The Combinatory Systems Theory: A Powerful Theory for Understanding, Modeling and Simulating Collective Phenomena (Progress in IS)

This book adopts the logic of Systems Thinking and Control Systems, presenting a simple but complete theory called the Theory of Combinatory Systems. This new theory describes, interprets, explains, and simulates collective phenomena and their observable effects. Such collective phenomena – many of which are “one way", non-repeatable or reproducible – can all be described and understood using the model, as simple as it is general, of combinatory systems; that is, systems formed by collectivities, or populations of non-connected and unorganized individuals of some species, which appear to be directed by an invisible hand that guides the analogous actions of similar individuals in order to produce an emerging collective phenomenon.

This edition includes enhanced theories such as an analysis of potential interactions between combinatory systems and their dynamics, highlighting the role of the environment in which such systems operate. It also includes new examples and enhanced figures that illustrate how combinatory systems are observed in social, biological and physical contexts.

Piero Mella is Former Professor of Business Economics and Control Theory at the Faculty of Economics, University of Pavia. In the past he has been the Dean of the Faculty as well as the Director of its Department of Business Research and Coordinator of the PhD in Business Economics based at the Department. He has authored dozens of studies about Systems Theory from multiple perspectives. His recent essays about Systems Theory include: “Systems Thinking: Intelligence in Action” (Springer, 2012), “Constructing Reality. The "Operationalization" of Bateson’s Conjecture on Cognition” (Springer, 2020) and “The Magic Ring. Systems Thinking Approach to Control Systems” (2021, 1st Ed. 2014). He has developed the Theory of Combinatory Systems and is editor of the journal "Economia Aziendale on-line".