Systems theory ≈ Systems theory
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Dynamic capabilities as (workable) management systems theory Open
In management studies, systems theory is an underexplored construct consistent with the dynamic capabilities framework. The systems approach received attention from management scholars in the middle of the last century, but, since then, ha…
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From complex social interventions to interventions in complex social systems: Future directions and unresolved questions for intervention development and evaluation Open
Complex systems approaches to social intervention research are increasingly advocated. However, there have been few attempts to consider how models of intervention science, such as the UK’s Medical Research Council complex interventions fr…
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Complex Systems Research in Educational Psychology: Aligning Theory and Method Open
The purpose of this work is to provide an overview of complex systems research for educational psychologists. We outline a philosophically and theoretically sourced definition of complex systems research organized around complex, dynamic, …
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Ecological Systems Theory: Exploring the Development of the Theoretical Framework as Conceived by Bronfenbrenner Open
The Ecological Systems theory represents a convergence of biological, psychological, and social sciences. Through the study of the ecology of human development, social scientists seek to explain and understand the ways in which an individu…
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Frameworks to assess health systems governance: a systematic review Open
Governance of the health system is a relatively new concept and there are gaps in understanding what health system governance is and how it could be assessed. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to describe the concept of go…
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The Theoretical Nature of Systems Thinking. Perspectives on Systems Thinking in Biology Education Open
Systems thinking has become synonymous to developing coherent understanding of complex biological processes and phenomena from the molecular level to the level of ecosystems. The importance of systems and systems models in science educatio…
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Understanding inclusive education – a theoretical contribution from system theory and the constructionist perspective Open
The meaning of the term 'inclusion' is often taken for granted and seldom defined. Empirical research on inclusive education is often normative since it is based on terms such as 'justice' and 'democracy'. Such terms are challenging to tra…
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Classroom-oriented research from a complex systems perspective Open
Bringing a complex systems perspective to bear on classroom-oriented research challenges researchers to think differently, seeing the classroom ecology as one dynamic system nested in a hierarchy of such systems at different levels of scal…
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Complex systems biology Open
Complex systems theory is concerned with identifying and characterizing common design elements that are observed across diverse natural, technological and social complex systems. Systems biology, a more holistic approach to study molecules…
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Transforming Research and Innovation for Sustainable Food Systems—A Coupled-Systems Perspective Open
Current research and innovation (R&I) systems are not equipped to fully serve as catalysts for the urgently needed transformation of food systems. Though research on food systems transformation (first order: ‘what?’) and transformative res…
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Complexity theory of psychopathology. Open
There is a renewed interest for complex adaptive system approaches that can account for the inherently complex and dynamic nature of psychopathology. Yet a theory of psychopathology grounded in the principles of complex adaptive systems is…
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Foundations of Not Necessarily Rational Negative Imaginary Systems Theory: Relations Between Classes of Negative Imaginary and Positive Real Systems Open
In this technical note we lay the foundations of a not necessarily rational negative imaginary systems theory and its relations with positive real systems theory. In analogy with the theory of positive real functions, in our general framew…
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The social, the ecological, and the adaptive. Von Bertalanffy's general systems theory and the adaptive governance of social‐ecological systems Open
Based on biological insights, Ludwig von Bertalanffy coined general systems theory (GST) and later expanded his perspective, exploring what GST could mean for other disciplines and other types of systems. We make a case for the relevance, …
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Building a system-based Theory of Change using Participatory Systems Mapping Open
Theory of Change diagrams are commonly used within evaluation. Due to their popularity and flexibility, Theories of Change can vary greatly, from the nuanced and nested, through to simplified and linear. We present a methodology for buildi…
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Development of the Systems Thinking for Health Actions framework: a literature review and a case study Open
Background Systems thinking is an approach that views systems with a holistic lens, focusing on how components of systems are interconnected. Specifically, the application of systems thinking has proven to be beneficial when applied to hea…
