ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY OF LIVING SYSTEMS MODELS

In this paper we attempt an overview of the philosophical implications of complex systems thought, and investigate how this alternative viewpoint affects our attempts to design and utilise models for living systems. We classify the types of complex system that relate to self-organisation. The overall requirements for self-organising modeling are considered and some alternative ways of looking at some specific problems that may arise are explored. As a novelty, the paper proposes various ways of moving forward in the area of practical model design.complex systems, models, practical desing

Finite Countermodel Based Verification for Program Transformation (A Case Study)

Both automatic program verification and program transformation are based on program analysis. In the past decade a number of approaches using various automatic general-purpose program transformation techniques (partial deduction, specialization, supercompilation) for verification of unreachability properties of computing systems were introduced and demonstrated. On the other hand, the semantics based unfold-fold program transformation methods pose themselves diverse kinds of reachability tasks and try to solve them, aiming at improving the semantics tree of the program being transformed. That means some general-purpose verification methods may be used for strengthening program transformation techniques. This paper considers the question how finite countermodels for safety verification method might be used in Turchin's supercompilation method. We extract a number of supercompilation sub-algorithms trying to solve reachability problems and demonstrate use of an external countermodel finder for solving some of the problems.Comment: In Proceedings VPT 2015, arXiv:1512.0221

An Experiment Combining Specialization with Abstract Interpretation

It was previously shown that control-flow refinement can be achieved by a program specializer incorporating property-based abstraction, to improve termination and complexity analysis tools. We now show that this purpose-built specializer can be reconstructed in a more modular way, and that the previous results can be achieved using an off-the-shelf partial evaluation tool, applied to an abstract interpreter. The key feature of the abstract interpreter is the abstract domain, which is the product of the property-based abstract domain with the concrete domain. This language-independent framework provides a practical approach to implementing a variety of powerful specializers, and contributes to a stream of research on using interpreters and specialization to achieve program transformations.Comment: In Proceedings VPT/HCVS 2020, arXiv:2008.0248

Complex System Governance Leadership

The purpose of this research was to develop a systems theory-based framework for leadership in governance of complex systems. Recognizing complexity and uncertainty as norms for the environments in which organizations exist encouraged researchers to suggest complexity theory, complex systems, and complex adaptive systems as appropriate for addressing these conditions. Complex System Governance (CSG), based in systems theory, management cybernetics, and governance, endeavors to provide for the design, execution and evolution of functions that provide control, communication, coordination, and integration at the metasystem level to support operations and continued system existence (viability). From a management cybernetics perspective, CSG leadership has a role in the design of the metasystem that provides governance functions for a complex system. Similarly, leadership assures the existence of conditions necessary for the requisite metasystem functions to be enabled, executed, and evolved sufficiently for continued system viability. In this research, CSG leadership functions were examined from a system theoretic perspective. An extensive body of leadership literature provides insight into leadership from a number of perspectives including leadership as personal traits, leadership as a set of skills, or leadership as a process or relationship. Systems theory conceptual foundations applied to CSG leadership functions are not represented in this literature thus resulting in a gap. This research contributes to addressing that gap by linking systems theory to leadership functions for CSG. The research was a journey of discovery with no pre-established hypotheses that could be tested using deductive approaches, therefore, an inductive approach supportive of exploring, understanding (gaining insight) and discovery was employed. As the purpose was to develop a systems theory-based framework for leadership in governance of complex systems, theory construction was required. As a recognized methodology to discover theory from data, Grounded Theory was chosen as the research methodology. The framework that resulted from this research presents a novel contribution to CSG leadership that is grounded in systems theory and management cybernetics. It also provides practitioners the opportunity to develop novel approaches for facilitating anticipation, identification, and remediation of leadership issues

Contextual Framework of Communications Functions Supporting Complex System Governance

