Beschreibung
Conversations were introduced by Bela H. Banathy around 1980 as an alternative to the classical conferences which usually consist only of presentation of streamlined papers and short question slots. In a Conversation a small group of systems scientists and practitioners meets for several days to discuss in a self-guided way a topic of scientific and social importance. The overarching theme for the IFSR Conversation 2016 was "Systems Literacy". It aims at developing systemic "principles" or "big ideas" as orienting guidelines for application of systems science in across disciplines and provide for appropriate dissemination and world wide acceptance. Systems Literacy could be defined as understanding your model or models of Systems, how it is the same and different from others' models of Systems, and how our individual and collective actions influence Systems behaviors and how Systems behaviors influence us. An agreed definition will be an outcome of the Systems Literacy Initiative process. The Systems Literacy Initiative is a process of an ongoing international, coordinated effort to create a greater awareness and understanding about "Systems" and to develop a comprehensive set of big ideas, supporting concepts and learning progressions that have broad agreement. As team leaders developed their topics with their teams, they kept a focal theme of Systems Literacy in mind. The intention was that participants in the Conversation integrate the work of the teams into a body of knowledge to be developed into modes for educating those new to systems thinking, the systems sciences, and systems research, as a coordinated and coherent whole system initiative to define and achieve Systems Literacy. 24 practitioners from twelve countries took part in this five-day cooperative effort. Three teams approached Systems Literature from different viewpoints: Team 1: Application of Boulding's Skeleton of Science to Inform Transdisciplinarity, Team 2: Unity in Diversity - Making the Implicit Explicit, and Team 3: Exploring the Relationship of Systems Research to Systems Literacy. The outcome of this Conversation, while at a high conceptual level, also supports and encourages further practical applications through individual member activities. The outcome of the conversation is summarized in three overview papers and six team reports. A short description of the IFSR's activities completes the proceedings.
Autorenporträt
Gary S. Metcalf, PhD, is a faculty member at Saybrook, in the Department of Leadership and Management. He earned his BS in Education from North Texas State University in 1981 and graduated with a Master's degree in Social Work (family systems therapy) from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1985. He completed his PhD in Human Science (focused on Organizational Systems) from Saybrook University in 2000. Before transitioning to academic and consulting work, Gary worked as manager, for Ashland Inc. and for Tandy Corporation, both Fortune 50 corporations. In those roles, he provided coaching, counseling, and training to managers and employees, in an effort to create positive systemic change at individual and organizational levels. Gary has taught in distance education and online universities since 2001, primarily in MBA and doctoral programs. He has designed and taught courses, as well as serving on and chairing dissertation committees. He has authored numerous articles and presentations, and co-authored The Management of People in Mergers & Acquisitions (Quorum Books, 2001) with Dr. Teresa A. Daniel. His latest books include an edited volume titled 'Social Systems and Design', published by Springer in 2014, and his work with a team in publishing 'A Guide to Systems Research', published by Springer in 2016. He is active in a number of professional organizations, currently serving as Vice President (and past-President) of the International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR) based in Vienna, Austria. He was President of the International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISS) for the 2007-2008 term. In addition to his work in academia, Gary is President of Interconnections, LLC (www.interconnectionsllc.com).
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