Synopsis
Conversations were introduced by Bela H. Banathy around 1980 as an alternative to the classical conferences which usually consist only of presentation of streamlined papers and short question slots. In a Conversation a small group of systems scientists and practitioners meets for several days to discuss in a self-guided way a topic of scientific and social importance. The overarching theme for the IFSR Conversation 2016 was "Systems Literacy". It aims at developing systemic "principles" or "big ideas" as orienting guidelines for application of systems science in across disciplines and provide for appropriate dissemination and world wide acceptance. Systems Literacy could be defined as understanding your model or models of Systems, how it is the same and different from others' models of Systems, and how our individual and collective actions influence Systems behaviors and how Systems behaviors influence us. An agreed definition will be an outcome of the Systems Literacy Initiative process. The Systems Literacy Initiative is a process of an ongoing international, coordinated effort to create a greater awareness and understanding about "Systems" and to develop a comprehensive set of big ideas, supporting concepts and learning progressions that have broad agreement. As team leaders developed their topics with their teams, they kept a focal theme of Systems Literacy in mind. The intention was that participants in the Conversation integrate the work of the teams into a body of knowledge to be developed into modes for educating those new to systems thinking, the systems sciences, and systems research, as a coordinated and coherent whole system initiative to define and achieve Systems Literacy. 24 practitioners from twelve countries took part in this five-day cooperative effort. Three teams approached Systems Literature from different viewpoints: Team 1: Application of Boulding's Skeleton of Science to Inform Transdisciplinarity, Team 2: Unity in Diversity - Makin
About the Author
Mary C. Edson currently serves as President of the International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR). Previously, she served as Vice President of the Executive Committee for the IFSR. In this capacity, she has been project manager for the biennial Conversations in 2014 and 2016. Mary also leads the Systems Research Team, acting as editor and project manager for the team's recent publication of A Guide to Systems Research: Philosophy, Principles and Practice (Springer, 2017). Mary is dedicated to supporting the advancement of the community of systems sciences scholars and practitioners through developing educational programs in collaboration with the IFSR's member organizations, such as the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), the International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS), the Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science (BCSSS), the American Society for Cybernetics (ASC), and others. Mary is a systems scientist whose interests include fostering Systems Research and Systemic Practice, especially development of team systems theory and its applications, building adaptive capacity, cultivating project leadership, and enhancing organizational resilience. Mary is President of Equipoise Enterprises, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in Organization Development using systemic approaches. She has worked in information systems as a project manager for Fortune 500 companies and several small businesses. She holds a doctorate in Organizational Systems from Saybrook University.
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