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09 July, 2015Communication as a discipline and as a field:Sharing experiences to construct a dialogue

HSE, Russia, Moscow

Dr. Viacheslav Maracha, Russia, Moscow Non-Profit Research Foundation "The Schedrovitsky Institute for Development" The

Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration

Basic Models and Approachesto Organizing and Researching Communication

in the Moscow Methodological Circle

Key words: the Moscow Methodological Circle (MMC); system-thinking-activity approach (STA-Approach); systemic situations;

configuration method; transdisciplinary approach; multi-professional communication; moderation technologies; scheme of communications

act; thinking-activity scheme; thinking-communication.

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The Goals

to consider basic models and approaches to organizing and researching communication in the Moscow Methodological Circle (MMC);

to include MMC position to the context of “dialogue of approaches”;

to demonstrate common development trends of MMC and the Western Communication Studies.

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The Moscow Methodological Circle (MMC)

was organized and led for more than forty years by G. P. Shchedrovitsky (1929–1994);

was created in the USSR in the year of J. Stalin’s death (1953) when logic and epistemology was the only area of free philosophical thought;

now it exists as the “Methodological Movement” and a few institutions associated with it.

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MMC as an Intellectual Tradition

MMC chooses not postmodernist (relativistic), but a rational answer to the challenge of Postmodern situation;

System-Thinking-Activity Approach (STA-approach) as a systemic and thinking-activity Constructivism.

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Conceptualization of Systemic Situations: Two Components

Subject Matter and Object Distinction when Systemic Situations are represented as situations of presence of several subject representations of one object which need to be correlated and connected with each other;

“The Scheme of Multiple Knowledge” and Configuration Method based on Configurator-Model and/or Configuration Plan.

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“The Scheme of Multiple Knowledge”

Particular points of view on the object are considered as “projections” (subject “cuts”) – which are taken at various turns of a whole “multi-dimensional” object that should be recreated on the base of the projections.

Fig. 1. “The Scheme of Multiple Knowledge” Fig. 2. “Projections” and Configurator-Model (K)

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Configuration Method

the restored complex object is called the Configurator-Model, and the method of construction of similar models – the Configuration Method.

Fig. 3a. Systemic construction of synthesized knowledge

Fig. 3b. The Configuration Method: Configurator-Model and Configuration Plan

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Configuration Method and Communication Systems Practice

Configuration Method is proved and involved into systems practice via representing Thinking as Activity;

“The Scheme of Multiple Knowledge” was represented as the scheme of the multi-positional organization of activity in which the Thinking-as-Activity acted as design/ programme for Resolving Systemic Situations.

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Two Basic Ways of Resolving Systemic Situations

MMC has offered two complementary basic ways for Resolving Systemic Situations:

theoretical, or epistemological, based on the Configuration Method as a method of systems thinking;

practical, using Methodological Seminars and Organizational-Activity Games as the methods of communicative systems practice.

Both ways include reflective practice carrying out both development of knowledge, and development of the Activity/Thinking-Activity, providing completeness of knowledge development life cycle.

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The Idea of Methodological Thinking as

Universal: General Features and Principles holism and reflexivity in relation to the other approaches

and types of thinking (in science, designs, engineering, socio-cultural and law studies, etc.);

practical orientation (connections thinking-activity, using systems approach as the means for organizing processes of resolving complex problems by multi-professional teams, etc.);

reflectivity as practical orientation of thinking to itself: capability to re-construct and re-direct itself;

the “methodological turn” from thinking about systems as objects to the process of thinking systemically.

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Antinaturalism: Shift from Objects to Thinking and Activity

characterizes MMC from the beginning; corresponds to the shift of interest from

“systems sciences” to “systems rationality” – as discussed in holistic systems thinking approach;

has allowed MMC to formulate original vision of problems of the Systems Approach: not to investigate “systemic objects”, but to conceptualize and resolve “Systemic Situations” as a form of work with complex problems (collective thinking and problem-solving).

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Systemic 3D-Methodology

Systemic 3D-Methodology is the principle to think in the space of two “orthogonal” plains:

Object-Ontological plain with schemes and objects of practical theory;

Organizational-Activity Plain with schemes organizing multi-professional communications and methods, forms and instruments of transdisciplinary thinking.

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Methodological Schemes

Methodological schemes are specific MMC instruments – intellectual constructions, which can:

co-organize Object-Ontological and Organizational-Activity plains of 3D-Methodology as linked reflexive space;

be used as instruments on both plains.

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Forms of Specific MMC Communicative Practice: Methodological Seminars and Organizational-Activity Games

Methodological Seminars as a form of collective thinking have developed into a specific MMC Systems Practice, allowing to consider Systems Situations in the “here-and-now” mode;

step-by-step, having originated as a form of discussions within MMC, Methodological Seminars became a specific form of discussion of transdisciplinary problems;

the Systems Approach was used and developed for organizing processes of resolving Systemic Situations with complex problems by multi-professional teams;

finally, MMC Seminars generated “a new way of organization and a method for developing collective thinking-activity” – Organizational-Activity Games.

