen: The Modeling Relation And Anticipatory System Theory by Robert Rosen – YouTube

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Critical Systems Thinking, William Burroughs, and David Bowie | LinkedIn

Critical Systems Thinking, William Burroughs, and David Bowie

• Published on December 4, 2020

Dr Mike C Jackson OBE

Centre for Systems Studies

I have never thought it difficult to explain what critical systems thinking and practice are about. The world is increasingly throwing up complex problem situations which are beyond the scope of any one discipline to understand, let alone model. And there are multiple viewpoints on what is happening and what needs doing. All truths are therefore partial. The best way to get some handle on events is, therefore, to take a multi-perspectival approach on complexity using viewpoints that have proven their worth. Once an appreciation of the most pressing and significant issues is gained, in this manner, it becomes possible to make an informed choice of systems methodologies, models, and methods to use in combination to address the issues and seek improvement. The reason this is necessary is that even systems approaches cannot grasp the ‘whole system’. The various systems approaches available have different strengths and weaknesses and highlight and respond to different aspects of complexity. Understanding what the different systems approaches are good at, we can choose and use them appropriately according to the characteristics of particular problem situations, rethinking our strategy constantly as we learn whether we have made a sensible choice.

 Of course, it is always good to see the same argument rehearsed by others using different words. I have just come across a conversation between William Burroughs and David Bowie reported in Casey Rae’s new book ‘William S Burroughs and the Cult of Rock’n’Roll’. Burroughs is explaining to Bowie his vision for his ‘Final Academy’:

 “It’s aim will be to extend awareness and alter consciousness in the direction of greater range, flexibility and effectiveness at a time when traditional disciplines have failed to come up with viable solutions”

 He goes on:

 “We will be considering only non-chemical methods with the emphasis on combination, synthesis, interaction and rotation of methods now being used in the East and West”

 The context is different – expanding consciousness rather than problem resolving capacity – but the underlying philosophy is similar to that of critical systems thinking and practice. The key is to escape ‘control’ or ‘group-think’ and to entertain new ways of thinking about the complexity we face and the variety of methods we may have to employ to navigate it.

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Critical Systems Thinking, William Burroughs, and David Bowie | LinkedIn

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Information Variety and VSM—The President’s Series Tickets, Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 17:00 | Eventbrite

JAN 13

Information Variety and VSM—The President’s Series

by Cybernetics Society — President’s SeriesFollowing£0 – £2,000

Event Information

The President’s Series features distinguished speakers on issues of our time. This explores purposefulness and the ‘world we want to world’

About this Event

Hosted by our President, Dr. John Beckford FCybS, the CybSights President’s Series is a new programme that will bring interesting people together to explore the relevance and contribution of cybernetics to addressing important challenges.

Each event will consist of contributions by two different speakers. Each will be followed by individual Q&A. These are then brought together by the President in a lively and engaging plenary discussion. Each will seek areas of convergence and divergence between the ideas explored.

Events will be held via Zoom on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 1700 to 1900.

Meetings are open to members of the Cybernetics Society and also the general public. Non-members are invited to join or give a donation. Booking is required.

The Cybernetics Society has been hosting conversations and lectures since the late 1960s.

#PS4 : January 13: Information Variety and the VSM Trialogue

Addressing the distinct “go” of cybernetics in oganisations, the two speakers discuss the role of information in the management of companies and society and the capabilities of the Viable System Model to assist this..

Introduction and Welcome: Dr. John Beckford, FCybS, President of the Cybernetics Society

FIRST SPEAKER

Dr. Peter Dudley , FCybS

The Trialogue: A Trinity in Four Parts

The Trialogue is an interpretation of Beer’s 3-4-5 homeostat which, conceptually, renders systemic identity open to question. And, therefore, that the historical ‘always-already-present-ness’ of identity usually applied in cybernetic modelling is a ‘special case’ – arising after the moment of the creation of self.

Whilst this notion of plasticity in identity might be contentious there is some evidence to support it. Kuhn’s “paradigm shifts” or Gould’s suggestion that cultural development is Lamarckian, for example, can be interpreted as social (scientific) identity, in the form of dominant modes of existence or thought being (or being rendered) plastic in relation to the current social environment. New forms arising and becoming established only if they can ‘square the circle’ of the demands of current capability and current challenges in any particular field.

