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General Systems Theory: Its Present and Potential

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  • David Rousseau

Abstract

In the first part of this paper, I present a brief overview of contemporary research addressing key questions about General Systems Theory (GST), such as what it is, what form it might take, whether developing it is a realistic prospect, how close we are to having it and what practical activities could help us develop it further. In the second part, I consider the early general systemists' ambition to leverage GST to build a ‘better world’, and address the question of what could be meant by this, from a systems perspective. I argue that GST should have a key role in working towards such a world. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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  • David Rousseau, 2015. "General Systems Theory: Its Present and Potential," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(5), pages 522-533, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:srbeha:v:32:y:2015:i:5:p:522-533
    DOI: 10.1002/sres.2354
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kenneth E. Boulding, 1956. "General Systems Theory--The Skeleton of Science," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 2(3), pages 197-208, April.
    2. David Rousseau & Jennifer Wilby, 2014. "Moving from Disciplinarity to Transdisciplinarity in the Service of Thrivable Systems," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 666-677, September.
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