International Society for the Systems Sciences
Encyclopedia
The International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS) is a world-wide organization for systems sciences.
The idea to start a society was initiated in 1954 at the Stanford Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences
by the biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy
, the economist Kenneth Boulding, the neuroscientist Ralph Gerard, and mathematician Anatol Rapoport
. Two years later at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1956 the Society was formally established as "Society for General Systems Research
" (SGSR). In 1988 it was renamed to "International Society for the Systems Sciences" (ISSS) in 1988 to "reflect its broadening scope".
Important activities of the Society are:
A listing of the Special Integration Groups (SIGs) gives an idea of the themes of ongoing development in the Society:
Overview
The initial purpose of the society was "to encourage the development of theoretical systems which are applicable to more than one of the traditional departments of knowledge."The idea to start a society was initiated in 1954 at the Stanford Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences
Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences
The Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences is an American interdisciplinary research body in Stanford, California focusing on the social sciences and humanities . Fellows are elected in a closed process, to spend a period of residence at the Center, released from other duties...
by the biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy
Ludwig von Bertalanffy
Karl Ludwig von Bertalanffy was an Austrian-born biologist known as one of the founders of general systems theory . GST is an interdisciplinary practice that describes systems with interacting components, applicable to biology, cybernetics, and other fields...
, the economist Kenneth Boulding, the neuroscientist Ralph Gerard, and mathematician Anatol Rapoport
Anatol Rapoport
Anatol Rapoport was a Russian-born American Jewish mathematical psychologist. He contributed to general systems theory, mathematical biology and to the mathematical modeling of social interaction and stochastic models of contagion.-Biography:...
. Two years later at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1956 the Society was formally established as "Society for General Systems Research
Society for General Systems Research
The Society for General Systems Research is predecessor of the current International Society for the Systems Sciences , known to be one the first interdisciplinary and international co-operations in the field of systems theory and systems science...
" (SGSR). In 1988 it was renamed to "International Society for the Systems Sciences" (ISSS) in 1988 to "reflect its broadening scope".
Important activities of the Society are:
- the General Systems YearbookGeneral SystemsGeneral Systems: Yearbook of the Society for General Systems Research, known as General Systems, is the first annual journal in the field of systems science initiated in 1956, and initially edited by Ludwig von Bertalanffy and Anatol Rapoport....
- the General Systems Bulletin
- the Special Integration Groups
A listing of the Special Integration Groups (SIGs) gives an idea of the themes of ongoing development in the Society:
- Agent-based Social SimulationAgent-based social simulationAgent-based social simulation consists in social simulations that are based on Agent-based modeling, and implemented using artificial agent technologies....
- Balancing Individualism and Collectivism
- Critical Systems TheoryCritical systems thinkingCritical systems thinking is a recent systems thinking framework, that wants to bring unity to the diversity of different systems approaches and advises managers how best to use them....
& Practice - Designing Educational Systems
- Evolutionary Development
- Foundations of Information SystemsInformation systemsInformation Systems is an academic/professional discipline bridging the business field and the well-defined computer science field that is evolving toward a new scientific area of study...
- Health and Systems ThinkingSystems thinkingSystems thinking is the process of understanding how things influence one another within a whole. In nature, systems thinking examples include ecosystems in which various elements such as air, water, movement, plants, and animals work together to survive or perish...
- Hierarchy theory
- Human Systems Inquiry
- Information Systems DesignInformation systemsInformation Systems is an academic/professional discipline bridging the business field and the well-defined computer science field that is evolving toward a new scientific area of study...
and Information TechnologyInformation technologyInformation technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications... - ISSS Roundtable
- Living Systems Analysis
- Monetary Systems
- Organizational transformation and Social change
- Research Towards General Theories of Systems
- Service SystemsService systemA service system is a configuration of technology and organizational networks designed to deliver services that satisfy the needs, wants, or aspirations of customers.- Scope of the term :...