Dr. Peter Dudley FCybS

Peter has a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems Design and a Ph.D. in Management Systems and Sciences. He is a fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Arts and Manufactures, the Operational Research Society and the Cybernetics Society. Initially lecturing/researching ‘systems and cybernetics’ in H.E. he became an independent consultant/researcher working in the design and build of intelligent management systems. Most recently he has contributed to projects developing IT/S tools to model and support National Infrastructure and network failure resilience, climate change response and, most recently, Military C2 and non-Western Military doctrine.

Followed by discussion and Q & A

SECOND SPEAKER

Professor Elaine Toms, Professor of Information Innovation & Management, Sheffield University Management School

Subject and Bio to follow.

Followed by discussion and Q & A

Plenary Discussion

The aim of this session, moderated by John Beckford, is to draw out the complementary and competing ideas emerging from the two sessions.

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Information Variety and VSM—The President’s Series Tickets, Wed 13 Jan 2021 at 17:00 | Eventbrite

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Thresholds, cascades, and wicked problems – Greenpeace International

Thresholds, cascades, and wicked problems

Rex Weyler 26 October 2020 | 0 CommentsShare on WhatsappShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

I remember thinking, in the 1970s, that once people became aware of the ecological crisis — disappearing species, polluted rivers, poisoned air — that the necessary changes would be simple to achieve. Humanity only had to curb industrial waste and destruction, preserve wilderness for other species, put limits on our consumption, stabilize human population, and just be smart about how to live on Earth without destroying it. 

Of course, I was naive to think any of that would be easy. Since that time, human population has doubled, consumption of material resources has quadrupled, biodiversity collapse has accelerated, and after 34 international climate meetings, we are emitting more carbon than ever before. Meanwhile, we have not exactly ended war, vanquished racism, nor achieved gender or economic parity. Even worse, giant corporate interests actively work to halt and reverse any ecological regulation on industrial activity. 

Our emotional responses to crisis evolved over millennia, primarily to meet immediate needs, perhaps to benefit our tribe or community, not necessarily to solve complex, multi-dimensional, long-term dilemmas. Our ideas about “solutions” tend to be linear, short-term, and linked to a perception of simple cause and effect. Our educational institutions encourage this linear thinking about problems and solutions. Meanwhile, our social and ecological challenges are systemic, multidimensional, and complex. 

Living ecosystems are dynamic, always changing, and possess qualities such as thresholds, cascades, feedback loops, tipping points, lags, and generally unintended consequences to input. Maybe we need to learn more about how change actually occurs in nature, not just in our imaginations or in our engineering dissertations. 

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Thresholds, cascades, and wicked problems – Greenpeace International

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The Network Effects Bible

The Network Effects Bible

by James Currier & the NFX team

Network effects have been responsible for 70% of all the value created in technology since 1994. Founders who deeply understand how they work will be better positioned to build category-defining companies.

This reference for Founders will be continually updated and includes a comprehensive collection of terms and insights related to network effects all in one place. It’s one of three definitive resources we’ve written about network effects, also including:

• The NFX Manual, which describes the 13 different types of network effects
• The NFX Archives, a compendium of the most insightful articles ever written about network effects and network science

Roadmap

1. Why Network Effects Are Important
2. How Networks Work
3. Properties of Networks
4. Building and Maintaining Network Effects
5. Related Concepts

View this presentation on Slideshare.

ebook and online book at source:

The Network Effects Bible

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Five insights for innovative systems change | Apolitical

Five insights for innovative systems change

Deep rooted problems demand deep rooted solutions

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This article is written by Dan Jones, Associate, Social Finance

Covid-19 has exacerbated the challenges we face, but they are not new.

Many have deep and complex roots, and have resisted repeated attempts to address them. Public servants around the world are increasingly interested in systems change —  reorienting our whole approach to this kind of intractable problem, across the public and voluntary sectors, in order to tackle it at the roots.

More than 100,000 people in the UK are at high and imminent risk of being murdered or seriously harmed by a current or family partner or another family member. With no change in this number over the last 15 years, it is clear that the existing approach to domestic abuse is not working.

• Want to write for us? Take a look at Apolitical’s guide for contributors

The Drive partnership has helped change the UK’s response to domestic abuse at a local and national level. We’ve developed new ways of working with perpetrators, to change their abusive behaviour, which are now being widely adopted.

We’ve influenced policy and funding streams, and reframed the narrative on domestic abuse —  from “Why doesn’t she leave?” to “Why doesn’t he stop?”.

