The paper reflects on the following three systems thinking books:
Fred E. Emery & E L Trist. Towards a Social Ecology, Plenum Press, New York, 1973: Due to many references both personal and in print made to Eric Trist, and, to a lesser degree, Fred Emery, I wanted to familiarize myself with their work.
Russell L. Ackoff & Fred E. Emery. On Purposeful Systems, Intersystems, Seaside CA, 1972: I had wanted to read it since having sat in on several sessions of your course in behavioral variables last spring.
Russell L. Ackoff. Creating the Corporate Future, J. Wiley & Sons, New York, 1983: Assigned for the course. I went ahead to read the whole thing in order to get started on our interactive design project, and also to do my own personal idealized design

Freeman, PhD, Steven F.

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Thomas Jefferson UniversityJefferson Digital CommonsSchool of Continuing and Professional StudiesFaculty PapersJefferson School of Continuing and ProfessionalStudies10-6-1986My Systems Thinking Before and After a Year ofSocial Systems SciencesSteven F. Freeman, PhDThomas Jefferson University, steven.freeman@jefferson.eduLet us know how access to this document benefits youFollow this and additional works at: https://jdc.jefferson.edu/jscpsfpPart of the Business CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Jefferson Digital Commons. The Jefferson Digital Commons is a service of ThomasJefferson University's Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). The Commons is a showcase for Jefferson books and journals, peer-reviewed scholarlypublications, unique historical collections from the University archives, and teaching tools. The Jefferson Digital Commons allows researchers andinterested readers anywhere in the world to learn about and keep up to date with Jefferson scholarship. This article has been accepted for inclusion inSchool of Continuing and Professional Studies Faculty Papers by an authorized administrator of the Jefferson Digital Commons. For more information,please contact: JeffersonDigitalCommons@jefferson.edu.Recommended CitationFreeman, Steven F., "My Systems Thinking Before and After a Year of Social Systems Sciences" (1986). School of Continuing andProfessional Studies Faculty Papers. Paper 3. https://jdc.jefferson.edu/jscpsfp/3  2 MY SELECTION OF BOOKS Fred E. Emery & E L Trist. Towards a Social Ecology, Plenum Press, New York, 1973: Due to many references both personal and in print made to Eric Trist, and, to a lesser degree, Fred Emery, I wanted to familiarize myself with their work. Russell L. Ackoff & Fred E. Emery. On Purposeful Systems, Intersystems, Seaside CA, 1972: I had wanted to read it since having sat in on several sessions of your course in behavioral variables last spring. Russell L. Ackoff. Creating the Corporate Future, J. Wiley & Sons, New York, 1983: Assigned for the course. I went ahead to read the whole thing in order to get started on our interactive design project, and also to do my own personal idealized design. These three books helped make me aware of my systems consciousness before and after formal systems study. Systems thinking had apparently been diffused throughout my thoughts, education, and experience prior to arriving in the Social Systems Science department last year, but these thoughts were vaguely formulated or unformulated. Social systems study has already helped to clarify and work through some of my concerns and seems to offer great possibilities for the future. Towards 3 a Social Ecology seems quite along the lines of things I had already seen in other places or thought about: a recognition of problems in traditional ways of thinking and direction towards a new way, more wholistic and interrelated. Important thoughts, but incomplete in themselves. In contrast, the ideas in both Creating the Corporate Future and On Purposeful Systems could hardly have been more new to me than if a Martian had delivered them. In different ways they bring to maturity these thoughts informally generated and haphazardly grown. INFORMAL SYSTEMS AWARENESS Before my acquaintance with Social Systems Sciences, I had never been aware of systems in an academic context outside of computers, but systemic thinking nevertheless infused my thoughts and studies. I imagine that most of my contemporaries grew up with an awareness of environmental concerns, some understanding of ecology and the value of planning, and at least jargon about interrelatedness or “the big picture.” Towards a Social Ecology, while perhaps striking when it was written, presently seems to add little to this informal understanding — at least upon first reading. In part it is because the book is not particularly concrete or inspiring (rereading it after Creating the Corporate Future and On Purposeful Systems, I see many valuable ideas I missed the 4 first time through); but more importantly, I believe this sort of vague comprehension of the need for systems thinking now permeates modern understanding. Perhaps this is a dramatic change in the course of the past generation. Study of ecological relationships and the environment were an important part of my early education. I remember quite clearly the emphasis in Junior High biology on the food web, and the deleterious effects of DDT, mercury and other poisons throughout the food chain. This type of study emphasizes the interrelatedness of parts and actions, and also brings attentions to questions of science and planning. As Trist points out, people generally have neutral or even negative feelings toward science. Learning about the effects of modern weapons, nuclear power, PCBs, DDT, processed foods, etc.... gives one a very different opinion of science than learning about polio