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Inquiry into Informing Systems: critical systemic thinking in practice

Bednar, Peter LU and Welch, Christine (2009) p.459-501
Abstract
Any perceived human activity is, by definition, also a complex informing system. Human activity systems must continually adapt to their dynamic environments in order to survive. There is therefore a role for deutero-lerning through human sense-making and multiple levels of reflection in bringing this about. In this chapter, the authors suggest a need for an approach based in philosophy as practice, when considering the complexities of informing systems. Our discussion draws upon a variety of reference disciplines that have contributed to developing an epistemology of informing systems discourse. These include systems science, systems thinking and cybernetics (which we explore through the work of Gregory Bateson and C. West Churchman);... (More)
Any perceived human activity is, by definition, also a complex informing system. Human activity systems must continually adapt to their dynamic environments in order to survive. There is therefore a role for deutero-lerning through human sense-making and multiple levels of reflection in bringing this about. In this chapter, the authors suggest a need for an approach based in philosophy as practice, when considering the complexities of informing systems. Our discussion draws upon a variety of reference disciplines that have contributed to developing an epistemology of informing systems discourse. These include systems science, systems thinking and cybernetics (which we explore through the work of Gregory Bateson and C. West Churchman); biological systems (through the work of Maturana and Varela); philosophy (explored through the work of Gerard Radnitzky and Hans-Erik Nissen, as well as Gregory Bateson); and organizational behaviour (explored through the work of Borje Langefors, Chris Argyris and Karl Weick). We conclude by presenting two examples of hermeneutically-informed, phenomenological approaches. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Sense-Making, Phenomenological Approaches, Information Systems, Human Activity Systems, Systems Analysis, Informing Systems, Critical Systemic Thinking, Cybernetics, Systems Science, Systems Thinking, Contextual Analysis, Strategic Systemic Thinking
host publication
Foundations of Informing Science: 1999-2008
editor
Gill, Grandon
pages
459 - 501
publisher
Informing Science Press
ISBN
978-1-932886-15-3
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
230917df-5004-4ced-af0f-55b7c05a3ad8 (old id 1484087)
alternative location
http://books.google.com/books?id=3qtlYfQut1wC&source=gbs_navlinks_s
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 10:51:35
date last changed
2018-11-21 21:01:12
@inbook{230917df-5004-4ced-af0f-55b7c05a3ad8,
  abstract     = {{Any perceived human activity is, by definition, also a complex informing system. Human activity systems must continually adapt to their dynamic environments in order to survive. There is therefore a role for deutero-lerning through human sense-making and multiple levels of reflection in bringing this about. In this chapter, the authors suggest a need for an approach based in philosophy as practice, when considering the complexities of informing systems. Our discussion draws upon a variety of reference disciplines that have contributed to developing an epistemology of informing systems discourse. These include systems science, systems thinking and cybernetics (which we explore through the work of Gregory Bateson and C. West Churchman); biological systems (through the work of Maturana and Varela); philosophy (explored through the work of Gerard Radnitzky and Hans-Erik Nissen, as well as Gregory Bateson); and organizational behaviour (explored through the work of Borje Langefors, Chris Argyris and Karl Weick). We conclude by presenting two examples of hermeneutically-informed, phenomenological approaches.}},
  author       = {{Bednar, Peter and Welch, Christine}},
  booktitle    = {{Foundations of Informing Science: 1999-2008}},
  editor       = {{Gill, Grandon}},
  isbn         = {{978-1-932886-15-3}},
  keywords     = {{Sense-Making; Phenomenological Approaches; Information Systems; Human Activity Systems; Systems Analysis; Informing Systems; Critical Systemic Thinking; Cybernetics; Systems Science; Systems Thinking; Contextual Analysis; Strategic Systemic Thinking}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{459--501}},
  publisher    = {{Informing Science Press}},
  title        = {{Inquiry into Informing Systems: critical systemic thinking in practice}},
  url          = {{http://books.google.com/books?id=3qtlYfQut1wC&source=gbs_navlinks_s}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}