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Organizational-Activity Games (OAG)

OAG were invented by G. P. Shchedrovitsky in 1979; OAG became a specific technology of work with Large-

Scale Systemic Situations (e.g. reforms, etc.) via: performance of collectively-distributed thinking,

and engaging activity of carriers of various subject

knowledge, operating with them in a mode of the multi-positional organization;

interaction between representatives of different positions was performed not only on the basis of the cooperative organization of activity, but also according to the principles of intellectual communications – “Thinking-Communication”, which was considered as the aspect of Thinking-Activity.

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Comparison ofConfiguration and OAG Methods

The Configuration Method is constructed on the basis of General Activity Theory as a metatheory (and consequently is ‘imperialistic’ and ‘hard’).

vice-versa OAG Method means formation of Thinking-Activity Space in which a free, intelligent and responsible choice of the point of view, the way of action and the form of its discussion is possible.

in OAG not only objectives and means, but also values and beliefs can be made problematic (so OAG can be considered as a ‘soft’ method).

Moderation Technologies

Moderation Technologies are considered as the mode of communicative management supporting adhocratic type of interaction and deliberative communication, i.e. the "horizontal" and not alienating interaction providing collectively-distributed thinking and multi-positional organization of resolving systemic situations with complex problems by multi-professional teams;

they can be used in order to organize a communication between stakeholders or government-citizens feedback and partnership.

Practiced Forms of the Organization of Communications Between Stakeholders

1. Traditional forms of the organization: negotiations,

meetings.

2. Moderated forms of events organization: seminars,

Round Tables, etc.

3. Process forms of workflow organization: project

groups, foresight, Organizational-Activity Games (OAG)

and similar forms (strategic sessions, staff games), civil

jury and other forms of public expertise etc.

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Practical use of OAG and Similar Methods

Now: Consulting; Education; City and Regional Development; State Building; Public Expertise Procedures; Organizing of Public-Political Communications; Conflict Resolving and Mediation Procedures etc.

In the Future: International Relations; Cross-Cultural Interactions; Global Problems Resolving etc.

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Thinking-Activity Scheme as the 1st Foundation of MMC Communicative Practice

Fig. 6. Thinking-Activity Scheme

P. Th.

Th.-C.

Th.-A.

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Thinking-Activity Scheme (continuation)

thinking and activity are represented in the form of different “layers” (“Pure Thinking” and “Thinking-Action”), divided and connected by a “Thinking-Communication” layer;

links between Thinking-Activity layers are mediated by Reflection and Understanding processes.

The Thinking-Activity Scheme is the basic scheme of the System-Thinking-Activity Approach (STA-Approach).

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Systems-Thinking-Activity Approach (STA-approach)

Thinking-Activity scheme; Systemic approach as Logic and

Constructivism; 3D-Methodology

A “Thinking-Communication” layer in Thinking-Activity scheme provides collectivity of Thinking-Activity and allows to govern it by the means of moderation technologies.

References

A number of papers by the members of the Moscow Methodological Circle you can read at the following addresses:

MMC papers in Russian: http://www.fondgp.ru

papers by G. P. Schedrovitsky in English: http://www.fondgp.org/gp/biblio/#biblioeng

papers by other authors in English: http://www.fondgp.org/library/int

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Thank you for attention!

Dr. Viacheslav Maracha, Russia, MoscowThe Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public AdministrationNon-Profit Research Foundation "The Schedrovitsky Institute for Development”

Ph.: +7 915 025 4086E-mail: maratcha@yandex.ru

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Systems Approach as the 2nd Foundation of MMC Systems Practice

Systems Approach in MMC Practice allows to organise Thinking-Activity in a holistic way.

Systems Approach in MMC practice involves Three Concepts of Systems:

‘System-1’: Natural “Thing” Systems; ‘System-2’: Activity Systems; ‘System-3’: Socio-Cultural Systems, or Systems with

Internal Sense (e.g. Institutions as a case of Systems with Internal Sense).

Three Concepts of Systems are results of the different Programmes and correspond to different Paradigms of Systems Thinking.

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Three Programmes and Three Paradigms of Thinking within the Moscow Methodological Circle

Three Programmes: 'Logical Researches of the Thinking‘: thinking is considered

epistemologically (as generating new knowledge) and as operations with the signs replacing objects of thought;

‘General Activity Theory‘ and ‘System-Activity Approach’ (SA-Approach);

'System-Thinking-Activity Approach‘ (STA-Approach) and ‘System-Institutional Approach’ (SI-Approach).

Three Paradigms of Thinking: 'Epistemological-Semiotic Paradigm‘: thinking deals with objects as

Natural Systems; 'Thinking-as-Activity Paradigm‘: thinking deals with Activity

Systems; 'Socio-Cultural Thinking-Activity Paradigm‘: thinking deals with

Socio-Cultural Systems.

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Russian Systems Thinking in SOSM

Participants

Unitary Pluralist Coercive

SystemsSimple Type A

Sys-1, LR

Type BSys-2,

SA

Type CSys-3,

GI

ComplexType BSys-3, STA

Type D???

