Synergy Matters

by Castell, Adrian M.; Gregory, Amanda J.; Hindle, Giles A.; James, Mathew E.; Ragsdell, Gillian

• ISBN13: 9780306461866
• ISBN10: 0306461862
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-06-01
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic Pub

Summary

The 21st century is now almost upon us and, whilst this represents a somewhat artificial boundary, it provides an opportunity for reflection upon the changes, and the accelerating pace of change, in our social, economic, and natural environments. These changes and their effects are profound, not least in terms of access to information and communication technologies, at once global in effect and manifest locally. These changes and their consequent demands are reflected in the theme of this volume: Synergy Matters, proceedings from the 6th UK Systems Society International Conference.

Table of Contents

Plenary Papers
Seeing Systems: Overcoming Organisational Fragmentation	1	(6)
Raul Espejo
Fighting Failure	7	(6)
Joyce Fortune
Critical Management Education: A Critical Issue?	13	(6)
John Mingers
Putting Systems Theory to Work - The Synergy Between Theory and Practice	19	(6)
Richard J. Omerod
Making Sense of Chaos - Systems and the Information Society	25	(6)
Frank Stowell
Student Papers
Translating Production Quality Data for Use in the Improvement Process	31	(6)
Alan J. Beckett
Charles E. R. Wainwright
David Bance
Using Systems Concepts to Research the Implications of Emerging Information Technologies (ITs) for Pedagogy in Higher Education (HE)	37	(6)
W. F. Ian Beggs
Rich Pictures, Metaphors, and Stories as Mechanisms to Improve Collective Actions	43	(6)
Alvaro Carrizosa
A Novel Approach to Quantify Agricultural Sustainability Using Fuzzy Set Theory	49	(6)
A.M.G. Cornelissen
Applied Artificial Intelligence and the Management of Knowledge	55	(6)
Colquhoun-John Ferguson
Scott Goldie
Diversity Management and Organisational Change	61	(6)
Guangming Cao
Steve Clarke
Brian Lehaney
Understanding Interorganisational Health and Social Service Groups: Would Alternative Metaphors of Systems Help?	67	(6)
Pam Hearne
Beyond the Golden Rule: Emancipatory Practice and Change in Organisations	73	(6)
Marion Helme
Synergy Between Humans and Software Agents	79	(6)
Petri Jooste
The Application of Internet Technologies to Information Management	85	(6)
Peter G. Lee
Charles E. R. Wainwright
An Introduction to Cybernetic Viability Study (CVS)	91	(6)
Min Li
Wei-hua Jin
A Multicultural Perspective on Integrating Non-native Speaking Students into the Community in Vienna/Austria and Texas/U.S.A.: A Preliminary Report	97	(6)
Eva Linton-Kubelka
Chaos and Complexity - the Way to Transform Organisations Ready for the Next Century: Insights from a Case Study of the Open University	103	(6)
Elizabeth McMillan-Parsons
A Discussion on Complementarism and its Stance towards Paradigms	109	(6)
Andres D. Mejia
Petri Jooste
A Systems View of Intellectual Capital	115	(6)
Gary S. Metcalf
Applying Muller-Merbach's Framework to System Acceptance	121	(6)
Danita Morrison
Co-constructing the Methodology: Learning from Practice with `Wide Band' GDSS	127	(6)
Paulo Nunes de Abreu
An Exploration of the Potential of Systems Methodologies for Approaching Organisations Operating at the Edge of Chaos	133	(6)
Maria Carolina Ortegon Monroy
Group Support Through Restricted Conversations	139	(6)
Hector Ponce
Modelling Complex Decision-Making	145	(6)
Susan A. Smith
Discourse, Calibration, Explanation, and Evolution: Implications for Computerbased Systems Development	151	(6)
David C. Sutton
Weak Incommensurability and the Development of Systems Thinking	157	(6)
David Watson
Paul Ledington
How Prevalent is Systems Thinking in the Methods, Tools, and Techniques used in Project Management?	163	(6)
Diana White
Action Research
Soft Systems Methodology: Its Potential for Emancipatory Development	169	(6)
V. N. Callo
R. G. Packham
Issues in the Conduct of Resarch Through Intervention in Real-World Affairs	175	(6)
P. J. Dunning-Lewis
Acronym Happy - Applying SSM to the CSA	181	(6)
Misha Hebel
Adam T. Muggleton
