Welcome to the OST website where we introduce the powerful social science body of knowledge known as Open Systems Theory (OST).  OST is a set of knowledge and tools that organisations can use to change how they work.  OST is used to improve employee engagement and business outcomes.  It is backed by 50 years of research and real-world application. 

OST is built on these pillars

• Body of knowledge
• Tools for application
• Real world implementation

This is site has been created by a collective of agile and Organisational Change practitioners who have grown tired of frameworks and top-down work structures.  We believe that OST can change the experience of working in an organisation.  It acknowledges the need for a hierarchy of function whilst creating organisational designs where people who do the work are supported and empowered to manage and deliver.  Action research shows significant improvements in business outcomes.

Explore our website to learn more about how OST can help you and your organisation navigate the challenges of our rapidly changing world.  If you would like to know more contact us here.

Copyright © 2023 A learning resource for those interested in OST |

A learning resource for those interested in OST – Open Systems Theory Home

Systems at Play

CANBERRA LABOR CLUB

On January 2023, our journey took us to Canberra for an exciting and pivotal meeting with Dr. Merrelyn Emery. This was our first face-to-face interaction with her, a crucial step in preparation for the six-day Open Systems Theory (OST) training we had organised for April that year. Our venue, a pub handpicked by Merrelyn herself, couldn’t have been more quintessentially Australian. Throughout our interview, we were captivated by Merrelyn’s remarkable blend of wit, humility, and wisdom. Her passion for fostering democratic institutions was not just inspiring but deeply infectious. It’s our sincere hope that you’ll find the interview as enlightening and enjoyable as we did.

—————————————————————————————————————– Merrelyn’s Webiste: https://www.socialsciencethatactually…

OST Community Website : https://opensystemstheory.org/

Join LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14292…

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Luke Thorburn

What Does it Mean to Give Someone What They Want? The Nature of Preferences in Recommender SystemsLuke Thorburn·

What Does it Mean to Give Someone What They Want? The Nature of Preferences in Recommender Systems | by Luke Thorburn | Understanding Recommenders | Medium

Invitation to the club

Adam Kahane
October, 2023

https://reospartners.com/book-club/landingpage/invitation-to-the-club

Form

https://share.hsforms.com/1RkHvB9vTSiCtRmKtUJciwAd78qy

• Current
• Archives
• Submissions 
• The Writing Project
• About 

1.  Archives
2.  Vol. 6 No. 2 (2023): 6.2 Decolonising Systemic Practice

DOI: https://doi.org/10.28963/6.2

Published: 14-12-2023

Editorials

Editorial: Decolonising Systemic Practice

i-iv

PDF

Articles

Disrupting colonialist language to find knowing in praxis. Cultural Foregrounding and Intra-face.

Joanne Hipplewith

1-18

PDF

Decolonising Pedagogy and Promoting Student Well-Being

Catherine Richardson/Kineweskwêw, Nicolas Renaud

19-36

PDF

Decolonising Management. Reflections of a Human Resource Practitioner from the Global South

Patrick Goh

37-52

PDF

Reflexivity 3. Breaking out the Reflexive Loop to Decolonise Practice

Gail Simon

53-71

PDF

Towards anarchy?

Mark Huhnen

72-85

PDF

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2023): 6.2 Decolonising Systemic Practice | Murmurations: Journal of Transformative Systemic Practice

https://murmurations.cloud/ojs/index.php/murmurations/issue/view/14

We cordially invite you to join us in celebrating the launch of Otto Laske’s groundbreaking three-volume book series titled “Advanced Systems-Level Problem Solving”. This series delves into the practice of advanced, ‘dialectical’ systems-level problem-solving in both the social and natural sciences.

• Volume 1, “Approaching Real-World Complexity with Dialectical Thinking,” introduces the theoretical foundation for dialectical systems analysis, offering crucial insights into understanding physical systems under threat due to the climate crisis; link
• Volume 2, “How to Measure and Boost Thought Maturity,” focuses on the nature of work and uncovers the intricate structure of complex thinking; link
• Volume 3, “Manual of Dialectical Thought Forms,” is a unique resource offering practical guidance on applying dialectical thinking in real-world scenarios; link

In addition, we will also highlight the release of a documentary film “Forging a Life,” which explores the extraordinary life and lasting legacy of Otto Laske.
Through Otto’s own reflections and experiences, audiences are invited to witness the transformative power of creativity and intellectual pursuits. His dedication to pushing the boundaries of knowledge serves as an inspiration to all who aspire to make a difference in their chosen fields. This film is not simply a documentary but rather an exploration of the human spirit and its capacity for growth and self-expression. It serves as a reminder that a life well-lived is one that embraces curiosity, creativity, and the pursuit of knowledge.

Elements of the approx. 1h meeting:

• Testimonials of Graham Boyd, John Stewart, Iva Vurdelja and Lawrence Wollersheim highlighting how Otto´s work has influenced and supported their own work
• Watching the trailer of the film “Forging a Life”, directed by Marko Stanić, https://kadar22.hr; Find the trailer here.
• Facilitation by Jan de Visch
• Q&A with Otto Laske

Join us in this celebration of knowledge and inspiration.

