SIG: Human Systems Inquiry and Research

Welcome to the public SIG Page

SIG: Human Systems Inquiry and Research - Chair: Peter Tuddenham, Co-Chair: Katrina Kessler

Systems thinking can be quite clean and predictive...until you include those messy elements we call...humans. This SIG is dedicated to analysis and synthesis of systems that take the human factor into perspective, including our unique motivations, secret agendas, relationships and opinions. We're interested in your papers and presentations that help provide understanding of or at least exposure to the complexity of humans in corporations, family units, non-profits, government agencies and social structures.

Human systems inquiry builds upon the work in social systems design by Churchman, Ackoff and Checkland as well as the critical systems thinking work done by Jackson, Ulrich, Flood and Midgley.

Churchman has been the most articulate and most effective advocate of ethical systems theory and morality in human systems inquiry. Churchman says that systems inquiry must be value-oriented and it must be guided by the social imperative, which dictates that the technological efficiency must be subordinated to social efficiency.

The SIG was started by Arne Collen many years ago. He died in February 2012 Any current or former member or anyone with more history knowledge please let us know.

Purpose of the page

The purpose of the page is to engage with non-members and ISSS members on the activities of the Human Systems Inquiry and Research SIG.

SIG Activities

The activities of this SIG have varied over the years.

Presentation by Peter Tuddenham at ISSS 2023 Conference in Kruger National Park

Interconnected Earth: Advancing Systems Literacy through Systems Process Theory, and Conversation Theory, and AI-Enhanced Collaboration