The Poverty of Action Research in Information Systems	187	(6)
Judy McKay
Peter Marshall
Atlantic Crossings: A Genealogical Analysis of the Relationship Between Systems Thinking and Action Research in the United Kingdom	193	(6)
Stephen K. Probert
Exploring Links Between Action Research (AR) and ``Alternatives''	199	(6)
Norma R.A. Romm
Changing Organizational Culture by Means of the Activities of Hierarchical Poly-Agent Organizations	205	(6)
Hirokazu Tanaka
Business and Management
All in the Mind - Heuristics, Models, Systems, and Business Advice	211	(6)
John Hassall
Kevin Mole
A Systemic Approach to Change Management in Anglian Water Engineering	217	(6)
Brian Keegan
Rod Athey-Pollard
Understanding How Concerns for the Natural Environment are Integrated into Practical Strategic Decision Making: An Application of Ashby's Law	223	(6)
Gerard J. Lewis
Neil Stewart
A Pluralist Approach Towards Integration of Quality and Environmental Management, Leading to Sustainable Development	229	(6)
T. McEwan
D. Petkov
Process Management: A Systems Perspective	235	(6)
Eugene H. Melan
The Problems of the Lyric Theatres in London - A Systems Perspective	241	(6)
Lawrence R. P. Reavill
Change Management
Some Reflections on Practice: What Did I Think I Was Doing When I Joined Systems Design Conversation Groups?	247	(6)
Sylvia M. Brown
Synergy: A Spirtual Issue in the Context of Change Management Systems	253	(6)
Cathal M. Brugha
Administrative Science Quarterly: Canary of Worldview Shift?	259	(6)
Eric B. Dent
Edward H. Powley
Does the Queen have Magical Powers: Leadership & Systems in the 21st Century	265	(6)
Ernest L. Hughes
Taming the Problems of Hypermobility Through Synergy	271	(6)
C. Jotin Khisty
P. S. Sriraj
Change Management and Information Systems	277	(6)
Roger Stewart
Service Integration, Human Services Collaboration, and Computer Supported Co-operative Work	283	(6)
Ken Udas
A Systemic Analysis of Process Oriented Change	289	(6)
Jan T. Wilton
Lawrence R.P. Reavill
Community & Social Systems Research
Convivial Information Systems	295	(6)
Ian Beeson
Enabling Older People: Developing a Social Services-Owned System	301	(6)
Martin Booy
Gail Boniface
Achieving Policy Synergies: The Case of Reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy	307	(6)
Susan Carr
Sustainability of Primary Health Care: A Systems Approach	313	(6)
Gautam Chakraborty
Is the Systems Approach a Precedent of the Development Approach?	319	(6)
Gustavo Gonzalez C.
Towards a Methodology for the Management of Community Arts Projects	325	(6)
Richard Kamm
Synergy in `Learning Citizen-Groups' Using Teleogenic Systems Methodology	331	(6)
C. Jotin Khisty
Lena L. Khisty
R. Keith Ellis
P. S. Sriraj
After Justice: On the Conditions of Possibility of Justice in the Present	337	(6)
Herman Lopez-Garay
Ricardo Sotaquira
Identity and Boundary Management in Synergistic Relationships	343	(6)
Yasmin Merali
Shaping a Local Community Information Systems Support Infrastructure Using a Collaborative Approach	349	(6)
Nick Plant
Morris Williams
Anne Moggridge
Information Within the (Human) System: Considerations of Freedom, Power, and Order	355	(6)
Antonin Rosicky
Community Matters: Community Operational Research Work on Health Needs on the Stonebridge Estate	361	(6)
Leroy White
Critical Systems Thinking
The Life Flux, Synergy, and Multiple Paradigm Methodology	367	(6)
Jack A. Castle
Critical Theory as a Foundation for Strategic Management	373	(6)
Steve Clarke
Brian Lehaney
Yongmei Nie
Dealing with Power in Organisational Intervention: The Place of Methodology	379	(6)
Brian Lehaney
Steve Clarke
Interdisciplinarity, Systems, and Totality: Some Anti-Systemic Motifs in the Thought of Benjamin and Adorno	385	(6)
M.W.J. Spaul
Linking Methodological Complementarism with the Theory of Joint Alliances	391	(6)
Maurice Yolles
Developments & Applications of Systems Methodologies
Metaphors for Systemic Intervention	397	(6)
Rosalind Armson
Maturana's Notion of Phenomenic Reductionism and its Implications for SSM	403	(6)
John Brocklesby
John Mingers
Retaining and Maintaining Soft Systems Models	409	(6)
