Appreciative Methods Applied to the Assessment of Complex Systems

Complex systems have characteristics that challenge traditional systems engineering processes and methods. These characteristics have been defined in various ways. INCOSE has previously identified characteristics of complex systems and potential methods to deal with complexity in system development. The purpose of this paper is to provide definitions and describe distinguishing characteristics of complexity using example systems to illustrate approaches to assessing the extent of complexity. The paper applies Appreciative Inquiry to identify and assess complex system characteristics. The characteristics are used to examine several different examples of systems to illuminate areas of complexity. These examples range from seemingly simple systems to complicated systems to complex systems. Different tiers of complexity are identified as a result of the assessment. The paper also identified and introduces topics on managing complexity and the integrating system perspective that represent new directions for the engineering of complex systems. The Appreciative Inquiry approach provides a method for systems engineering practitioners to more readily identify complexity when they encounter it, and to deal more effectively with this complexity once it has been identified

Appreciative Methods Applied to the Assessment of Complex Systems

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What should it take to describe a substance or product as 'sperm-safe'

BACKGROUND: Male reproductive potential continues to be adversely affected by many environmental, industrial and pharmaceutical toxins. Pre‐emptive testing for reproductive toxicological (side‐)effects remains limited, or even non‐existent. Many products that come into direct contact with spermatozoa lack adequate testing for the absence of adverse effects, and numerous products that are intended for exposure to spermatozoa have only a general assumption of safety based on the absence of evidence of actual harm. Such assumptions can have unfortunate adverse impacts on at‐risk individuals (e.g. couples who are trying to conceive), illustrating a clear need for appropriate up‐front testing to establish actual “sperm safety”. METHODS: After compiling a list of general areas within the review’s scope relevant literature and other information was obtained from the authors’ personal professional libraries and archives, and supplemented as necessary using PubMed and Google searches. Review by co‐authors identified and eliminated errors of omission or bias. RESULTS: This review provides an overview of the broad range of substances, materials and products that can affect male fertility, especially through sperm fertilizing ability, along with a discussion of practical methods and bioassays for their evaluation. It is concluded that products can only be claimed to be “sperm‐safe” after performing objective, properly designed experimental studies; extrapolation from supposed predicate products or other assumptions cannot be trusted. CONCLUSIONS: We call for adopting the precautionary principle, especially when exposure to a product might affect not only a couple’s fertility potential but also the health of resulting offspring and perhaps future generations.http://www-humupd.oxfordjournals.org.hb201