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Principles of Systems ScienceNovember 2014
Publisher:
  • Springer Publishing Company, Incorporated
ISBN:978-1-4939-1919-2
Published:11 November 2014
Pages:
755
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Abstract

This pioneering text provides a comprehensive introduction to systems structure, function, and modeling as applied in all fields of science and engineering. Systems understanding is increasingly recognized as a key to a more holistic education and greater problem solving skills, and is also reflected in the trend toward interdisciplinary approaches to research on complex phenomena. While the concepts and components of systems science will continue to be distributed throughout the various disciplines, undergraduate degree programs in systems science are also being developed, including at the authors own institutions. However, the subject is approached, systems science as a basis for understanding the components and drivers of phenomena at all scales should be viewed with the same importance as a traditional liberal arts education. Principles of Systems Science contains many graphs, illustrations, side bars, examples, and problems to enhance understanding. From basic principles of organization, complexity, abstract representations, and behavior (dynamics) to deeper aspects such as the relations between information, knowledge, computation, and system control, to higher order aspects such as auto-organization, emergence and evolution, the book provides an integrated perspective on the comprehensive nature of systems. It ends with practical aspects such as systems analysis, computer modeling, and systems engineering that demonstrate how the knowledge of systems can be used to solve problems in the real world. Each chapter is broken into parts beginning with qualitative descriptions that stand alone for students who have taken intermediate algebra. The second part presents quantitative descriptions that are based on pre-calculus and advanced algebra, providing a more formal treatment for students who have the necessary mathematical background. Numerous examples of systems from every realm of life, including the physical and biological sciences, humanities, social sciences, engineering, pre-med and pre-law, are based on the fundamental systems concepts of boundaries, components as subsystems, processes as flows of materials, energy, and messages, work accomplished, functions performed, hierarchical structures, and more. Understanding these basics enables further understanding both of how systems endure and how they may become increasingly complex and exhibit new properties or characteristics. Serves as a textbook for teaching systems fundamentals in any discipline or for use in an introductory course in systems science degree programs Addresses a wide range of audiences with different levels of mathematical sophistication Includes open-ended questions in special boxes intended to stimulate integrated thinking and class discussion Describes numerous examples of systems in science and society Captures the trend towards interdisciplinary research and problem solving

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Reviews

Ernest L Hughes

In October 1995, at the opening ceremonies of the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside (now the University of Lincoln), Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II asked then Dean Mike C. Jackson of the Lincoln School of Management if he could tell her in a sentence or two what a system was [1]. Jackson indeed had a short answer, and might have drawn upon his own work to convey the breadth of systems science at that time-in about 12 pages [2]. Now, more than 20 years later, this opus by Mobus and Kalton provides a short answer as well, and an in-depth exploration of systems science at this time-in about 800 pages. Principles of systems science consists of 14 chapters organized in five parts. The heart of the book is the 12 principles, articulated in chapter 1, "A Helicopter View." Two principles stand out to me in my role as an organizational consultant in innovation and change: #11 ("Systems can be understood.") and #12 ("Systems can be improved."). The principles are applied to a complex real-world problem in chapter 2. This book is a feast-full of systems theory and sage guidance about systems practice. Professionals interested in gently learning the logic and techniques of systems may want to read Mella [3] first, then the aforementioned chapters in Part 1, followed by the chapters in Part 5 on systems analysis, systems modeling, and systems engineering. Academics interested in teaching systems science will want to use this book along with the recent research in [4]. Undoubtedly, Her Majesty would have appreciated receiving a copy of this book in addition to the ham she was presented with at the reception. Online Computing Reviews Service

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