A Cybernetic Approach to Information Systems and Organisational Learning

Raadt, J. D. R. de

doi:10.1108/eb005873

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Thus, this homomorphism provides the nucleus of the informatory modality, which is of special importance to us, for it covers the complete spectrum of storage and communication of information, from the genetic code in cells to letters, numbers, digital symbols, languages, books, news media, telephones and computers. The modality is the focus of study of a comprehensive information science encompassing such diverse fields as mathematical information theory, cybernetics and linguistics (for a detailed discussion see de Raadt, 1989cde Raadt, , 1990de Raadt, and 1991a.…”

Section: Multi-modal Cultural Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thirdly, the description of the operations incorporates both organizational and information systems design in an integrated manner. The living social systems model proposes that operation requires four main information systems (see Beer, 1979;de Raadt, 1991a): an operational information system, a monitoring information system, a learning information system that is part of the meta-system and a communication system that shares information between the different operational systems that interact with each other. It is also necessary to define the filters that decidwithin the monitoring information system40 which level of recursion information should be sent regarding the environment, the operations and their attainment of the modal objectives.…”

Section: Definition Of Operationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Expanding the horizon of information systems design

Raadt

1995

Systems Research

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The introduction of information technology in society during the last 30 years has brought mixed results. There is evidence that the benefits to society may not outweigh the detrimental effects that have followed this technology. This is partly because its inclusion in the affairs of humanity has been guided by a mechanical and utilitarian world view that considers humanity as a mean of production and subject to industrial goals. This paper reverses this subjection and presents a framework that integrates information systems design with an overall system design approach and which makes machines the servant of humanity. The design approach is based on a combination of Dooyeweerd's theory of modalities and general systems theory.

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Section: Multi-modal Cultural Ecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Definition Of Operationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expanding the horizon of information systems design

Raadt

1995

Systems Research

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“…Previous work on image theory as a basis for agent architectures has been limited to determining a set of agent design principles based on the decision-making framework suggested by the theory (Schwartz and Te'eni, 1996). In contradistinction to de Raadt (1991), who proposed a cybernetic approach to information systems and organizational learning, we are developing an organizational learning approach to elements of cybernetics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intelligent agent behavior based on organizational image theory

Schwartz

Te’eni²

2001

Kybernetes

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Image theory has been used, in numerous studies, as a basis for understanding and describing the decision‐making activity of managers in both cooperative and competitive environments. The fundamental division of duties prescribed by image theory – namely adoption decisions and progress decision – maps very well to the adaptability requirements of intelligent agents. The issues of adaptive planning and execution monitoring in agents can be well served by applying the empirical lessons learned from the application of image theory across groups of decision makers. This paper explores the concepts of adoption and progress decisions in the context of image theory and provides a basis for creating image‐theoretic agents. This paper sets the foundation for an interdisciplinary bridge between Beach and Mitchell’s Image Theory for human decision making, and the construction of intelligent agents. We begin by presenting image theory and describing its use among human decision makers. We then show how the mechanisms of image theory can be implemented in an agent‐based architecture to implement both execution monitoring and adaptive planning. This is done through the image‐theoretic constructs of progress decisions and adoption decisions. We conclude by presenting logic‐programming implementation of the Imaginal Agent Architecture that supports the adaptive planning and execution monitoring of agents through the use of meta‐level constructs for adoption and progress decisions.

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“…The degree of correspondence between the metasystem's expectation and the definite level of healing may be measured with the task information index [4,5]. This index indicates the degree to which a system's available information satisfies Ashby's law of requisite variety [7,8], and is defined:…”

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confidence: 99%

Cybernetic Filters and Management Information Systems

Raadt

1992

Kybernetes

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IntroductionProvidence has ordered nature in such a manner that greater environmental disturbances occur with lesser frequency than disturbances of lesser significance. Storms rage in the sea, but very seldom do the waves trespass the boundary of the shore; tremors are common, yet it is rare for a city to be shaken by earthquakes; and we experience economic recessions far more often than economic depressions. This is a most fortuitous arrangement, as all living systems, including organizations, would otherwise find it very difficult to adapt and be viable.Notwithstanding, smaller disturbances also present their own challenge. Though they are of lesser consequence to organizations, their frequent appearances mean that the interval between one disturbance and the next leaves very little time for a system to respond and adapt. If the response time is greater than the interval, then it is best for the system to ignore these disturbances. This means, however, that the system will have to live with a degree of uncertainty, and, moreover, this uncertainty will be transmitted to other interconnected systems. Therefore, it is necessary that the selection of changes to be ignored follow some precise criteria that rninimizes the uncertainty in the systems. This is the function of cybernetic filters. Filters are of great importance to Management Information Systems (MIS), for they can decide which information should be passed on to each level of management and which should not. In this manner they can save a significant amount of managerial time that would otherwise be spent in responding to disturbances that are beyond the possibility of regulation. The following discussion will not centre so much on the filtering techniques available (for these see [1,2]), but will examine two types of filters that operate on the basis of Ashby's law of requisite variety, and that can be incorporated into a management information system to save ineffectual managerial activity and augment systemic viability. The analysis will draw some principles that indicate how the design of filters, management information systems and organizations ought to be harmonized so that organizations can respond effectively to the various environmental disturbances.

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A Cybernetic Approach to Information Systems and Organisational Learning

Cited by 4 publications

References 9 publications

Expanding the horizon of information systems design

Expanding the horizon of information systems design

Intelligent agent behavior based on organizational image theory

Cybernetic Filters and Management Information Systems

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