Synopsis
Containing 1621 specially commissioned articles, this unique and comprehensive new reference work provides information on what systems thinking comprises and how it is being used to understand and to attack a wide spectrum of diverse problems ranging from, for example, the control of servo-mechanisms to applications of space technology, or from understanding biological/environmental systems to controlling national economies. The volumes cover systems and control in the widest possible sense, treating the theoretical concepts as well as their applications. The latter are technological (to process industries like chemicals, paper and cement as well as to engineering systems like power generation, distribution, etc.), semi-technological (i.e. where human beings interact in the system, e.g. road traffic networks, environmental systems, robotics, energy systems) or non-technological (socio-economic systems, management systems, etc.). In each case the role of computers as system components is particularly emphasized.
Review
There are three major success factors by which to measure encyclopedic works. Two of these are under the control of the editor; the completeness of the work relative to the intent of the effort and the ease with which material may be located. The third is the degree to which researchers, scholars, students and others utilize the work and reference it in their own efforts... The completeness of this encyclopedia is perhaps one of its major achievements. An attempt has been made to include systems and control aspects of virtually every aspect of scientific and engineering endeavour... The second major measure of success is...accomplished by the inclusion of Indexes and a "Guide to Use of the Encyclopedia"... It is my recommendation that this encyclopedia is a must acquisition for every major library where support is given to the topics covered in systems and control. The writings are in good style, the depth of coverage in such a diverse field is excellent and the indexing is a definite plus for all users. In addition, universities in which these topics are a major activity, should acquire departmental copies for use of faculty and students alike. It is my expectation that as the encyclopedia finds its way to the shelves of most libraries, it will become a major citation source.
IEEE Transactions on Systems Man and Cybernetics
... highly recommended as a source for faculty, students, and researchers involved in systems and control ... an important contribution to ... the newest "metadiscipline."
Choice
...the number of articles and subjects covered is veritably stupendous and could be managed only by the orchestration of people who see the field as a whole...The project organizers are to be congratulated for their success and to be rendered professional thanks...they have designed the work so that it is not static but can grow with the expected introduction of new developments in the field...the publication of regular supplementary volumes is already in preparation...The Encyclopedia, to my mind, has the best chances to become the Encyclopedia in the area of systems and control and also the Standard Reference in the area of Fuzzy Set Theory.
Fuzzy Sets and Systems
John N. Warfield, George Mason University, USA
Perhaps the greatest contribution of this Encyclopedia will be to spur greater development of this area of study, to complement the great array of contributions reflected in its eight volumes.
Systems Research, Volume 5
Its reference value cannot be underestimated. Researchers and practitioners in this area of 'systems and control' will be at a grave disadvantage if their institutions do not offer this edition on the library shelves.
Systems Practice Press
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