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From a systems theory of sociology to modeling the onset and evolution of criminality Open
This paper proposes a systems theory approach to the modeling of onset and evolution of criminality in a territory, which aims at capturing the complexity features of social systems. Complexity is related to the fact that individuals have …
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Social determinants of health inequalities: towards a theoretical perspective using systems science Open
A systems approach offers a novel conceptualization to natural and social systems. In recent years, this has led to perceiving population health outcomes as an emergent property of a dynamic and open, complex adaptive system. The current p…
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Information Systems as Representations: A Review of the Theory and Evidence Open
Representation Theory proposes that the basic purpose of an information system (IS) is to faithfully represent certain real-world phenomena, allowing users to reason about these phenomena more cost-effectively than if they were observed di…
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Exploring the use of Soft Systems Methodology with realist approaches: A novel way to map programme complexity and develop and refine programme theory Open
As the use of realist approaches gains momentum, there is a growing interest in how systems approaches can complement realist thinking. In this article, we discuss how the epistemology of Soft Systems Methodology is compatible with realist…
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“Systems medicine” in the view of von Bertalanffy's “organismic biology” and systems theory Open
Currently, medicine is transforming towards molecular systems medicine (MSM), based on molecular systems biology (MSB). These approaches should be related to Ludwig von Bertalanffy's vision of “organismic” systems biology/medicine (OSB/OSM…
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Critical theory and the question of technology: The Frankfurt School revisited Open
Unlike the first generation of critical theorists, contemporary critical theory has largely ignored technology. This is to the detriment of a critical theory of society – technology is now a central feature of our daily lives and integral …
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Systems Research and the Quest for Scientific Systems Principles Open
Systems Research formally originated in the 1950s, but a scientific understanding of systemness is still nascent. This shortcoming produces significant risks for complex systems engineering and practice. Current “systems principles” are qu…
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Complexity Theory of Psychopathology Open
There is a renewed interest for complex adaptive system approaches that can account for the inherently complex and dynamic nature of psychopathology. Yet, a theory of psychopathology grounded in the principles of complex adaptive systems i…
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CONTROL THEORY APPLICATIONS TO OPERATIONS SYSTEMS, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AND INDUSTRY 4.0 NETWORKS Open
Uncertainty, feedback cycles and dynamics are major challenges in production and logistics systems, supply chains, and Industry 4.0 networks. From this perspective, control theory is an important research avenue in operations and supply ch…
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THE SYSTEM AS A SOCIO-CULTURAL PHENOMENON PHILOSOPHY OF MANAGEMENT Open
Introduction. The relevance of the article topic is due to the fact that we live in a systemic revolution of society, its political, economic and social subsystems. The deep nature of the phenomenon of the system is not fully understood, a…
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Planning and management of urban environment using the models of degradation theory Open
Urban systems are the most complex multi-level objects. The construction and design of such systems is preceded by their analysis and deep study. The article considers the issue of long-term planning of urban systems. The planning is based…
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Network concepts in social theory: Foucault and cybernetics Open
Network concepts are omnipresent in contemporary diagnoses (network society), management practices (network governance), social science methods (network analysis) and theories (network theory). Instigating a critical analysis of network co…
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Understanding the influence of values in complex systems-based approaches to public policy and management Open
Attempts to apply complexity theory to public management have focused on the dynamic systems environment. This accepts that in public systems there are many externalities, unstable processes, and indeterminate outcomes. Resulting practices…
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Modeling brain, symptom, and behavior in the winds of change Open
Neuropsychopharmacology addresses pressing questions in the study of three intertwined complex systems: the brain, human behavior, and symptoms of illness. The field seeks to understand the perturbations that impinge upon those systems, ei…
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Modeling business processes of complex organizational systems Open
The complex systems of the construction and industrial complex in the study of their properties and the general laws of functioning by methods of mathematical modeling require a systematic approach. Modeling is a complex multi-stage proces…