Understanding change in complex socio-technical systems

Issue title: Complex Socio-Technical Systems – Understanding and Influencing Causality of Change

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Rouse, William B. | Serban, Nicoleta

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: bill.rouse@ti.gatech.edu

Abstract: This paper elaborates the conceptual underpinnings needed to understand and influence change in complex socio-technical systems. The nature of causality is first addressed, followed by consideration of the nature of complexity. It is argued that, at least from a practical perspective, the difficulty in understanding causality increases as complexity increases. The possibility of influencing change is addressed in terms of concepts, principles and models for analysis and design in a range of domains or contexts.

Keywords: Causality, complexity, modeling, economics, healthcare

DOI: 10.3233/IKS-2012-0184

Journal: Information Knowledge Systems Management, vol. 10, no. 1-4, pp. 25-49, 2011