vaccines. The role and focus of science has already been reevaluated —— at least by the younger generation. Problems resulting from lack of planning dominated my early political experience. Although growing up on Long Island is not as amusing as your story about the Mexican, the American, the Russian and the genie; it makes the point about 5 planning as forcefully. A beautiful island, overflowing with natural bounty and advantages, is now a polluted, overcrowded, urban sprawl. There are many popular books which address these issues. Three which particularly stand out in my mind: Exploring New Ethics for Survival by Garrett Hardin, which I suppose is, in Ackovian terms, a reference scenario -- very funny in parts, and raising interesting paradoxes about growth, survival, and genius; E. F. Schumacher's Small is Beautiful, for its down-to-earth logic, and timely challenge to a cultural preoccupation with growth; and a succinct pamphlet by modern Iroquois Indians, A Basic Call to Consciousness, a mystical and persuasive challenge to narrowly—focused American values and policy. These books are all systemic in thought about societal questions, applicable and important for governments and big institutions -- something I could hope for, or lobby for, but yet essentially beyond my control, and for which I, and perhaps all of us, are dependent on the actions of others. THE NEW CONTRIBUTION: MISSING PIECES OF THE PUZZLE For me, Creating the Corporate Future, is altogether new, an unsuspected missing piece of the puzzle. It makes “systems” 6 meaningful to me and my associations. Like the U.S. and other “big” systems, I have my own mission, and parts which need to be recognized, and an environment with which 1 wish harmony. I have my family, and network of friends, and my workgroups which I hope to help thrive. All these groups, as much as any institution, have ends for which to strive and need means to get there, a structure to promote the association, and an understanding of the environment to be reckoned with. On Purposeful Systems, likewise, is unlike anything I have ever seen. It takes on a very different subject matter, and systematically sets out to formulate social and behavioral concepts as precisely as physical concepts have been formulated. It is a system about systems — striking in the precision with which it treats social and psychological concepts and in the way it interconnects these terms. DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF SYSTEMS Although “system” is precisely defined in On Purposeful Systems, Social Systems Thinking seems to have many dimensions. These include: (l) A link between the sciences, and links in general. Almost a science of relationships. 7 (2) The commonalities and differences of all systems, from inanimate to social leviathans. (3) A way to look at any “set of interrelated elements” i.e. a functional part of a larger system and composed of functional parts. (4) A guide to action. Methodology for directed, purposeful living. Between them, On Purposeful Systems and Creating the Corporate Future explore all four of these dimensions. THE RELATIONSHIP OF SYSTEMS TO SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY Before social systems study, my general opinion of the value of scientists ranged between worthless and negative. This was so troubling that I left my job designing electrical circuits to spend some time studying philosophy. (The result of which was a general devaluation of philosophers to the same plane as the scientist.) Basically, the value of work of the typical academic is so compartmentalized as to make it unintelligible to all but a few comrades from the same subspecialty. The knowledge of the universities makes me think of those great big mounds of corn throughout the Midwest, stuffed in every conceivable storehouse, and purchased by the 8 government for no other reason than to keep the farmer employed. I suppose now that it is hopelessly reactionary to oppose science and technology. Both may serve as well as trouble; and, regardless, both are here to stay. In an enlightening section of Towards a Social Ecology, Trist introduces the idea of problem—oriented research domains as a means to more effectively utilize science. In On Purposeful Systems, I was particularly impressed that you began the book by addressing the problem of compartmentalization and offered means for making sense of these vast storehouses of science. On philosophy, I'm particularly impressed by the concept of the ideal. A preoccupation with problem solving had always offended my sensibilities. I remember as a boy waking up with a terrible nightmare -- that by the time I was grown up, all the problems of the world would be solved and there would be nothing left for me to do. Imagine the simpleminded could have their way in making a life without struggle or exigency! This recognition on the part of all three authors of the basic need in people for challenge and meaningful work strongly enhances their credibility. 