This open access book explores a range of new and older systems mapping methods focused on representing causal relationships in systems. In a practical manner, it describes the methods and considers the differences between them; describes how to use them yourself; describes how to choose between and combine them; considers the role of data, evidence, and stakeholder opinion; and describes how they can be useful in a range of policy and research settings. This book provides a key starting point and general-purpose resource for understanding complex adaptive systems in practical, actionable, and participatory ways. The book successfully meets the growing need in a range of social, environmental, and policy challenges for a richer more nuanced, yet actionable and participatory understanding of the world. The authors provide a clear framework to alleviate any confusion about the use of appropriate terms and methods, enhance the appreciation of the value they can bring, and clearly explain the differences between approaches and the resulting outputs of mapping processes and analysis.

his tool kit is the result of a tailored engagement approach and training process that was carried with the Resilient Food Systems (RFS) country projects based on the SHARED approach. The process was initiated with a series of consultation interviews and was followed by a set of virtual training events customized to the priorities of the country projects. Reflections by country projects provided feedback on the training as well as insights for future engagement and inclusion of the SHARED tools, methods and approaches.

This fourth edition of the book attests to the Systems Theory Framework’s contemporary relevance. It introduces systems theory and the STF, overviews extant career theory, describes the STF’s applications, and highlights the STF’s contributions and future directions.

Advanced Geographic Information Systems is a component of Encyclopedia of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. The content of the Theme on Advanced Geographic Information Systems is organized with state-oc-the-art presentations covering the following aspects of the subject: Spatio-Temporal Information Systems; Interacting with GIS - From Paper Cartography to Virtual Environments; Spatial Data Management: Topic Overview; Introduction to Spatial Decision Support Systems; GIS Interoperability, from Problems to Solutions. These volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.

The Routledge International Handbook of Complexity Economics covers the historical developments and early concerns of complexity theorists and brings them into engagement with the world today. In this volume, a distinguished group of international scholars explore the state of the art of complexity economics, and how it may deliver new and relevant insights to the challenges of the 21st century. Complexity science started in 1899 when Henri Poincaré described the three-body problem. The first approaches in economics emerged somewhat later, in the 1980s, driven by the Brussels-Austin school. Since then, complexity economics has gone through numerous developments: departing from linear simplifications, applying physical algorithms, to evolutionary economics and big data. This book covers the basic principles and methods, and offers an overview of the various domains—ranging from diverse fields of productivity studies, agricultural economics, to monetary economics—as well as the current challenges such as climate change, epidemics and economic inequality where complexity economics can provide insight. It closes with a review of complexity political economy and policy. Offering a vibrant alternative to orthodox economics, this handbook is a crucial resource for advanced students, researchers and economists across the disciplines of heterodox economics, economic theory and econophysics.

Advanced Geographic Information Systems is a component of Encyclopedia of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. The content of the Theme on Advanced Geographic Information Systems is organized with state-oc-the-art presentations covering the following aspects of the subject: Spatio-Temporal Information Systems; Interacting with GIS - From Paper Cartography to Virtual Environments; Spatial Data Management: Topic Overview; Introduction to Spatial Decision Support Systems; GIS Interoperability, from Problems to Solutions. These volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The world is not that simple; it is a system, and systems thinkers understand that they can’t solve parts without considering the whole. The linear thinking mindset is also the basis for most of our current solutions that have failed because they do not address the system’s cause but merely its symptoms. For example, we spend billions of dollars trying to reduce teenage pregnancy, but unintended negative consequences are a result because we are treating the symptom but not the cause: abstinence from sex. If you treat only the symptoms, and ignore the causes, you will get only short-term or short-circuiting results. The approach is also the basis for ineffective public policy solutions in general. For example, many approaches to gun violence assume that if we prevent kids from having easy access to guns, then they won’t use them to kill people—and therefore, our problem will be solved. Of course, this ignores the fact that if a kid has easy access to a gun, he is more likely to use it to kill someone than if he did not have it at all. Another example is our approach to obesity. #2 Linear thinking, which is the basis for most of our current solutions, does not address the system’s cause but simply its symptoms. Systems thinking, in contrast, is based on the understanding that you can’t solve parts without considering the whole. #3 Systems thinking is the ability to understand the interconnections in a system in such a way as to achieve a desired purpose. It helps people understand the purpose a system is accomplishing, and prompts them to reflect on the difference between what they say they want and what they are actually producing. #4 Systems thinkers understand that you can’t solve parts without considering the whole. Causal feedback loops are the basis for most of our current solutions that have failed because they do not address the system’s cause but simply its symptoms.

Brings a powerful toolkit to bear on engineering and scientific endeavors. This book describes the fundamental principles of systems science so engineers and other scholars can put them into practical use at work and in their personal lives. Systems science aims to determine systemic similarities among different disciplines and to develop applicable solutions in many fields of inquiry. Systems Science for Engineers and Scholars readers will discover: Ten systems science principles that open engineers’ and scholars’ horizons to practical insights related to their areas of interest A methodology for designing holistic systems that exhibit resilient behavior to overcome systems’ context uncertainties The most critical current dilemma of humankind—the global environment and energy crises, as well as a systemic, no-nonsense action plan to deal with these issues Independent articles describing how engineers and scholars can utilize systems science creatively in (1) engineering and systemic psychology; (2) delivering value and resolving conflicts; (3) multi-objective, multi-agent decision-making; (4) systems engineering using category theory; (5) holistic risk management using systems of systems failures methodology; and (6) systemic accident and mishap analysis Systems Science for Engineers and Scholars contains a broad spectrum of insights as well as an extensive set of examples and graphics that make it ideal for professionals and students interested in a holistic, systems-oriented approach.

Information Systems Management is intended to sensitize the heads of organizations to the issues raised by information systems (IS). Through its pedagogical presentation, the book ensures that issues related to IS are not left solely to the experts in the field. The book combines and analyzes three key concepts of IS: governance, urbanization and alignment. While governance requires the implementation of a number of means, bodies and procedures to manage IS more effectively, urbanization involves visualization methods to enable the manager to take into account the different levels of the organization of an IS and their coherence. Finally, alignment assesses the ability of the IS to make a significant contribution to the organization's strategy.

Currently, population health science is an integral part of global academic curricula. For over a century, the principles of the reductionist paradigm have guided population health curricula, training, research, and action. Researchers continue to draw upon these principles when theorizing, conceptualizing, designing studies, analyzing, and devising interventions to tackle complex population health problems. However, unresolved impasses in addressing pressing population health challenges have catalyzed calls for the integration of complex-systems-science-grounded approaches into population health science. Mounting evidence denotes that a complex systems paradigm can bring about dramatic, multipronged changes for education and training, and lead to innovative research, interventions, and policies. Despite the large and untapped promise of complex systems, the haphazard knowledge base from which academics, researchers, students, policymakers, and practitioners can draw has slowed their integration into the population health sciences. This volume fulfils this growing need by providing the knowledge base necessary to introduce a holistic complex systems paradigm in population health science. As such, it is the first comprehensive book in population health science that meaningfully integrates complex systems theory, methodology, modeling, computational simulation, and real-world applications, while incorporating current population health theoretical, methodological and analytical perspectives. It is intended as a programmatic primer across a broad spectrum of population health stakeholders: from university professors and graduate students, to researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.