Principles of Systems Science Understanding Complex Systems
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This pioneering text provides a comprehensive introduction to the structure, function, and modeling of systems as applied across various fields of science and engineering. Systems understanding is increasingly recognized as essential for holistic education and enhanced problem-solving skills, reflecting the trend toward interdisciplinary research on complex phenomena. While systems science concepts and components will continue to be integrated into various disciplines, undergraduate degree programs in systems science are also emerging, including at the authors’ institutions. Regardless of the approach, systems science should be valued as highly as a traditional liberal arts education for understanding the components and drivers of phenomena at all scales.
Principles of Systems Science is enriched with numerous graphs, illustrations, sidebars, examples, and problems to enhance understanding. It covers basic principles of organization, complexity, abstract representations, and behavior (dynamics) to deeper aspects such as the relationships between information, knowledge, computation, and system control, as well as higher-order aspects like auto-organization, emergence, and evolution. The book concludes with practical aspects such as systems analysis, computer modeling, and systems engineering, demonstrating how systems knowledge can be applied to solve real-world problems.
Each chapter is divided into parts starting with qualitative descriptions suitable for students with intermediate algebra knowledge. The second part offers quantitative descriptions based on pre-calculus and advanced algebra for students with the necessary mathematical background. The text presents numerous examples of systems from various realms, including physical and biological sciences, humanities, social sciences, engineering, pre-med, and pre-law, based on fundamental systems concepts like boundaries, components as subsystems, processes as flows of materials, energy, and messages, work accomplished, functions performed, and hierarchical structures. Understanding these basics allows for a deeper comprehension of how systems endure and become increasingly complex, exhibiting new properties or characteristics.
- Serves as a textbook for teaching systems fundamentals in any discipline or for introductory courses in systems science degree programs
- Addresses a wide range of audiences with varying levels of mathematical sophistication
- Includes open-ended questions in special boxes to stimulate integrated thinking and class discussion
- Describes numerous examples of systems in science and society
- Captures the trend towards interdisciplinary research and problem solving
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