The Event is free – please register here: https://app.tickettailor.com/events/mod/1042373

Further links: Otto Laske on linkedin / Interdevelopmental Institute (IDM)

The Zoom Link for the event: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84217101589?pwd=VjY2ZUlFOGh4bGlBNS9BZXdobXV5dz09

Meeting ID: 842 1710 1589, Passcode: 393979

Otto Laske: Celebrating Books and Film

Register for free – Otto Laske: Celebrating Books and Film – Zoom, Thu 21 Dec 2023 18:00 – 19:00

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/mod/1042373

[A nice history of Emery-flavoured Socio-Technical Systems as advocacy for adapting such approaches in modern (tech, I think) businsesses]

Human centred system design – Trond Hjorteland – YouTube

Alidad Hamidi on LinkedIn:

In our last Systems at Play, we learn at depth about Viable Systems Model and Organistional Pathologies.
In this new session, which is mostly practionioner’s lead, we will be learning ways to explain VSM in an easier term to our clients. Also learn how to use the model practically with some exmaples. Or did you every wanted VSM to be explained to you in 2 minutes?

Demystifying the Viable System Model: A Practical Approach

In this practical workshop, we will Dive into Stafford Beer’s Viable System Model (VSM) in our concise workshop lead by strategy and organisational clarity-maker Adam Thompson.

We’ll see how to apply this powerful tool for diagnosing and improving any purposeful system, which of course includes organisations.
We ask that you bring along your most pressing organisational pathology so we can apply the model in real-time to create insight and solutions while showing you how to put it to use.

Adam also has a wonderful way of explaining complex concepts in a simple and fun way without losing the essence of the concepts.
He has a video that explains VSM in 2 minutes accessible from here: https://lnkd.in/guSUQ24C
If you want more, there is even more fun videos that expands on System 2 in VSM: https://lnkd.in/gnXgNmFr
And another short video that briefly explains System 3: https://lnkd.in/gqFRzd72

When: Thursday, February 15, 2024 6:00 PM AEDT

See the registration link from in the comment or scan QR code.

We look forward to seeing you for an engaging and practical session.

Mihail Sestakov David Witney 

https://www.meetup.com/systems-at-play/events/297676132/

Demystifying the Viable System Model: A Practical Approach, Thu, Feb 15, 2024, 6:00 PM | Meetup

October 9, 2023

Self managing management of the self managing organizationAlidad HamidiEcosystem and Adaptive Organisation Development | Collaborative Democratic Workplace Architect2 articles FollowingOctober 9, 2023

Self managing management of the self managing organization | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/self-managing-management-organization-alidad-hamidi/

Houda Boulahbel

Published in Systems Thinking Made Simple

The A to Z of Systems Thinking: A for ANDHouda Boulahbel·FollowingPublished inSystems Thinking Made Simple

The A to Z of Systems Thinking: A for AND | by Houda Boulahbel | Systems Thinking Made Simple | Nov, 2023 | Medium

Undergraduate Complexity Research (UCR)
June 2 – August 10, 2024
Application deadline January 11, 2024: https://apply-sfi.smapply.org/prog/ucr2024
For guidelines on creating a strong application please enroll in the following free tutorial.

Complex Systems Summer School (CSSS)
June 9 – July 5, 2024
Application deadline February 1, 2024: https://apply-sfi.smapply.org/prog/csss2024

Graduate Workshop in Computational Social Science (GWCSS)
June 30 – July 12, 2024
Application deadline February 29, 2024: https://apply-sfi.smapply.org/prog/gwcss2024

Complexity-GAINs International School (GAINs)
October 17 – 31, 2024
Applications will open in early 2024. More information will be available then.

SFI Complexity Interactive (SFI-CI)
SFI-CI has not been scheduled for 2024 at this time. An update will be available in the spring of 2024.

Should you have any questions, please check any corresponding program pages first, as well as the FAQs, before contacting us at education@santafe.edu.

Courses | Santa Fe Institute

https://www.santafe.edu/engage/learn/programs

Perspectives on the Nature of Reality to Inform Systemic Change Dr Iain McGilchrist,CERN,Switzerland – YouTube

A Special Integration Groupof the International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS)originally Society for General Systems Research (SGSR)PRESENTS

ONE – WHOLE

An activity ofthe Primer Group

THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC SEMINAR
ON WHOLENESS

2000

THE PRIMER PROJECT

Wholeness Seminar Home page

https://web3.isss.org/primer2/seminar.html

Transdisciplinary Theory of Information, Cognition, Meaning, Communication and Consciousness

CYBERSEMIOTICS | Transdisciplinary Theory of Information, Cognition, Meaning, Communication and Consciousness

https://cybersemiotics.com/

In the Systems Science group on Linkedin https://www.facebook.com/groups/2391509563/
Gerald Midgely says:

SAD NEWS
Many of you will know Pam Sydelko, who was a member of the ISSS and graduated with her PhD from our Centre for Systems Studies at the University of Hull in July 2023.
I’m sad to report that she passed away recently, surrounded by her family, following a three-month illness.
I am taking the liberty of sharing links to two open access (free to download) papers in the European Journal of Operational Research that Pam wrote out of her PhD, which are a legacy of her contribution. One of them has a 2024 date, so will be a posthumous publication, and I’m glad that Pam saw it accepted while she was still with us. Both papers are picking up citations at a healthy rate, so I am optimistic that Pam’s influence will continue with us for a good while.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/…/pii/S0377221720310043
https://www.sciencedirect.com/…/pii/S037722172300512X

You can respond to Gerald’s message here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2391509563/posts/10160689505294564