Churchman revisited

I mentioned C. West Churchman as a systems man only just recently. There I said he may be a forgotten influence in the systems field. Ironically, I somehow add to that myself, as I forgot to take some notes about the last two chapters when re-reading the book a couple of weeks back.

I shall try to have a second pencil ready or the sharpener within reach when traveling next. Gone are the times when you could open your pocket knife and hone your writing equipment for further note-taking (a little double-sense-of-the-word humor) in public transport.

Space restrictions make a regular notepad often uncomfortable; and working with laptop in public is also not always advisable. I prefer own scribble and regularly have the impression that all I do not take down as a note in some electronic form as the first step is richer and more connectedly embroidered somewhere in the thing between my ears.

So I had to spend some redundant extra time with this Churchman book. Fair enough, given I had last read it some 30? years ago and since then only in my hands when dusting or rearranging the bookshelves.

I have already forgotten more than I ever knew. But I hope to understand a little more than the loads of forlorn knowledge.

That's why I want to add some bits of Churchman here, which I find of truly high relevance and worthy to reflect upon - for all systemists; in theory and in practice. I had (almost) forgotten, why I rated Churchman decades back. It is (sadly only?) in reflecting of how much of our community still is struggling with some of the principles and consequences of what he called "The Systems Approach". Said so before and probably will repeat elsewhere: Much of those struggles are due to the fact that

the very foundations are forgotten

or covered by much noise or hype about some new approach within or based on systems; fads, tools, methods, sequences, sure-fire recommendations. Please, step back, reflect upon the essences of the systems approach. It still holds much learning and wisdom. And is highly practical.

From the last 2 chapters in the pictured book, "Anti-Planning" and "Conclusion", I want to share with you 3 (sets of) quotes:

• one on planning
• one on consequences for a systems approach
• one on the principles of systems.

Many of us systemists will be familiar with vocabulary about .... rich, complex, emergent, variety, etc. More recently I started to advocate a little heuristic tri-chord #TCP, #transparency, #communication, #participation. It can be linked to what Churchman says here, though he is far more philosophical and reflective. It also reminded me why I most prominently think of him, when I hashtag #purposeful #human #activity #system.

When I read the following passage,

my immediate take was "how wonderfully ethical & cybernetically aesthetical & humble."

I will add bold to the original quotes for the purposes of this article. Let's start with the first (set) of Churchman's quotes (from p226):

"I sometimes think that planners have committed a fundamental fallacy: They assume that there are problems and therefore they should help remove them. But perhaps the real origin of "problems" lies in the fundamental desire of each person to share in something, in politics, morality, religion and aesthetics, in the "beloved community" of human living."

I repeatedly mention #complementarity as I feel most black-and-white, either-or is not suitable for neither #complexity, nor for a systems perspective (see the quotes on systems principles). Knowing there are purists on either end, it still is, to me, a continuum. That this doesn't satisfy those who are out for determinism, reductionism and the one optimal solution - tough luck (from p230):

"We have to say that the solution is ridiculous and serious. We have to maintain the contradiction or else we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the consistent."

There are others who have come up with their own set of laws, rules, principles, characteristic of systems. Even though Churchman, building on the "contradiction" of the quote above, refers to "some principles of a deception-perception approach to systems" (p231), I would suggest to take his 4 principles for a guideline and suggestion for reflection on systems as such:

"1. The systems approach begins when first you see the world through the eyes of another."

#multiperspective; Churchman also, and I would again strongly support that perspective, and have done so with likewise repeated emphasis on #mindset and #worldview, says (p232):

"the systems approach begins with philosophy, ....".

"2. The systems approach goes on to discerning that every world view is terribly restricted." (see referral to complementarity).

"3. There are no experts in the systems approach."

Hallelujah. Interesting is the take, which I would link to the #liberation power of systems, he concludes the explanation for this principle with

"... the problem of the systems approach is to learn what "everybody" knows."

Here, little surprise, I would also link immediately to #variety.

The 4th and last principle, he states as his "bias" (from p232):

"4. The systems approach is not a bad idea."

I am sure, most would agree - if they know and/or understand systems or not. That is part of the difficulty, challenge and potential this approach still holds - even almost half a century after the little introductory book by Churchman.