International Scientific Journal
of Methods and Models of Complexity
ISJ
M&MC
An Interdisciplinary Journal for Research of
Complexity
A continuation of the Dutch
Journal Tijdschrift voor Informatica en Modelbouw
Published on Internet by SISWO
http://www.fss.uu.nl/ms/cvd/isj
ISSN- 0928-3137
June 2002
Special
on Chaos Theory
The June 2002 issue of the
‘International Scientific Journal of Methods and Models of Complexity’ is a
special issue on Chaos Theory, more specific Chaos Theory applied to the
Social Sciences. Although introduced already in the early nineties in the
Social Sciences (Dijkum, van & DeTombe, 1992), the ideas of Chaos Theory have
been scarcely applied up to now. Right from the start the ideas of Chaos
Theory were creatively applied to all kinds of situations. Some scientists
applied thoroughly thought over concepts to real life problems, some scientist
and practitioners applied it as free creative ideas, which might bring up new
views towards real life problems. The way Chaos Theory is applied in the
Social Sciences still shows that the ideas of Chaos Theory are not yet clearly
crystallized in this field. Chaos Theory still functions in the Social
Sciences as a container theory from which each scientist can use the ideas and
concepts that suits her or him. This is shown by the fact that the different
words point to the same concepts and the same words point to different
concepts. Practitioners tend to popularize the ideas of the Chaos Theory in a
way often not approved by theoretical scientist.
Interdisciplinary integration
of ideas and theories has been shown to be a fruitful way of extending the
knowledge of a discipline. Modeling Complexity, including the complexity of
real life problems, is difficult and need all effort and help that science can
offer. Not only by applying the disciplinary knowledge but also by applying
interdisciplinary knowledge (DeTombe, Dorien J. & Cor van Dijkum, 1996;
DeTombe, 2001).
The latter providing a good
extension of now-a days scientific knowledge, however, only if applied in the
right way.
Using the ideas of Chaos
Theory applied to the Social Sciences in handling real life complex problems
is a fruitful way in trying to extend the knowledge of the world. Using
theoretical ideas from another field of science can be very fruitful and
functions as an eye opener. It really can bring disciplinary knowledge a step
further. However, this should be done carefully taken into consideration all
the consequences of the use of the theory, avoiding misconceptions and
confusion. In this way the application of the ideas of the Chaos Theory to the
Social Sciences is still in its infancy.
In this special issue on Chaos
Theory we publish three articles of scientists each with a different use of
the ideas of Chaos Theory applied to real life problems.
Dr. Jorgen A. Jensen of the Danish University
of Education, Denmark, and dr. Ole E. Rasmussen of the University of
Copenhagen, Denmark, described in their article ‘Types of problem solving
activity in a complex environment: Steps towards modeling by a cuspcatastrophe’
a thorough scientific research in which they use concepts of Chaos Theory for
training students in Denmark with a simulation model for entrepreneur tasks.
The students learn these complex tasks in a dynamic task environment. Jensen &
Rasmussen use the concept of catastrophe theory, which describes bifurcation
systems not yet moved into chaos. The focus of the article is on testing the
simulation model for training.
Dr. Tomas Backström of the National
Institute for Working Life and Dr Peter Ladan of Ericsson Telecom AB, both of
Stockholm, Sweden extend in their theoretical article ‘Knowledge Matrix – a
transformative organization’ the knowledge of applying the ideas of Chaos
Theory to an other discipline in a scientific responsible way by discussing
the question under which circumstances an organization can be an
transformative organization. Based on the idea that complex adaptive systems
prove that complex behavior is only possible at the edge of chaos, Backström &
Ladan say that a organization can be a transformative organization when it is
on the edge of chaos. However to be a fruitful transformation the organization
must meet at least three conditions: first equilibrium between organization
memory and the dynamical creative behavior of the members, second most members
should go in the same direction and third managers should give room to these
processes.
Dr. Frans M. van Eijnaten & drs.
