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INCOSE International Workshop - January 24-27, 2015

Steven E. Wallis, Ph.D.

Director, FAST

Director of Meta-Analysis, Meaningful Evidence LLC

Adjunct Faculty, Capella University

Fulbright Specialist Roster

SWallis@ProjectFAST.org

FOUNDATION FOR

THE ADVANCEMENT

OF SOCIAL THEORY

Building an Integrated Theory (an invitation)

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Race to Decode the Human Genome�

US Government

  • Years
  • Billions $
  • GOAL – the whole genome

Celera Corporation

  • Months
  • NOT billions $
  • GOAL – scaffolding of the genome

In our project, we will take the “Celera option” and rapidly create a “scaffolding” that may support future efforts by other groups

For partial success, we don’t need “ALL” the pieces. We only need “enough” of them.

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Working on a shared online mapping platform, we will use a clear, rigorous, methodology to create a formal diagram/map

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Convert propositions to diagrams focused on causal relationships

Evaluate the (growing) Diagram using IPA (and other methods)

Add propositions (SP, LP, etc) from literature

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Achievable goal: Create map, Identify structure and gaps to support future dialog & SoSPT efforts

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Good understanding

Poor

understanding

Good understanding

More rule-following

More interactions

Causes

Causes

More improved behavior

More self-organization

More stable patterns of activity

Causes

Causes

Closer the CAS is to the EOC

Causes

Poor

understanding

Poor

understanding

Where are the feedback loops??

Each connection will be trackable back to the relevant literature

Each concept will be defined by its connection with other concepts

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Stretch Goal: Identifying “core” and “belt” of theory

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“Core” concepts are those with MORE connections

“Belt” concepts are those with FEWER connections

Also Possible:

  • Determine if IPA is a useful method to support the larger projects in SysSciWG & SoSPT
  • Write one or more papers
  • Create foundational resource online for researchers and students (theory-wiki?)
  • Identify leverage points for future explorations
  • Develop directions for creating a “periodic table” of systems theory
  • Identify levels of abstraction, multiple forms of causation
  • Identify and map “nested” theories

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THE END

…and… THE BEGINNING

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If you are interested in participating, please email me: swallis@projectfast.org

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