Science - Socio-Ecological SystemsSocio-ecological systemA socio-ecological system consists of 'a bio-geo-physical' unit and its associated social actors and institutions. Socio-ecological systems are complex and adaptive and delimited by spatial or functional boundaries surrounding particular ecosystems and their problem context...
- Spirituality and Systems
- Student Special Integration Group
- Systemic Approaches to Conflict and Crises
- Systemic Approaches to Persistent Poverty and Disadvantage
- Systems Applications in Business & Industry
- Systems BiologySystems biologySystems biology is a term used to describe a number of trends in bioscience research, and a movement which draws on those trends. Proponents describe systems biology as a biology-based inter-disciplinary study field that focuses on complex interactions in biological systems, claiming that it uses...
and Evolution - Systems and Mental Health
- Systems ModelingSystems modelingSystems modeling or systems modelling is the interdisciplinary study of the use of models to conceptualize and construct systems in business and IT development....
and SimulationSimulationSimulation is the imitation of some real thing available, state of affairs, or process. The act of simulating something generally entails representing certain key characteristics or behaviours of a selected physical or abstract system.... - Systems EngineeringSystems engineeringSystems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering that focuses on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed over the life cycle of the project. Issues such as logistics, the coordination of different teams, and automatic control of machinery become more...
- Systems Pathology
- What is Life/Living
Presidents
Among the Presidents of ISSS have been foremost scientists from several fields and countries, including some Nobel laureates:- Alexander LaszloAlexander Laszlo (scientist)Alexander Laszlo an American systems scientist, known as co-founder and President of Syntony Quest and former Director of the Doctoral Program in Management at the Graduate School of Business Administration & Leadership , Mexico...
, President-Elect - David IngDavid IngDavid Ing is a Canadian marketing scientist, and consultant with IBM Global Services. He is serving as President of the International Society for the Systems Sciences for the term 2011-2012.- Biography :David Ing received a B.Comm...
, 2011-2012 - Jennifer WilbyJennifer WilbyJennifer M. Wilby is an American management scientist, and past Director of the Centre for Systems Studies, and a lecturer and researcher in management systems and sciences in The Business School, University of Hull...
, 2010-2011 - Allenna LeonardAllenna LeonardAllenna Leonard is an American cyberneticist, consultant and Director of Team Syntegrity Inc. of Toronto, Canada, internationally, specializing in the application of Stafford Beer's Viable System Model and Syntegration.- Biography :...
, 2009-2010 - Timothy F. H. AllenTimothy F. H. AllenTimothy F. H. Allen is a British botanist and Professor of Botany and Environmental Studies at the Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin–Madison. Allen is a leader in the fields of hierarchy theory, systems theory, and complexity....
, 2008-2009 - Gary MetcalfGary MetcalfGary S. Metcalf is an American organizational theorist, management consultant, and faculty member in the Organizational Systems concentration at Saybrook Graduate School.- Biography :...
, 2007-2008 - Kyoichi KijimaKyoichi KijimaKyoichi Jim Kijima is a Japanese systems scientist and professor of Decision Systems Science at the Tokyo Institute of Technology.- Biography :...
, 2006-2007 - Debora HammondDebora HammondDebora Hammond is an American historian of science, Provost and Professor Interdisciplinary Studies of the Hutchins School of Liberal Studies at the Sonoma State University...
, 2005-2006 - Enrique HerrscherEnrique HerrscherEnrique G. Herrscher is an Argentine economist, systems scientist and professor at the University of Buenos Aires.- Biography :Herrscher has received a B.A. in strategic modelling from the London Business School, and an M.A. in administration and accountancy, and a Ph.D...
, 2004-2005 - Kenneth D. BaileyKenneth D. Bailey (sociologist)Kenneth D. Bailey is an American sociologist, systems scientist and professor of sociology at the University of California in Los Angeles.- Biography :...
