Abstract
The increasing complexity of modern life means that science, along with society, must increasingly deal with complex problems. While some sciences and most professions deal with complexity in more than a passing way, the system sciences are decisively, almost by definition, sciences of complexity. This aspect of their nature follows from their emphasis on “systems,” i.e., things seen in their functional wholeness. In attending to completeness, the system sciences must necessarily disavow the tactic common in discipline-centered inquiries, namely that of redefining a problem so as to make it approachable. System science therefore shares with the professions (and other real-world activities) an unavoidable confrontation with complexity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Ashby, W. Ross, Design for a Brain, 1960, New York: Wiley.
Babcock, A.K., “Logical Probability Models and Representation Theorems on the Stable Dynamics of the Genetic Net,” Doctoral Dissertation, University of New York at Buffalo, 1976.
Dertouzos, Michael, Threshold Logic: A Synthesis Approach, 1966, MIT Press: Cambridge.
Gelfand, Alan E. and Walker, Crayton C., “Management Strategies in Fixed-Structure Models of Complex Organizations II.” Forthcoming technical report, ONR Contract N000–14–76-C-0475, Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
Kauffman, S.A., “Metabolic Stability and Epigenesis in Randomly Constructed Genetic Nets,” 1969, Journal of Theoretical Biology 22: 437–467.
Kauffman, S.A., “The Organization of Cellular Genetic Control Systems,” 1970, Math. in the Life Sciences 3: 63–116.
Kauffman, S.A., “The Large Scale Structure and Dynamics of Gene Control Circuits: An Ensemble Approach,” 1974, Journal of Theoretical Biology 44: 167–190.
Walker, Crayton C. and Ashby, W. Ross, “On Temporal Characteristics of Behavior in Certain Complex Systems,” 1966, Kybernetik 3: 100–108.
Walker, Crayton C. and Gelfand, Alan E., “Management Strategies in Fixed-Structure Models of Complex Organizations,” March 14, 1977. Technical Report No. 243, ONR Contract N00014–76-C-0475, Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1978 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Walker, C.C., Gelfand, A.E. (1978). Managing Complex Systems: An Application of Ensemble Methods in System Theory. In: Klir, G.J. (eds) Applied General Systems Research. NATO Conference Series, vol 5. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-0555-3_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-0555-3_13
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-0557-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-0555-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive