Systemological Approach to Interdisciplinary Tasks Solution
by the Example of Analysis of IT's Social End
Problem domain
Well-known
problem "scientific picture of the world", which means the absence of the
integral, universal, and formalized methodology to describe knowledge, remains
one of the key problems in interdisciplinary research. What we mean is kind of
methodology, which is able to integrate different domains and features of human
knowledge (scientific disciplines, cognitive lines, hypothesis, intuitive
prerequisites) into common meta-model of knowledge. Theoretical study of such
model and its usage as a tool for practical analysis could present the most
precise, even parameterized, answers to interdisciplinary question. Nowadays,
and apparently in the nearest future, interdisciplinary research at the turn of
various areas of knowledge is in line of experts and groups presenting their
resumes mostly in verbal, interpretive form (independently from visual,
virtual, and stand modeling, or natural studies). It becomes especially
noticeable in philosophic and social aspects of research.
There is another
distinction of the social aspects of interdisciplinary investigations. Crisis
is time for them to be of the first magnitude. When environment (social,
economic, situational, psychological etc.) is steady and demonstrates stable
regularity of its state and trend, both optimization solutions and parametrical
prognostication became urgent. In this conditions detailed elaboration and
particular specialty (in research, in modeling, in activity etc.) can provide
maximum effectiveness from interaction with such environment. Irrespectively to
variety and character crisis always means disturbance of engrained (revealed or
set) patterns, rules and expectations. In high suddenness and vagueness
something else becomes urgent – it is the skills to choose right strategy
orientation, the ability to keep selected guiding line in situational chaos,
the ability to recognize trends in the chaos, completeness and priority of
active factors, their systematization, revelation of forming patterns, high
level of adaptability, mobility, stability, availability of autonomy and resort
reserve of solidity. From system-defined analytic point what the crisis demands
is not excellent skills in one model but the ability to switch rapidly from one
model to another selecting in advance the most appropriate one in the existing
situation. This specificity is compatible with non-parametric, destiny-free,
analogical and associative elaboration way of interdisciplinary analysis. Same
way of elaboration is called for and rated highly in long-run forecast, in
perspective and strategic research (long-run perspective is always uncertain).
Human
civilization nowadays needs immediate and simultaneous solutions for many
accumulated problems – ecological, political, economic, social, scientific,
philosophic, ethical etc. At that the broader is certain nation's level of influence
(or that of other social formation) the more urgent is the need for complex
interdisciplinary analysis of prospects, tendencies and control of changes. It
seems that interdisciplinary research domain should develop like avalanche.
However the mentioned methodological crisis blocks the way of its development.
Certain hopes in
decision of this crisis are pinned on development of systemology and system
analysis – scientific school formed in the first half of XX century owing to
the works of A. Bogdanov ("Tectology",
1920) [1, 2] and Bertalanffy L., von. ("General System Theory", 1937)
[3, 4]. Since then the interest to the meta-scientific (overdisciplinary)
approach never calms down [5, 6, 7].
Moreover, the theory of systemology improves and provides new tool for its
formalization (for example "The language of ternary description",
1978, Prof. Avenir Uyemov – [8, 9]). Some versions of general system theory
were proposed, and their level of development meets the requirements of
philosophy generalization (system methodologies of third generation) –
"The Theory of hypercomplex dynamic systems (THDS)", 1989, Prof. Alexander Maliuta [10]. The most
formalized sections of general system theory have transformed into separate
studies (cybernetics, theory of management, etc.) and found broad practical
use. More late versions of systemology, THDS [10] for example, do not use
methodological tooling borrowed from other disciplines (mathematic instrument,
theory of graphs, graphic-analytical stereotype, etc.), but operate by their
own tools developed and associated with systemological axiomatics.
Thanks to that
the possibility to put to methodological systematization and analysis the
domains that can hardly be formalized shows up, in particular the domain of
variety of social trends and factor mostly interdisciplinary by nature. However
applied aspects of THDS form separate methodological problem where all of the
highlighted interdisciplinary specifics and problems have been focused. And we
are going to take up this very problem in more details.
Systemological approach to studying sociological aspects of IT
Consideration of
axiomatics, principles, or ontological potential of THDS is not the task of
this article. You can learn about this from separate monographs such as [11].
In spite of high level of abstraction in THDS's methodological terms
familiarization with it is like studying any other science. However what makes
necessary to use epistemological filling (formalization, description in general
terms) of the domain of the subject of inquiry on initial level of study is
thickness of abstraction. Practical tasks' solutions demand additional
adaptation of well-known professional techniques to operate formalities of the
problem domain. Therefore, very often narrow specialist of a particular problem
domain could decide that meta-abstraction (up to the level of THDS's
categories) is pointless. However when solving the tasks of interdisciplinary
analysis it is very important to find general (normalization) categories in the
problem domains (disciplines) under consideration. By definition THDS as any
other well developed system methodology is not just normalization category but
normalization methodology. This means that normalization categories if found
correctly shall naturally blend with THDS's terms. Moreover, if the THDS's
terms and categories have been interpreted in philosophy sense, well-performed
local task of interdisciplinary normalization is able to demonstrate a larger
analogical analytic potential than utilitarian target setting demands.
The mentioned
properties can be demonstrated by extract of interdisciplinary analysis. For
example, studying social aspects of general and broad application of IT.
Similar to the case of detailed consideration of THDS's or similar methodology,
conducting integral analysis of the social trends, which ride broad application
of IT, is not the task of this article. This subject makes separate and
extensive studies. But even demonstration of one fragmentary approach to
solution of this particular task can become unexpectedly helpful if analyzed in
the context of system methodology.
In engineering context of IT it is about hardware, software, data,
digital communication. In social aspect it's about how wide application of IT
tools influences social relations, mass psychology, creativity, development
trends, prospects etc. In philosophic aspect it is about IT influence on human
consciousness, on stereotype of reality perception, on estimation criteria, on
ideology and world outlook, on vision of the future. Twist of the current
moment is that IT is classified as innovation technology, a type of technology that introduces and stimulates changes (what
means it provokes crisis). Moreover, IT is innovation product – the result of
innovation process. Most of the IT solutions demand active or passive
participation of men.
Figure 1. Elementary innovation (creativity) cycle
By the way even the listed characteristics of
IT are enough to draw attention on some important peculiarities of IT. In
particular, even being innovation technology IT makes difference in existing
regularities of socio-economic relations. At that IT is the kind of improvement
and optimizing technology with its effect beyond the category of used economic
and mathematical models. It operates
with information and the most of IT-products are aimed at interaction with
human mind as this very component part of human nature operates with
information. The origin of some economic effect is presumed by means of this
interaction. But there is a hidden trick in here. From the very beginning
economic benefits gave reasons for expediency of wide application of IT. But we
should take into consideration that economics is a discipline, which has
formalized mathematically a particular category of existing social relations.
Direct influence of IT-products on human mind inevitably leads to inductive
change of mind beginning from subconscious changes in mentality and to changes
in world outlook. Under such conditions social transformations become
unavoidable, as much as inevitability of these changes' influence on economic
part of social relations. The signs of all that is aggravated problems around
intellectual property in "digital world", or problems of civil freedom and privacy
etc. Who can answer how seriously effectiveness of IT-innovations can be
measured by operation factors of economic model, which starts transforming if
these innovations are widely introduced.
Despite of the
fact that IT-revolution has reached the age of twenty years, in spite of huge
situational experience (both positive and negative) the effectiveness of
IT-innovations is still the subject of wide speculation. Hitherto the patterns
and character of macroeconomic influence of IT were not identified. Moreover,
the sector of "new economy" remains in epicenter of economic disputes. This
problem still needs to be scrutinized thoroughly.
Socio-economic
influence of IT is an interdisciplinary problem. And only interdisciplinary
approach is able to return to it the only important normalization element
without which the analytic problem of expediency, benefit, and harm of IT can't
be solved (except for cut-and-try method). This element is a man, or rather
his(her) abilities and creativity, which are inseparably linked with his(her)
activity and social behavior.
Figure 1. "Elementary innovation (creativity) cycle" presents basic steps of
innovation development. This diagram has off-center structure – as
normalization elements in this case we have chosen three factors (directories)
that forms creativity: volitional, empirical, and heuristic elements. These
factors were brought into correlation with three-dimensional co-ordinates. In
chosen co-ordinates we have projected the prototype process – elementary innovation
cycle. Elements of diagram data are interpreted in diagram's legend. Example of
"Elementary innovation cycle" allows following all the above-mentioned
peculiarities of interdisciplinary analysis both in the context of the subject
of inquiry (social aspects of IT) and in the context of methodological value of
diagram itself.
Diagram "Elementary innovation cycle": comments
and conclusions
IT-innovation as
well as any other originates from cumulative experience and its results,
creative idea which brings novelty, and application of series of successive
efforts. In the domain of IT-engineering innovation evolutionism (the
succession of innovation cycles) is well perceptive. For instance, in evolution
of microelectronics and especially in development of generations of language
tools and methods for programming (such one from Assembler to Object-oriented
programming and UML). Only if innovation is embodied in full product with clear
benefits, which can be used as an element (base) for the next innovation turn, it
can be called accomplished and real.
The following comments and conclusions are
appropriate in connection with graphic-analytical associations of diagram:
★ Queue of "coupling" of vectors (the
succession of steps) conforms to generally accepted concept of creativity but
it is still relative.
★ Internal benefits of innovation
(inputs made by the originators, idealized) are formed and laid during the
first three steps (vectors 1, 2 and 3). This is the stage
of innovation forming. Creation of innovation prototype makes its result.
★ Final benefits of innovation are
formed during the last three steps (vectors 4, 5 and 6) of
innovation. This last stage is an integration of innovation into environment,
its perception by the environment and its benefits by specific characters of
the environment.
★ During its first stage the
innovation is under integrated control of its creators. During the second
(last) stage the innovation is under control of its users and characteristics
of the environment. In the end of the
second stage the innovation exists not in the form of "new flashy thing" (as
its creators usually imaging) but it the form functioning technological product
(tool) "in hands" of its end-users. At that real benefit of this product under
provided conditions is already determined, tested, and there is formed a
certain conception of the innovation as a tool with particular benefits.
Together this makes full cycle of innovation's realization – "elementary
innovation cycle". If we say real benefit from new military tank will be
determined not by the results of ground test but by estimate given by the tank
crew and army headquarters after participation in military mission.
★ Only if two conditions are being
simultaneously observed the innovation can become a solid foundation for the
next innovation turn (i.e. to be a solid base for the next innovation building
on). The first – basic technologies have passed the whole "elementary
innovation cycle" and all the revealed and approved features should be taken
into consideration. The second – the character and behavior of the
environment during the next innovation turn remain immutable.
★ The difference between vectors I
and L illustrates how much can differ ideal benefit from innovation
(imagined by its creators) from its real benefit. The key idea is that these
two types of benefit cannot be identical (vectors I and L are
always different!).
★ There is a real danger of that due
to different reasons (casual or intentional) substitution of innovation's
benefits (L) can occur, in most cases with vector I. The problem
becomes more complicated if the last stage of innovation (vectors 4, 5
and 6) is not symmetrical by its character (i.e. it doesn't have an
organizational center to consolidate and popularize experience unlike in the
first stage). During commercial spinup (most of the products go on the market
on the step of vector 6) of the products commercial advertising and
marketing also become an aggravating factor. In most cases advertising campaign
is not only oriented to idealize benefits of innovation (I) but also to
exaggerate it.
★ In most cases the difference between
I and L is a interdisciplinary correction. The more narrow
specialists are the creators of innovation and the more social influence can
the innovation show, the more difference between vectors I and L will
be.
Associative
situation analysis of the diagram can be continued. However in the current
context we will not go beyond one more comment. Even though detailed purposeful
investigation of the whole spectrum in IT area with the use of the methods
under review was never carried out, proximate analysis of some trends draws
attention to itself. There are lots of grounds to claim that for the most of
IT-technologies (this number is big enough to be critical) today their innovation
cycle is not finished. However these technologies already lay the foundation of
new generation of innovations. At that
the next generation of innovations has purposeful social character. Moreover
crisis trends complicate the situation what adds one more reason to realize the
necessity of serious and pragmatical study of social aspects of IT.
At least the
diagram "Elementary innovation cycle" can be useful illustration to the
subjects of strict examination of organizational and structural topology of
innovation (creative) activity. By the way more abstract approach (as it was
mentioned before) will reveal the presence of considerable methodological
potential.
Summary
If we analyze
the diagram more thoroughly the necessity to parameterize its categories will
arise. For instance in order to answer the question what is the length of each
unit vector and in what units are they measured. (Currently the length ratio of
unit vectors if defined by means of associative expert valuation). In the
meantime units are related to concrete definition (parameterization) of such
concepts as "level of novelty", "capitalization of experience ", "intensity of
realization", etc. Listed categories represent some analogous functions, which
are not formalized in terms of mathematics but presence of which were
ascertained empirically and even some of their patterns were revealed.
We all know from our life experience that the
result (effectiveness) of application of volitional energies (volitional
element) has nonlinear nature. In particular, the effectiveness of energies
goes down after it reaches some threshold quantity irrespective to their
further reinforcement. Does this threshold originate stochastically or
functionally? Evidently clarification of this functionality can present the
idea of optimal resources consumption in innovation process. Traditional
methodological (mathematics, statistics) approach is hypercomplex and
problematic in this case. Meanwhile unexpectedly we can find partial (but
available) solution for this problem in methods of general system theory, and
THDS [10] in particular.
By adding
several successive cycles to our diagram we receive a transformation chain of
"real benefit" (vector I after each successive innovation cycle) because
of connected succession of innovations. If we add the term "trajectory" to the
context involved we can't avoid concomitant questions about optimal and
nonoptimal trajectories, about criteria of optimal depletion, about the
"figure" ("surface"), what number of possible trajectories is able to form it
in considered co-ordinates.
Volitional,
empirical and heuristic elements are present in creative activity of people in
any area and under any circumstances, no matter in favorable socio-economic
climate or in crisis period they act. What does change is structurally
morphological nature of the most elementary innovation cycle (the one
determinating the direction of vector I in space of co-ordinates). From
the other side any innovation cycle is just a "corpuscular" transaction in the
system of social relations in any sphere. Consequently, innovation cycle
conditioned by general systemological rules.
If we leave
system methodology upon the concept of innovation cycle diagram we will receive
a diagram of a higher order. For this new diagram an elementary innovation
cycle will be a detail about strategy of moving from one point of the diagram
to another – "movement". Graphic-analytical idea of systemological philosophy
forms "surface geometry" where the "movement" takes place. A point on this
"surface" corresponds with a level of complexity of system realization. The
"movement" is a passage from one point of system realization to another.
Innovation cycle is an ontological basis of such passage. Since "surface
geometry" constitutes of a number of various states of system realization,
deliberate "movement" on the "surface" in some directions represents nothing
but realization of different strategies. The described logic allows making a
"Diagram of Strategy Space".
This article is
too small to allow us to study the structure and scope of "Diagram of Strategy
Space" in details. However by describing its general logic and forming
principles we have reaches the purpose of this article – to present an example
and foundations of analytic approach to solutions for interdisciplinary
problems (in our case in the field of social aspects of IT). And we have used systemological methodology
as a tooling, THDS [10] in particular.
The presented
approach was adopted for solving practical problems – for independent analysis
of crisis tendencies of IT in national economy of Ukraine and in working out
the concept of its development [12]. In this document [12] you can find graded
version of "Diagram of Strategy Space"
and its analytic interpretation.
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