9 SYSTEMS THOUGHT AND (IN)ACTION A problem I had faced with my informal systems thinking is that I found it almost paralyzing. One could wonder about the ultimate point of anything. It seemed that any problem solving just created a bigger one. For example, I recall my own dispiritedness in local politics on Long Island. When the Long Island Railroad announced it was embarking on improvements, all the local politicians got involved to try to make sure that stations in their communities would be among those receiving improved service. For them, the only problem was costs, but I was troubled about the consequences, notably encouragement for yet another increase in population. But when I discussed this with several officials, there were two response “You think too much,” or “You worry too much.” Basically I agreed. It seemed as though if I were successful in protecting the environment or limiting the population, this would also have consequences such as choking off opportunity and limiting freedom. Popular pseudo-systemic works are preachy and limiting: Thou shalt not exploit the environment; thou shalt not exploit thine fellow man; thou shalt be aware of the consequences of thine actions. Take it all too seriously and thou shalt not do anything. To a large degree, Trist and Emery do the same. 10 The problem with attempting too big a view of things is that it is not our view; it is more than we can handle. Friedrich Nietzsche noted that, from an infinite horizon [man] returns to himself, to the smallest egoistic enclosure, and there he must grow withered and dry.1 I think that present day conservatism may be a product of this paralyzing tendency of pseudo—systems thinking. We are reluctant to tamper with something whose entirety we don’t understand. And since we obviously don’t understand anything in entirety, social mores go largely unchallenged. Perhaps men have, en masse, retreated like radical—turned—stockbroker Jerry Rubin, from an infinite horizon to the smallest egoistic enclosure. Perhaps the most attractive quality of Creating the Corporate Future is that provides inspiration rather than discouragement. Not what we mustn’t do, but what we can do! It's a method to make dreams come true, applicable to small groups, even to one person (especially us schizos with many different parts to satisfy) as well as corporations and nations.                          1 Friedrich Nietzsche, Untimely Meditations (Cambridge U. Press) p. 115 11 SYSTEMS AND ME AND EXPANSIONISM I have kept in mind while reading these books, the question you asked in your first lecture: If Reductionism ultimately fails because we never can find an ultimately irreducible part, of what value is Expansionism, when there is always a greater system which encompasses the system at which we are looking? I'm sure that the work of Trist and Emery was and is still important. They set down many thoughts about how we as a world and a nation may alter our course, but it is not of immediate direct import to me. This is because of my own present place in the world. The principal interest of Emery and Trist and most pseudo—system authors is that of healthy national institutions or a healthy nation and world —— not my present principal interest. I am, for the most part, insignificant in the context of the nation. I am significant but to myself and my family, my network of friends, my workgroups and workplace, and perhaps S—cubed. I can presently effect these as systems; but no one has yet deigned to give me responsibility for anything greater -- despite my belief that I have valuable contributions to make. Perhaps if I successfully concern myself with what I can have an effect upon, I may be able to assume responsibility for a larger system. 12 The problem of expansionism is the problem of the ideal. Of course no one can ever understand the totality of all the Universe; it is an unachievable ideal for which men will forever be able to strive. We may understand whatever system is relevant for us by looking at it functionally within a larger system. How far a man can see into the consequences of actions, into the totality of relationships, and into the future is a measure of wisdom and perhaps his greatness much as a chess player's ability to see relationships, possibilities, consequences, is a measure of his greatness. It surprises me a bit that, until coming to this department, I never realized the existence of analogous relationships between parts, system, and environment exist no matter what system we consider. I doubt that this awareness has permeated general thinking. Perhaps it is only partly ignorance. As you discussed in your section on constrained and unconstrained design, people would frequently rather blame some outside force than actively take responsibility for their own future. For some reason, perhaps flight or just laziness, we assume all kinds of constraints on our individual power until we explicitly state and explore those assumptions. 13 SYSTEMS AND WISDOM All this reminds me of a prayer one occasionally sees hanging in kitchens or bathrooms: “God grant me the Courage to change the things I can, the Patience to accept the things I cannot, and the Wisdom to know the difference.” I’ve always thought that these were very decent requests to make of God. Remarkably, these books seem to provide a methodology for obtaining this wisdom. BIBLIOGRAPHY Ackoff, Russell, “The Systems Revolution”, The Journal of the Society for Long Range Planning, UK, Vol. 7, No. 6, December 1974 Aristotle, The Politics, Tr. by Ernest Barker, Oxford University Press, New York, 1958 Gharagedaghi, Jamshid. Towards a Systems Theory of Organization, Intersystems Publications, Seaside, CA, 1985 Hardin, Garrett. Exploring new ethics for survival: The voyage of the spaceship Beagle. Viking, New York, 1972 Nietzsche, Friedrich. Untimely Meditations. 1873–1876, Tr. by R.J. Hollingdale. Cambridge University Press, 1983 Robbins, Tom. Still Life with Woodpecker. Bantam, New York, 1975 Schumacher, Ernst Friedrich. Small is beautiful: a study of economics as if people mattered. Vintage, 1973 Six Nations, A Basic Call to Consciousness: The Hau de no sau nee Address to the Western World. Akwesasne Notes, 1978 

My Systems Thinking Before and After a Year of Social Systems Sciences

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My Systems Thinking Before and After a Year of Social Systems Sciences

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