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Russian Systems Thinking in SOSM (legend to the grid)

SOSM Typology (M. Jackson, 2003): Type A: Improving Goal Seeking and Viability (Hard etc.); Type B: Exploring Purposes (Soft Systems Approaches); Type C: Ensuring Fairness (Emancipatory); Type D: Promoting Diversity (Postmodern).

MMC Systems Concepts and Approaches: Sys-1: Natural “Thing” Systems; Sys-2: Activity Systems; Sys-3: Socio-Cultural Systems; LR: Logical Researches of the Thinking; SA: System-Activity Approach; STA: System-Thinking-Activity Approach; GI: General Institutional Approach.

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The Russian Systems Thinking - Anniversaries

2013 – 140th Anniversary of Alexander Bogdanov (1873–1928), author of “Tektology: Universal Organisation Science” (1913–1916, edition in German – 1928), anticipated many of the ideas that were developed later by Norbert Wiener in “Cybernetics” and Ludwig von Bertalanffy in “General Systems Theory”;

2014 – 85th Anniversary of Georgy Schedrovitsky, leader of the Moscow Methodological Circle (MMC).

Semiotic Concept of Knowledge

The symbol constructs (A), (B) and the operations λ1λ2 performed upon them may themselves – give rise to another levels to which new meaningful comparisons are applied.

Methodological Foundations and Tools for Moderated Communications of Territory

Development Strategic Subjects

principle of interdiction for employment of the “demiurge” position;

unique reasonable alternative of a reduction of strategic subjects communications to hierarchical structure of interaction is to use adhocratic structures and moderated communications;

institutional mechanism of development through interaction with community of advisers, experts, applied researchers, and government-citizens feedback and partnership;

overcoming the effect of resistance to the changes; one can view strategy creation as a process of competition

between various programs and/or projects of future development of territories that are brought into play by multiple stakeholders.

Strategic Choice Process: Stakeholder Interaction at Identifying Strategic Priorities of Territorial Development

Strategic priorities

Target values of indicators

———

———

———

———

———

EA B C D

Sources of economic growth

in region

Branches and projects of

development stimulation

S W

O T

SWOT- analysisDiagnostics and problem analysis

Developmentpotential

assessment

Strategic directions

Mission, targets

Subjects ofInteraction

Professionalcommunities and

institutionsStakeholders

Communicativeplatform

Case 1: Formation of Biopharmaceutical Cluster of Innovative Manufactures in Altai Region (Russia)

parallel working-out of two documents: Strategy of a social and economic development for the City of Biysk (Altai Region) till 2025 and the similar document for Altai Region as a whole;

City of Biysk not only has incorporated innovative development into its own Strategy but has also put forward a number of strategic initiatives at the all-region level;

this has helped to replace current type of stakeholders relations by the adhocratic style of interactions - creating better environment for innovation;

key role of moderated communications: launching deliberative communication between regional government, local administration, enterprises, scientific & educational organisations and other stakeholders through 2-days strategic session.

Case 1: Formation of Biopharmaceutical Cluster of Innovative Manufactures in Altai Region (Russia)

Case 2: State Managament Modernisation Programme in Khabarovsk Region (Russia)

Case 2: State Managament Modernisation Programme in Khabarovsk Region (Russia)

the main idea of this programme is to launch government-citizens feedback and partnership by using public-political mechanism (including Governor elections) for involvement of stakeholders and communities (professional and citizens) into deliberative communication about strategic priorities of territorial development;

long-term programme (for political technologies): about 10 month; civil jury (as a form of public expertise) is used as a basic

moderation technology (more than 30 events); Governor’s order to consider some actual problems of territorial

development as a mechanism of launching public expertising procedure and actualising feedback through its verdicts (sentences);

creation of regional development institutions based on government-citizens partnership;

we have prepared about 20 moderators by special educational programme (deputy ministers of regional government are the best moderators).

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References

1. Dubrovsky, V. (2011). Integrative Role of Institutions in Human Activity // Wilby, J. (Ed.). Proceedings of the 55th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Systems Sciences. University of Hull Business School, Hull.

2. Jackson, M. (2003). Systems Thinking: Creative Holism for Managers. John Wiley&Sons Ltd., Chichester.

3. Maracha, V. (2011). System Thinking and Practice in the Moscow Methodological Circle: Ways of Conceptualization and Resolving of System Situations // Wilby, J. (Ed.). Abstracts of the 55th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Systems Sciences. University of Hull Business School, Hull.

4. Shchedrovitzky, G.P. Methodological problems of system research // General Systems. 1966. Vol. XI.

5. Schedrovitsky, G. P. Configuration as a method of construction of complex knowledge // Systematics. Vol. 8. 1971. N4.

6. Shсhedrovitskii, G. P. and Kotel’nikov, S. I. Organisational activity games – a new way of organising and a method for developing collective thinking activity // Soviet Psychology, Vol. 26. Summer, 1988.

7. Shchedrovitskii, G. P. Basic principles in analyzing instruction and development from the perspective of the theory of activity // Soviet Psychology, Vol. 26. Summer, 1988, pp. 5-41.

8. Shchedrovitsky, G.P. (2002). Two concepts of system // Willby, J. (Ed.). Proceedings of the 46th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Systems Sciences, Asilomar, CA.