David W. Bustard
Raymond Oakes
Desmond D. Vincent
Implementation Concerns in Soft-Systems Interventions: Some Lessons from Interactive Management	415	(6)
A.R. Cardenas
F.R. Janes
G. Otalora
Operational Synergy and Meta-Methodology in the Prison Service	421	(6)
Jack A. Castle
Steve Crago
Purposefulness and Complexity-Grappling Capability: Some Preliminary Propositions	427	(6)
Indranil Chakrabarti
Sheila R. Chakrabarti
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Dissemination Managment Idea, Wuli-Shili-Renli Systems Approach and their Application	433	(6)
J.F. Gu
F. Gao
Choice of Model or Model of Choice? - Systems Thinking and the Phenomenology of Decision Making	439	(6)
John Hassall
Bottom Up Thinking	445	(6)
Bill Hutchinson
A System Thinking Model for Economic Management-The Case of Tanzania	451	(6)
Diodorus Kamala
Measures of Performance: The Three Es of Soft Systems Methodology and the Indices of Performance of the Viable System Model	457	(6)
Alberto Paucar-Caceres
New Light Through Old Windows - But is it the Right Kind of Light?	463	(6)
Geoff Peters
Joyce Fortune
Intersubjectivity in Interpretive Research: The Dialogical Case	469	(6)
Robert Stephens
Towards Synergy in the Search for Multi-Perspective Systems Approaches	475	(6)
Zhichang Zhu
Educational Systems
Peering Into Ourselves: Critical Reflections on Peer Learning	481	(6)
Susan J. Byrne
Judith McMorland
Getting to Grips with Gender and Systems Gender Issues in Systems Thinking Group	487	(6)
Using SSM in Designing a New Nursing Informatics Curriculum	493	(6)
Peter Kokol
Teaching Systems at the Open University: Reconceptualising the Curriculum by Creating Meaningful Conversations	499	(6)
Andy Lane
Using Multimedia to Teach Systems Thinking	505	(6)
Sheila S. Stone
Information Systems
Synergy of the `Soft' and `Hard' Sciences for Improving Information Systems	511	(6)
Joseph Akomode
What is the Point of Working in an Industry Where There Is A Better Than Evens Chance of Your Work Being Shelved?	517	(6)
Steve Armstrong
Aidan Ward
Rapid and Participatory IS Analysis and Design: A Means to Defy the `Anatomy of Confusion'?	523	(6)
Simon Bell
Culture, Ideas, Idiosyncrasy	529	(6)
Malcolm Crowe
Sandy Kydd
A Knowledge Representation Approach to Computer-based Support for Soft Systems Analysis	535	(6)
Quan C. Dang
An Analysis of `Fan Traps' in an EER Schema by Using a Set of `Info concepts'	541	(6)
Junkang Feng
The Intrinsic and Extrinsic Aspects of Information Systems Evaluation	547	(6)
Misha Hebel
Chris Davis
``We Focus on the Parts and Ignore the Whole'': The Story of Information Systems Teaching at Our Universities	553	(6)
Brian Hopkins
A Systemic Model for Participatory Change in Information Systems Management	559	(6)
Andy Hyde
Information and Communication Technology: Tacit Knowledge and Innovation	565	(6)
Jon-Arild Johannessen
Bjorn Olsen
Qualitative Modelling of Information Systems	571	(6)
J. Korn
Poly-Agent Systems Theory: Evolution Model and its Applications	577	(6)
Kyoichi Kijima
What Drives the Development of an International Information System? A Grounded Theory Investigation	583	(6)
Hans Lehmann
Electronic Commerce: More Hype than Substance?	589	(6)
Peter Marshall
Judy McKay
Workflow for Inter-Organisational Environments	595	(6)
Roger M. Tagg
Research and Reality: Co-exist or Co-inhabit?	601	(6)
Sam Waters
George Bakehouse
Kevin Doyle
An Empirical Study of EIS Satisfaction - Some Preliminary Findings	607	(6)
Xianzhong M. Xu
Organisational Learning
Self-Space and Vision	613	(6)
Louis Jacques Filion
Organizational Learning and Improvement Based on the Art of Business Coaching	619	(6)
M. Adrian Flores
Educating the Knowledge Worker	625	(6)
James G. Howell
More Metaphors for Organisational Teams	631	(6)
Lawrence R.P. Reavill
Chris Brady
Synergy in a Complex and Post-Modern World	637	(6)
R.G. (Bob) Saunders
Managing Learning and Knowledge During I.S. Development in an Autopoietic Organisation: Implications from the Literature	643	(6)
Clive Savory
On Redistributing Values: A Management Methodology	649	(6)
Martha Vahl
Gerard de Zeeuw
Index	655