contribution of sociotechnical systems theory concepts to a framework of territorial intelligence...

Contribution of socio-technical systems theory concepts to a framework of Territorial Intelligence

Philippe Dumas

Laboratory I3m, Université du Sud

Toulon, France

Huelva 24-26 october Ph. Dumas 2

Thinking and dealing with complexity

• General Systems Theory (Gst), • from • Wiener (1961), Von Bertalanffy (1968),

Simon (1960) in the sixties • to • LeMoigne (1990) and Morin (1977, 1980)


The socio-technical systems approach

• The system as a representation

• The role of the inquirer

• Consequence for the Territorial Intelligence framework


The system as a representation

• “A group of units so combined as to form a whole and to operate in unison” (Webster)

• The manner in which “a given system is described depends upon the observer, his knowledge, and interest in the operation of the system, although for many systems there are some strata, i.e. features, which appear as natural or inherent” (Mesarovic et al., 1968, p33)


The role of the inquirer

• “Systems everywhere” Bertalanffy (1968)• Defining a system is a specific choice of

someone we name “inquirer”, i.e. someone who is interested in doing so.

• Two characters: the observer and the designer


Consequence for the Territorial Intelligence framework

• A territory is a system that can only be defined with respect to the point of view of the inquirer, whether it is the observer or the designer.

• Importance of boundaries• Properties of boundaries


A preliminary list of some relevant systems concepts

• Systems openness and bounded rationality

• Learning and adaptability

• Emerging properties

• Hypertely

• Decision-making


Systems openness and bounded rationality

• Open system vs closed system• Entropy• Bounded rationality


Learning and adaptability

• An adaptive system is in the class of complex systems that show self-direction in an evolutive environment

• Example of adaptation to environmental change

• Efficiency and effectiveness• To learn is to increase one’s efficiency in the

pursuit of a goal under unchanged conditions


Emerging properties

• New behaviors tend to create new functions, forms and significances

• Networking• Social communities • Role of Information Technology


Hypertely

• Adaptation based on hypertrophied development of existing functions

• Borrowed from biology (Simondon, 1989)• Negative• Positive• Participative democracy


Decision-making

• Hypotheses of rational decision-making:– 1) all possible alternatives are known, – 2) all outcomes are known, and – 3) preferences for every outcome can be ordered

• Organizational decision-making:– compromises, – trade-offs between conflicting rationalities so as to

square with the balance of power


Four types of organizational assessment

Beliefs about cause-effect relationship

Complete Incomplete

Crystallized I II

Stan

dard

s of

de

sira

bilit

y

Ambiguous III IV


Types of decision-making processes

• I: closed systems’ thinking relies on the hypothesis of efficiency maximization of outcomes; it is the area where consensus is obtained because everyone thinks alike.

• II: goals are shared, but the ways to attain them are controversial.

• III: goals are not shared but the cause-effect relationship is fairly clear, so that negotiation can take place in power relationship.

• IV: confused situations where all arguments are set forth and debated. It is also the situation where creativity will provide a way to return to cell I where consensus can be reached.


Conclusion

• The interest of that typology is that situations are shifting from one cell to another and this shifting game will explain the collective decision making process.

• Micro decisions in Territorial Intelligence for Sustained Development can be interpreted with this model.

• It is a way to improve participative democracy.

Thank you, Gracias, Merci

Philippe [email protected] , + 33 4 94 14 22 36

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]