, 2003 - Alexander ChristakisAlexander ChristakisAlexander Christakis is a Greek American social scientist, systems scientist and cyberneticist, former faculty member of several Universities, organizational consultant and member of the Club of Rome, known for his "study and design of social systems".- Biography :Christakis came to the United...
, 2002 - Michael C. JacksonMichael C. JacksonMichael Christopher Jackson OBE is a British systems scientist, consultant and Professor of Management Systems and Dean of Hull University Business School....
, 2001 - Harold G. NelsonHarold G. NelsonHarold G. Nelson is an American architect, consultant and systems scientist, Nierenberg Distinguished Professor of Design in the School of Design at Carnegie Mellon University, President of the Advanced Design Institute and Affiliate Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering...
, 2000 - Peter CorningPeter CorningPeter Andrew Corning is an American biologist, consultant, and complex systems scientist, and Director of the Institute for the Study of Complex Systems, in Friday Harbor, Washington, and is known especially for his work on the causal role of synergy in evolution.- Biography :Peter Corning was...
, 1999 - Béla A. BánáthyBéla A. BánáthyBéla Antal Bánáthy is an American systems scientist, who teaches part-time at the International Systems Institute at the Saybrook Graduate School.- Biography :...
, 1998 - G. A. SwansonG. A. SwansonGale Alden Swanson was an American organizational theorist, and Professor of Accounting at Tennessee Technological University, known for his accounting theories based on James Grier Miller’s general living systems theory....
, 1997 - Yong Pil RheeYong Pil RheeYong Pil Rhee was a Korean political scientist, systems scientist and Professor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Seoul National University, South Korea. He was one of the first systems theorists, who demonstrated that the system is dynamic and experiences change.- Biography :Yong Pil...
, 1996
- Ervin LaszloErvin LászlóErvin László is a Hungarian philosopher of science, systems theorist, integral theorist, originally a classical pianist. He has published about 75 books and over 400 papers, and is editor of World Futures: The Journal of General Evolution...
, 1995 - J. Donald R. de RaadtJ. Donald R. de RaadtJ. Donald R. de Raadt is a Swedish organizational theorist and Professor Emeritus in Informatics and System Science at Luleå University of Technology.- Biography :J. Donald R...
, 1994 - Harold A. LinstoneHarold A. LinstoneHarold Adrian Linstone is a German-American mathematician, consultant, futurist and University Professor Emeritus of Systems Science at Portland State University. He is a well known specialist in applied mathematics.- Biography :...
, 1993 - Ian I. Mitroff, 1992
- Howard T. OdumHoward T. OdumHoward Thomas Odum was an American ecologist...
1991 - Len R. TroncaleLen R. TroncaleLenard Raphael Troncale is an American biologist, Professor Cellular and Molecular Biology, and former Director of the Institute for Advanced Systems Studies at the California State Polytechnic University.- Life and work :...
, 1990 - Ilya PrigogineIlya PrigogineIlya, Viscount Prigogine was a Russian-born naturalized Belgian physical chemist and Nobel Laureate noted for his work on dissipative structures, complex systems, and irreversibility.-Biography :...
, 1988 - C. West ChurchmanC. West ChurchmanCharles West Churchman was an American philosopher and systems scientist, who was Professor at the School of Business Administration and Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of California, Berkeley...
1989 - Russell L. AckoffRussell L. AckoffRussell Lincoln Ackoff was an American organizational theorist, consultant, and Anheuser-Busch Professor Emeritus of Management Science at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Ackoff was a pioneer in the field of operations research, systems thinking and management...
, 1987 - Peter ChecklandPeter ChecklandPeter Checkland is a British management scientist and emeritus professor of Systems at Lancaster University. He is the developer of soft systems methodology : a methodology based on a way of systems thinking.- Biography :...
, 1986 - John A. DillonJohn A. DillonJohn Andrew Dillon, Jr. was an American physicist, administrator, Professor at the University of Louisville, and founder and first director of the Systems Science Institute at the University of Louisville.- Biography :...
