Systems science

Short description: Study of the nature of systems

Impression of systems thinking about society Complex systems

Topics

Self-organization

Emergence

Collective behaviour

Social dynamics

Collective intelligence
Collective action
Self-organized criticality
Herd mentality
Phase transition
Agent-based modelling
Synchronization
Ant colony optimization
Particle swarm optimization
Swarm behaviour

Collective consciousness

Networks

Scale-free networks

Social network analysis
Small-world networks
Centrality
Motifs
Graph theory
Scaling
Robustness
Systems biology
Dynamic networks

Adaptive networks

Evolution and adaptation

Artificial neural network

Evolutionary computation
Genetic algorithms
Genetic programming
Artificial life
Machine learning
Evolutionary developmental biology
Artificial intelligence
Evolutionary robotics

Evolvability

Pattern formation

Fractals

Reaction–diffusion systems
Partial differential equations
Dissipative structures
Percolation
Cellular automata
Spatial ecology
Self-replication

Geomorphology

Systems theory

Homeostasis

Operationalization
Feedback
Self-reference
Goal-oriented
System dynamics
Sensemaking
Entropy
Cybernetics
Autopoiesis
Information theory

Theory of computation

Nonlinear dynamics

Time series analysis

Ordinary differential equations
Phase space
Attractors
Population dynamics
Chaos
Multistability
Bifurcation

Coupled map lattices

Game theory

Prisoner's dilemma

Rational choice theory
Bounded rationality

Evolutionary game theory

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Systems science, also referred to as systems research[1] or simply systems,[2] is a transdisciplinary[3] field that is concerned with understanding simple and complex systems in nature and society, which leads to the advancements of formal, natural, social, and applied attributions throughout engineering, technology, and science itself.

To systems scientists, the world can be understood as a system of systems.[4] The field aims to develop transdisciplinary foundations that are applicable in a variety of areas, such as psychology, biology, medicine, communication, business, technology, computer science, engineering, and social sciences.[5]

Themes commonly stressed in system science are (a) holistic view, (b) interaction between a system and its embedding environment, and (c) complex (often subtle) trajectories of dynamic behavior that sometimes are stable (and thus reinforcing), while at various 'boundary conditions' can become wildly unstable (and thus destructive). Concerns about Earth-scale biosphere/geosphere dynamics is an example of the nature of problems to which systems science seeks to contribute meaningful insights.

## Contents

* 1 Associated fields
* 1.1 Theoretical fields
* 1.1.1 Chaos and dynamical systems
* 1.1.2 Complexity
* 1.1.3 Control theory
* 1.1.4 Cybernetics
* 1.1.5 Information theory
* 1.1.6 General systems theory
* 1.1.7 Hierarchy Theory
* 1.2 Practical fields
* 1.2.1 Critical systems thinking
* 1.2.2 Operations research and management science
* 1.2.3 Soft systems methodology
* 1.2.4 Systems analysis
* 1.2.5 Systemic design
* 1.2.6 Systems dynamics
* 1.2.7 Systems engineering
* 1.3 Applications in other disciplines
* 1.3.1 Earth system science
* 1.3.2 Systems biology
* 1.3.3 Systems chemistry
* 1.3.4 Systems ecology
* 1.3.5 Systems psychology
* 2 See also
* 3 References
* 4 Further reading
* 5 External links

## Associated fields

The systems sciences are a broad array of fields. One way of conceiving of these is in three groups: fields that have developed systems ideas primarily through theory; those that have done so primarily through practical engagements with problem situations; and those that have applied ideas for other disciplines.[6]

### Theoretical fields

#### Chaos and dynamical systems

Main articles: Chaos theory and Dynamical systems theory

#### Complexity

Main article: Complex system

#### Control theory

Main article: Control theory

* Affect control theory
* Control engineering
* Control systems

#### Cybernetics

Main article: Cybernetics

* Autopoiesis
* Conversation theory
* Engineering cybernetics
* Perceptual control theory
* Management cybernetics
* Second-order cybernetics
* Cyber-physical system
* Artificial intelligence
* Synthetic intelligence

#### Information theory

Main article: Information theory

#### General systems theory

Main article: Systems theory

See also: List of types of systems theory

* Systems theory in anthropology
* Biochemical systems theory
* Ecological systems theory
* Developmental systems theory
* General systems theory
* Living systems theory
* LTI system theory
* Social systems
* Sociotechnical systems theory
* Mathematical system theory
* World-systems theory

#### Hierarchy Theory

Main article: Hierarchy theory

### Practical fields

See also: Systems thinking

#### Critical systems thinking

Main article: Critical systems thinking

#### Operations research and management science

Main articles: Operations research and Management science

#### Soft systems methodology

Main article: Soft systems methodology

The soft systems methodology was developed in England by academics at the University of Lancaster Systems Department through a ten-year action research programme. The main contributor is Peter Checkland (born 18 December 1930, in Birmingham, UK), a British management scientist and emeritus professor of systems at Lancaster University.

#### Systems analysis

Main article: Systems analysis

Systems analysis branch of systems science that analyzes systems, the interactions within those systems, or interaction with its environment,[7] often prior to their automation as computer models. Systems analysis is closely associated with the RAND corporation.

#### Systemic design

Main article: Systemic design

Systemic design integrates methodologies from systems thinking with advanced design practices to address complex, multi-stakeholder situations.