Maarten C. van Galen both of the Technical University of Eindhoven,
The Netherlands, have a creative view on Chaos Theory in their article: ‘The
Dolphin Attractor. Dialogue for Emergent New order in a Dutch Manufacturing
Firm’. They apply in an artistic way the ideas of Chaos Theory on management
strategy. They describe in their article the results of workshops applying the
ideas of Chaos Theory on the strategy of a Dutch manufacturing firm. In their
article Eijnatten & Van Galen use metaphors of fishes. The strategy of the
Carp: avoiding and compromising. The strategy of the Shark: win again any
costs. The strategy of the Dolphin, win-win strategy. Eijnatten & Van Galen
argue in favor of a win-win strategy calling this the Dolphin approach.
The editors of the Journal ISJ M&MC thank the
reviewers for their advice to improve the articles.
References:
Dijkum, van, C. & D. J.
de Tombe (red.) (1992) Gamma Chaos. Onzekerheid en orde in de
menswetenschappen. Bloemendaal: Aramith uitgevers, 173 pp. ISBN
90-68341057
DeTombe, Dorien J. & Cor van Dijkum
(Eds.) (1996) Analyzing Societal
Problems. A Methodological Approach. Mering: Rainer Hampp Verlag, 300 pp.
ISBN 3-87988-189-8
DeTombe, Dorien J. (Guest Editor) (2001) Feature Issue: Complex Societal
Problems, European Journal of Operation Research; D.J. Slowinski, R.
Teghem, J. Wallenius, J. (Eds). Vol. 128-2, January 16, 2001, Elsevier,
North-Holland, Amsterdam, ISSN 0377-2217, pp.227-401
About the Journal
ISJ M&MC
The ‘International Scientific Journal of Methods and Models of Complexity’
deals with the question how complex real life problems can be analyzed and
handled with scientific methods and models. Because such problems most of the
time cannot be handled by one discipline, the journal is interdisciplinary.
Contributions may come from the social and natural sciences that practice
interdisciplinary research of complex problems. In the past articles are
published with topics as 'Policy making for complex problems', 'Participative
Model building in Healthcare', 'Complex System Theory for Analysis of
Locomotion', 'Non Linear Models for Economy', 'From Information to
Communication', 'Logistic Modeling for Complex Situations', 'Computer
Simulation of Chaos and Order', 'Evaluation of Future Predictions'.
The publication of the International Scientific Journal
of Methods and Models of Complexity will be four times a year. Two referees
will review the submitted articles, and on their advice the editors will
decide about the publication. From time to time a special edition on a theme
will be published.
This journal is supported by:
The Dutch
research Group on Simulation*
The Dutch research group on Methodology
for Complex Societal Problems*
The Dutch research group on
Socio-Cybernetics*
The Dutch Institute for Social Science
Research (SISWO)
The International Research Group of
‘'Methodology of Complex Societal Problems' of the 'European Federation of
Operational Research Science'.
Chief Editors: Dr. C van Dijkum, Department
of Methodology and Statistics, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
Dr. D. J. DeTombe, Euro Chair Operational
Research Group Complex Societal Problems, the Netherlands
Articles can be send by E-mail (MS Word
or pdf format) to:
Dr. C van Dijkum, Department of Methodology
and Statistics, Heidelberglaan 2
PO Box 80.140, 3508 TC, Utrecht University,
The Netherlands, Europe
E-Mail:
c.vandijkum@fss.uu.nl
http://www.fss.uu.nl/ms/cvd/isj
or to
Dr.
Dorien DeTombe
Chair International Research Society on Methodology of
Societal Complexity
P.O.
Box. 3286, 1001 AB
Amsterdam, The
Netherlands,
Europe
Tel: +31 20
6927526
E-Mail: DeTombe@lri.jur.uva.nl
http://www.geocities.com/doriendetombe
*All groups of the
‘Dutch Association of Researchers of Methodology of the Social Sciences’ (NOSMO)
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Dorien J. DeTombe, All rights reserved, update Oktober 2005