, 1985 - John N. WarfieldJohn N. WarfieldJohn Nelson Warfield is an American systems scientist, who was professor and director of the Institute for Advanced Study in the Integrative Sciences at George Mason University.- Biography :...
, 1982 - George KlirGeorge KlirGeorge Jiri Klir is a Czech-American computer scientist and professor of systems sciences at the Center for Intelligent Systems at Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York.- Biography :...
, 1981 - Robert Rosen, 1980
- Brian R. GainesBrian R. GainesBrian R Gaines is a British scientist, engineer, and Professor Emeritus Killam Memorial Research Professor and Director of the Knowledge Science Institute at the University of Calgary.- Biography :...
, 1979 - Richard F. EricsonRichard F. EricsonRichard Ferdinand Ericson was an American organizational theorist, and Professor Emeritus of Management and Director, Interdisciplinary Systems and Cybernetics Project, Program of Policy Studies in Science and Technology at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C..- Biography :Richard...
, 1978
- Charles Geoffrey VickersCharles Geoffrey VickersSir Charles Geoffrey Vickers VC was an English lawyer, administrator, writer and pioneering systems scientist...
, 1977 - Heinz von FoersterHeinz von FoersterHeinz von Foerster was an Austrian American scientist combining physics and philosophy. Together with Warren McCulloch, Norbert Wiener, John von Neumann, Lawrence J. Fogel, and others, Heinz von Foerster was an architect of cybernetics.-Biography:Von Foerster was born in 1911 in Vienna, Austria,...
, 1976 - Kjell SamuelsonKjell SamuelsonKjell Samuelson is a Swedish systems scientist, Sci-Tech consultant, Professor Emeritus at the Stockholm University and Royal Institute of Technology, and a pioneer of Systems Science & Cybernetics, Communications & Informatics Technology and Global Networks.- Biography :Samuelson holds dual...
, 1975 - Gordon PaskGordon PaskAndrew Gordon Speedie Pask was an English cybernetician and psychologist who made significant contributions to cybernetics, instructional psychology, experimental epistemology and educational technology....
, 1974 - James Grier MillerJames Grier MillerJames Grier Miller was an American biologist, a pioneer of systems science, who originated the modern use of the term "behavioral science", founded and directed the multi-disciplinary Mental Health Research Institute at the University of Michigan, and originated the living systems theory.-...
, 1973 - Margaret MeadMargaret MeadMargaret Mead was an American cultural anthropologist, who was frequently a featured writer and speaker in the mass media throughout the 1960s and 1970s....
, 1972 - Stafford Beer, 1971
- Bertram Gross, 1970
- Lawrence Slobodkin, 1969
- Milton RubinMilton RubinMilton D. Rubin was an American systems engineer and inventor, who was president of the Society for General Systems Research in 1968.- Biography :In 1914 Milton Rubin was born in Boston and attended Boston Latin School...
, 1968 - John MilsumJohn MilsumJohn H. Milsum was a Canadian control engineer who was Professor and first Director at the Biomedical Engineering Department of the McGill University in Montreal, and a Professor at the University of British Columbia...
, 1967 - Peter CawsPeter CawsPeter J. Caws is a British American philosopher and administrator, and University Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Human Sciences at the George Washington University.- Biography :...
, 1966 - Anatol Rapaport, 1965
- W. Ross Ashby 1962-64
- Charles A. McClellandCharles A. McClellandCharles A. McClelland is an American political systems analyst and International Relations Professor Emeritus at the San Francisco State University, who was among the first to introduce General Systems Theory in the field of International Relations....
1959-61 - Kenneth E. BouldingKenneth E. BouldingKenneth Ewart Boulding was an economist, educator, peace activist, poet, religious mystic, devoted Quaker, systems scientist, and interdisciplinary philosopher. He was cofounder of General Systems Theory and founder of numerous ongoing intellectual projects in economics and social science. He was...