#### Systems dynamics

Main article: Systems dynamics

See also: Social dynamics, Jay Forrester, and Donella Meadows

System dynamics is an approach to understanding the behavior of complex systems over time. It offers "simulation technique for modeling business and social systems",[8] which deals with internal feedback loops and time delays that affect the behavior of the entire system. What makes using system dynamics different from other approaches to studying complex systems is the use of feedback loops and stocks and flows.

#### Systems engineering

Main articles: Engineering:Systems engineering and Systems design

Systems engineering (SE) is an interdisciplinary field of engineering, that focuses on the development and organization of complex systems. It is the "art and science of creating whole solutions to complex problems",[9] for example: signal processing systems, control systems and communication system, or other forms of high-level modelling and design in specific fields of engineering. Systems Science is foundational to the Embedded Software Development that is founded in the embedded requirements of Systems Engineering.

* Aerospace systems
* Biological systems engineering
* Earth systems engineering and management
* Electronic systems
* Enterprise systems engineering
* Software systems
* Systems analysis

### Applications in other disciplines

#### Earth system science

Main article: Earth system science

* Climate systems
* Systems geology

#### Systems biology

Main article: Biology:Systems biology

* Computational systems biology
* Synthetic biology
* Systems immunology
* Systems neuroscience

#### Systems chemistry

Main article: Chemistry:Systems chemistry

#### Systems ecology

Main article: Earth:Systems ecology

* Ecosystem ecology
* Agroecology

#### Systems psychology

Main article: Systems psychology

* Ergonomics
* Family systems theory
* Systemic therapy

## See also

* Antireductionism
* Evolutionary prototyping
* Holism
* Cybernetics
* System engineering
* System Dynamics
* Systemics
* System equivalence
* Systems theory
* Tektology
* World-systems theory
* Complex Systems

## References

1. ↑ Ison, Ray. Systems Practice: How to Act: In situations of uncertainty and complexity in a climate-change world, 2nd ed, 2017. Springer, p. 166.
2. ↑ Ison, Ray. Systems Practice: How to Act: In situations of uncertainty and complexity in a climate-change world, 2nd ed, 2017. Springer, p. 33.
3. ↑ Hammond, Ross A.; Dubé, Laurette (2012). "A systems science perspective and transdisciplinary models for food and nutrition security". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 (31): 12356–12363. doi:10.1073/pnas.0913003109. PMID 22826247. Bibcode: 2012PNAS..10912356H.
4. ↑ G. E. Mobus & M. C. Kalton, Principles of Systems Science, 2015, New York:Springer.
5. ↑ Philip M'Pherson (1974, p. 229); as cited by: Hieronymi, Andreas (2013). "Understanding Systems Science: A Visual and Integrative Approach". Systems Research and Behavioral Science 30 (5): 580–595. doi:10.1002/sres.2215. http://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/231986/1/Hieronymi 2013 Understanding Systems Science srbs2215.pdf. . He defined systems science as "the ordered arrangement of knowledge acquired from the study of systems in the observable world, together with the application of this knowledge to the design of man-made systems".
6. ↑ Peter Checkland. 1981. Systems Thinking, Systems Practice. Chichester: Wiley.
7. ↑ Anthony Debons. "Command and Control: Technology and Social Impact" in: Advances in computers, Vol. 11. Franz L. Alt & Morris Rubinoff eds. (1971). p. 362
8. ↑ Center for Complex Adaptive Agent Systems Simulation Argonne National Laboratory (2007) Managing Business Complexity : Discovering Strategic Solutions with Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation: Discovering Strategic Solutions with Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation. Oxford University Press. p. 55
9. ↑ Derek K. Hitchins (2008) Systems Engineering: A 21st Century Systems Methodology. p. 100

## Further reading

* B. A. Bayraktar (1979). Education in Systems Science. pp. 369.
* Kenneth D. Bailey, "Fifty Years of Systems Science:Further Reflections", Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 22, 2005, pp. 355–361. doi:10.1002/sres.711
* Robert L. Flood, Ewart R Carson, Dealing with Complexity: An Introduction to the Theory and Application of Systems Science (2nd Edition), 1993.
* George J. Klir, Facets of Systems Science (2nd Edition), Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 2001.
* Ervin László, Systems Science and World Order: Selected Studies, 1983.
* G. E. Mobus & M. C. Kalton, Principles of Systems Science, 2015, New York:Springer.
* Anatol Rapoport (ed.), General Systems: Yearbook of the Society for the Advancement of General Systems Theory, Society for General Systems Research, Vol 1., 1956.
* Li D. Xu, "The contributions of Systems Science to Information Systems Research", Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 17, 2000, pp. 105–116.
* Graeme Donald Snooks, "A general theory of complex living systems: Exploring the demand side of dynamics", Complexity, vol. 13, no. 6, July/August 2008.
* John N. Warfield, "A proposal for Systems Science", Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 20, 2003, pp. 507–520. doi:10.1002/sres.528
* Michael C. Jackson, Critical Systems Thinking and the Management of Complexity, 2019, Wiley.

## External links

* Principia Cybernetica Web
* International Federation for Systems Research
* Institute of System Science Knowledge (ISSK.org)
* International Society for the System Sciences
* American Society for Cybernetics
* UK Systems Society
* Cybernetics Society

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