Drive began with partners coming together around a problem they had already identified independently, and a shared ambition for system change

We want to share five insights from our recent report on Drive and systems change, for policymakers and practitioners trying to develop new, more effective responses to intractable social problems:

• Start with a problem, and stay focused on solving it:
• Show that change is possible

• Link local and national
• Get the relationships right
• Tell as well as show

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Five insights for innovative systems change | Apolitical

Self-organisation and political systems Aidan Ward Following Nov 23 · 9 min read

Self-organisation and political systems | by Aidan Ward | GentlySerious | Nov, 2020 | Medium

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Anticipatory innovation governance team is recruiting (due date 16 December)  | LinkedIn

Anticipatory innovation governance team is recruiting (due date 16 December) 

• Published on November 27, 2020

Status is reachablePiret TõnuristInnovation Lead at OECD1 article Following

We are looking to build up our team at the OECD based on the strong interest and growth in the topic of  anticipatory innovation governance. We are looking for specialists in a variety of fields connected to futures thinking, foresight, organisational change, radical innovation, emerging tech, and technology assessment.  

The anticipatory innovation governance team works with governments on understanding transformative change to shape the future in the present. Anticipation is the act of creating knowledge about plausible futures, but innovation is needed to take action based on that information and start actively shaping the future today (read our recent policy note here). Our mission is to help governments be more proactive, rather than reactive and we work with leading governments around the world to help them build up their institutions that would allow them to do that. We are currently working with Finland, Sweden, Slovenia, Ireland, Latvia and many others.  

The team uses a mixture of approaches and methodologies based in innovation theory, futures thinking, foresight, technology assessment, systems thinking, designing thinking, and action research. We use both qualitative and quantitative analysis methods. We care about implementation, not just ideas. We value rigor, creativity, diversity, new perspectives, experimentation and collaboration, but first and foremost a supportive team environment that encourages curiosity and ambition around our mission. 

If this speaks to you and you would like to help us push governments to dare a bit more, consider joining us. In addition to general requirements and core competencies for OECD policy analysts, our team is specifically interested in:  

• Experience in fields related to futures thinking, foresight, organisational change, innovation, emerging tech, and technology assessment 
• An advanced academic degree in related field would be a plus, but is not a requirement 
• Ability to look at problems in a new perspective and an experimental mind-set 
• Experience working in government on the related fields would be highly appreciated, but not a must 
• Proven track record in drafting analyses, information visualisation, presenting findings, and communicating to different audiences 
• Process design and facilitation experience would be an asset  

Our project portfolio is broad and there is ample opportunity to propose new ideas and areas of research. Tasks will vary depending on the projects at hand, but involve research design, action research, data analysis, sense-making, proposing and creating new frameworks, setting up experiments, liaising with governments, building networks of experts and public officials, and leading workshops and seminars. 

This position is based in Paris, France and is on a one-year fixed-term contract with option to renew. OECD is also open to teleworking arrangements. The starting  monthly salary could start at 6130 EUR, plus allowances based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax. While either English or French fluency is required by the OECD, the anticipatory innovation governance team’s current daily working language is English. While we will make our decisions as quickly as possible, the full OECD recruitment process could take several months.  

How to apply: 

• Submit your application to the OECD centralised application  by 16 December (23:59 pm CET) under the call for Policy Analysts at the Public Governance Directorate (Job Number: 13980) 

If you have any questions, please e-mail us at opsi@oecd.org 

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Anticipatory innovation governance team is recruiting (due date 16 December)  | LinkedIn

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Programme Manager for Map the System | Saïd Business School, University of Oxford | LinkedIn

Programme Manager for Map the System

Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

Oxford, GB

Saïd Business School, Park End Street, Oxford

Grade 7: £32,817 – £40,311 (with a discretionary range to £44,045) p.a.

We are looking for an innovative, outgoing and highly organised Programme Manager to join the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship on a fixed term contract to July 2021, the Skoll Centre has been funded by the Skoll Foundation since 2004 on a 3-year rolling basis. The current 3 year period comes to an end on July 31 2021 and the Skoll Centre Team are in the process of submitting a new grant application. This position, like all others in the Skoll Centre, is funded until 31st July 2021.

An initiative of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Map the System is a global competition that challenges students to think differently about social and environmental change. Tackling global challenges starts with understanding a problem and its wider context, rather than jumping straight into a business plan or an idea for a quick fix. Students identify a social or environmental issue they care about and work together to explore, probe, and research all the connecting elements and factors around it. Students compete to present their findings at a Global Final event in Oxford.