, 1957-58
Sir Geoffrey Vickers Memorial Award
The Sir Geoffrey Vickers Memorial Award is an annual award in memory of Sir Geoffrey Vickers for outstanding student papers at the pre-doctoral level in the field of the systems sciences. A listing of recipients:- 1987 Budapest two awards: Alexander LaszloAlexander Laszlo (scientist)Alexander Laszlo an American systems scientist, known as co-founder and President of Syntony Quest and former Director of the Doctoral Program in Management at the Graduate School of Business Administration & Leadership , Mexico...
; Lynda J. Davies and Paul W.J. Ledington (co-authors) - 1988 St Louis J. Donald R. de RaadtJ. Donald R. de RaadtJ. Donald R. de Raadt is a Swedish organizational theorist and Professor Emeritus in Informatics and System Science at Luleå University of Technology.- Biography :J. Donald R...
- 1989 Edinburgh Béla A. BánáthyBéla A. BánáthyBéla Antal Bánáthy is an American systems scientist, who teaches part-time at the International Systems Institute at the Saybrook Graduate School.- Biography :...
- 1990 Portland two awards: Sally Goerner; Daune West
- 1991 Sweden Erin Artigiani, Cliff JoslynCliff JoslynCliff Joslyn is an American cognitive scientist, cyberneticist, and currently Chief Scientist for Knowledge Sciences at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Seattle, Washington, USA.- Biography :...
- 1992 Denver Sen Suan Tan
- 1993 Australia Jeremy Chui
- 1994 Asilomar T. Dahl and Darek Erikson
- 1995 Amsterdam two awards: Craig Crabtree; Jennifer WilbyJennifer WilbyJennifer M. Wilby is an American management scientist, and past Director of the Centre for Systems Studies, and a lecturer and researcher in management systems and sciences in The Business School, University of Hull...
- 1996 Louisville Parviz Ahari
- 1996 Budapest No Award
- 1997 Seoul, Korea No Award
- 1998 Atlanta Martine Dodds
- 1999 Asilomar Molly Dwyer and Jane Zimmerman
- 2000 Toronto two awards: Gabor Horvath; Kathia Laszlo
- 2001 Asilomar Lynn M. Rasmussen
- 2002 Shanghai, China two awards: Pamela Buckle; K. C. Wang
- 2003 Crete Sabrina Brahms
- 2004 Asilomar Janette Young
- 2005 Cancun Honorato Teissier
- 2006 Sonoma Hanne Birgitte Jensen
- 2007 Tokyo Nicholas Magliocca
- 2008 Madison Devin Wixon
- 2009 Brisbane Anne Stephens
- 2010 Waterloo Todd D Bowers
- 2011 Kingston upon Hull Mary C Edson
See also
- General Systems: Yearbook of the Society for General Systems ResearchGeneral SystemsGeneral Systems: Yearbook of the Society for General Systems Research, known as General Systems, is the first annual journal in the field of systems science initiated in 1956, and initially edited by Ludwig von Bertalanffy and Anatol Rapoport....
- List of systems sciences organizations
- International Federation for Systems ResearchInternational Federation for Systems ResearchThe International Federation for Systems Research is an international federation for global and local societies in the field of systems science...
(IFRS) - International Council on Systems EngineeringInternational Council on Systems EngineeringThe International Council on Systems Engineering is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the advancement of systems engineering and to raise the professional stature of systems engineers.- Overview :...
(INCOSE) - International Society for Complexity, Information and DesignInternational Society for Complexity, Information and DesignThe International Society for Complexity, Information, and Design was a non-profit professional society that promoted intelligent design...
(ISCID) - Mental Health Research Institute (Michigan)Mental Health Research Institute (Michigan)The Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute at the University of Michigan is an interdisciplinary research institute, which played a key role in the development of general systems theory...