Chairs
Nikitas Assimakopoulos and
Dimitrios Varsos (Department of Informatics, University of Piraeus)
Format
Mix of invited and selected papers
Call for papers
The Symposium’s aim is to stimulate an energetic exchange of systems approach perspectives in the area of Professional Systemics applied effectively in organizations and enterprises across a wide spectrum of both service and production industry sectors.
The traditional organization is designed along a hierarchical structure in which activities are organized along common areas of responsibility. Key processes are defined and controlled within strict functional boundaries, with minimum attention given to systemic interaction. Business decisions are derived through analytical methods which involve the determination of the meaning of what is studied in the context of a reductionist approach: reducing the whole into its constituent elements, understanding each element separately and aggregating understanding of the individual elements into an understanding of the whole. Given the dynamic complexity of the today’s business environment and the continual exchange of its constituent elements, application of the reductionist method typically results in the loss of the essential properties of both the system studied as well as of its parts. Hence, business decisions lack cohesion, and management lacks the ability to align activities to effectively achieve the company’s long-term strategic objectives.
Systems thinking is fundamentally different from the reductionist method in that it focuses on the understanding of how and why various elements affect one another within a defined unified whole. A systemic approach concentrates on the understanding of the interactions of the constituent elements of a system that produce a behavior rather that the desegregated parts of the system, studied in isolation. The need for a systemic approach has never been more imperative, given the realities of the new economic climate impelled by the current credit crisis and the need for organizations to challenge existing paradigms, core values and business assumptions against the dynamic complexity of a volatile economic environment.
Target groups
Professional Systemics is the practical application of systems thinking into everyday situations. It is a means through which to handle complexity in a manner which has achievable, measurable and realistic results. Professional Systemics bridges the gap between theory and practice and promotes the use of effective systemic Methodologies and Multi-Methodologies in managing today’s dynamic organizational complexity.
Submission