An explosion of interest in Map The System’s novel approach has fuelled the programme’s rapid growth. Engaging over 1,100 groups of students at 34 universities worldwide in 2019, the programme is expanding by over 50% annually. The Programme Manager for Map the System will play a leading role in the programme’s continued growth and impact.

The Programme Manager will be an integral part of the growing team at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, one of the world’s leading university social impact centres. The Skoll Centre accelerates the impact of entrepreneurial activity that drives systemic solutions to society’s greatest challenges.

The successful applicant for this role will have experience in designing and leading strategic, social impact-related programmes or projects, experience of managing budgets, be both strategic and hands on and have excellent interpersonal skills.

To apply for this role please submit a CV and covering letter by 12.00 noon on Monday 7 December 2020.

Contact Person : Bryony Groves Vacancy ID : 148521

Contact Phone : 07710181944 Closing Date & Time : 07-Dec-2020 12:00

Contact Email : bryony.groves@sbs.ox.ac.uk

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Programme Manager for Map the System | Saïd Business School, University of Oxford | LinkedIn

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Overcoming Rancor

Following up on the American Cybernetic Society’s very successful Global Conversation in September, on Saturday December 6th at 12 pm (EST), ASC will be hosting  a presentation by outgoing president Michael Lissack. The presentation will be approximately 30 minutes to be followed by a 60 minute faciliated conversation. 

We are exploring the idea of continuing the Global Conversation by initiating a 
Ongoing series of presentations/conversations, with the goal of increasing the opportunity for conversation about cybernetics. 

Details 
Date:  December 6, 2020

Time: 12 noon Eastern Standard Time (9am Pacific, 5 pm Greenwich, 6pm Berlin) 

Presenter: Michael Lissack

Connecting: Via Zoom. Link will be emailed shortly before the talk. 

Open To: Registrants for the September Global Conversation, as well as other ASC Member wishing to participate.  (Registration is not required.) 

Progress seldom comes from hate: how to use a Cybernetics perspective to overcome rancor 

2020 can be described as the year of Covid-19 but it likely will also be regarded as a year in which societal and political divisions in the US devolved into unmitigated rancor.  Hatred may fuel emotions but seldom does it lead to meaningful change.  At the level of a group or society, meaningful change can only happen when members have a way to work together.  The energy required for hatred and for deliberate indifference toward those with whom we disagree can be better employed in the development of the new.  Historically this tends to happen through the creation or elevated focus on an external common enemy.  Cybernetic thinking suggests an alternative: through an examination of presuppositions and entailments observers can discover and amplify hidden commonalities amongst differing perspectives and positions.  The talk will focus on how to do this with a goal of promoting such dialogical exercises in the months ahead.

See materials to be posted at http://overcomingrancor.com

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Overcoming Rancor

pdf: http://www2.math.uic.edu/~kauffman/VarelaCSR.pdf

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A CALCULUS FOR SELF-REFERENCE: International Journal of General Systems: Vol 2, No 1

A CALCULUS FOR SELF-REFERENCE

J. FRANCISCO &G. VARELA

Pages 5-24

Received 15 Aug 1974, Accepted 03 Oct 1974, Published online: 31 May 2007

• Download citation
• https://doi.org/10.1080/03081077508960828

Abstract

An extension of the calculus of indications (of G. Spencer Brown) is presented to encompass all occurrences of self-referential situations. This is done through the introduction of a third state in the form of indication, a state seen to arise autonomously by self-indication. The new extended calculus is fully developed, and some of its consequences for systems, logic and epistemology are discussedINDEX TERMS: Self-reference, self-referential systems, calculus of indications, paradoxes, autonomy

pdf: http://www2.math.uic.edu/~kauffman/VarelaCSR.pdf

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A CALCULUS FOR SELF-REFERENCE: International Journal of General Systems: Vol 2, No 1

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Christopher Alexander: Life in Buildings (Extended Trailer)

We are honored to be able to premiere the extended trailer for this documentary film project:

Christopher Alexander: Life in Buildings
The film is an insightful profile of one of the most important and fascinating figures in the design world over the last half century.  It is a comperehensive exploration of Christopher Alexander’s ideas, building project, publications, influence, and legacy, with extensive details and interviews.   Sections will deal with his remarkable influence on the software world, as well as his more recent work and its potential significance.

The full documentary is still under development.  Donations in support of its completion (including travel to conduct interviews and complete photography of works) will be gratefully received (see below).

View the extended trailer here:

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Christopher Alexander: Life in Buildings (Extended Trailer)