The purpose of this research was to develop a systems theory-based contextual framework of communication functions supporting complex system governance using an inductive research design. Communication, as one aspect of Management Cybernetics (communication and control for effective system organization) constructed of channels of communication, provides for the movement of information internally and externally for a system. This flow reflecting new information, decisions, questions, and intelligence is critical for viability of a system. This research looked for communication mechanisms as developed in system theory, communication theory, management theory, and organizational theory. The literature indicates the importance of communications, but a systemic perspective of communication mechanisms and an effect on the viability of a system are not described. This gap in knowledge was addressed by this research. Specifically, the research looked at the description and system functions serviced by the development of content that flows through the channels of communication. The extensive use of grounded theory method enabled a rigorous inductive analysis of literature dealing with channels of communication. The research produced a construct of communication mechanisms that consists of an integrated grouping of the concepts; Direction, Mode, Product, and Technology (Conveyance). A communication design when developed and/or maintained suggests the communication mechanisms are subject to underlying influences; Identity (motive/intent), Variety Attenuation, Variety Amplification, and Transduction that must be recognized with respect to how Channels of Communication support the viability of the system of interest. While system emergence was not directly related to the Communication Mechanism, the role of Channels of Communication in system emergence is evident as the conduit for the emergence process. Identification of the communication functions means that communication mechanisms, beyond the identification provided by Beer (1979) and Shannon (1948) can be described based in systems theory, communication theory, management theory, knowledge management, and organizational theory. From this construct, a face validation in the form of a survey was conducted. The content of the questionnaire was aligned to the communication mechanisms with the intent to support triangulation. There was peer validation of the questions to the subject of communication, for ease of use and exclusion of private personal information. This was followed by a test run of the survey. The actual accomplishment of the survey was through a web service. This research provides a theoretical construct of communication mechanisms when viewing a system of interest to determining the state of the system channels of communication

Systems Theory-Based Construct for Identifying Metasystem Pathologies for Complex System Governance

The purpose of this research was to develop a systems theory-based construct for metasystem pathologies identification in support of the problem formulation phase of systems-based methodologies using an inductive research design. Problem formulation has been identified as one of the most critical stages in complex system development since it influences later stages in complex system understanding. In modern society where the operating landscape is characteristically ambiguous, mired by complexity, emergence. interdependence, and uncertainty, the concept of problem formulation is used to ensure right issues affecting complex systems surface and addressed to meet expected system performance and viability. In this research, this role of problem formulation is examined in systems-based methodologies in connection with systems theory. While the literature indicates the importance of problem formulation phase in systems-based methodologies. the conceptual foundations of systems theory that form the basis for \u27systemic\u27 thinking in these methodologies is not clearly inculcated into the problem formulation phase. This research addresses this gap by providing the necessary detailed discussion linking systems theory to problem formulation. The research focused on the lack of explicit use of systems theory in problem formulation and metasystemic issues of a higher logical order beyond single system of interest. A rigorous approach employing grounded theory method was used to analyze systems theory (laws, principles, and theorems) in terms of problem formulation to develop a construct – Metasystem Pathologies Identification and derived systems theory-based pathologies (circumstances. conditions, factors, or patterns) that act to limit system performance. A case study was then undertaken to face validate the applicability of emerging systems-theory pathologies in an operational setting were possible utility were developed. Fundamentally, this research presents a new approach to problem formulation where systemic thinking is at the foundation of identifying systemic issues affecting system performance. A significant promise for those interested in problem formulation is the inclusion of systems theory-based pathologies during problem formulation phase of systems-based approaches

Exploiting persistence in CASE technology

Bibliography: pages 102-107.A Design Workbench has been built for Napier88 [MBC+94] as part of the natural progression towards developing better product systems and improving software construction tools. The system includes a Metamodeller (enabling users to specify the data and process models they prefer), a Model Builder which supports multiple coexisting models and a Target System Generator. Experience using the Workbench has shown that it is easy to use, increases productivity, improves programming standards and facilitates code sharing. This thesis demonstrates the benefits of orthogonal persistence for Computer-Aided Software Engineering by describing an initial design environment and its subsequent extension to include support for multiple co-existing models

The next 700 program transformers

In this paper, we describe a hierarchy of program transformers, capable of performing fusion to eliminate intermediate data structures, in which the transformer at each level of the hierarchy builds on top of those at lower levels. The program transformer at level 1 of the hierarchy corresponds to positive supercompilation, and that at level 2 corresponds to distillation. We give a number of examples of the application of our transformers at different levels in the hierarchy and look at the speedups that are obtained. We determine the maximum speedups that can be obtained at each level, and prove that the transformers at each level terminate