From Complexity in the Natural Sciences to Complexity in Operations Management Systems

From Complexity in the Natural Sciences to Complexity in Operations Management Systems
Author: Jean-Pierre Briffaut
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 238
Release: 2019-04-30
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 178630368X

Although complexity makes up the very fabric of our daily lives and has been more or less addressed in a wide variety of knowledge fields, the approaches developed in the Natural Sciences and the results obtained over the past century have not yet permeated Management Sciences very much. The main features of the phenomena that the Natural Sciences deal with are: non-linear behavior, self-organization and chaos. They are analyzed with the framing of what is called “systems thinking”, popularized by the mindset pertaining to cybernetics. All pioneers in systems thinking either had direct or indirect connections with Biology, which is the discipline considered complex par excellence by the public. When applying these concepts to Operations Management Systems and modeling organizations by BDI (Beliefs, Desires, Intentions) agents, the lack of predictability in the conduct of change management that is prone to bifurcations (tipping points) in terms of organizational structures and in forecasting future activities, reveals them to be ingrained in the interplay of complexity and chaos.

Knowledge Production Modes between Science and Applications 2

Knowledge Production Modes between Science and Applications 2
Author: Jean-Claude Andre
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 178
Release: 2024-09-04
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 139428411X

Inventing isn’t easy! After identifying and presenting the 12 "valleys of death", the real obstacles limiting the transition from an original idea to an innovative one, including the notion of socially responsible research, Knowledge Production Modes between Science and Applications 2 applies the concepts introduced in Volume 1. The book starts off with 3D printing, which has essentially broken through all barriers by offering remarkable advantages over existing mechanical technology. The situation is different for 4D printing and bio-printing. First of all, we need to tackle the complexity inherent in these processes, and move away from disciplinarity to find robust, applicable solutions, despite the obstacles. This is possible in niche areas, but currently, low profitability still limits their general applicability and the willingness of researchers to embrace interdisciplinary convergence....

Complexities 2

Complexities 2
Author: Jean-Pierre Briffaut
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 292
Release: 2024-05-29
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1394297467

Awareness of complexity in science and technology dates back to the 1970s. However, all social systems tend to develop structures that become more complex over time, be it within families, tribes, cities, states, or societal and economic organizations. Complexities 2 covers a broad array of fields, from justice and linguistics to education and organizational management. The aim of this book is to show, without aiming to provide a comprehensive overview, the diversity of approaches and behaviors towards the obstacle of complexity in understanding and achieving human actions. When we see complexity as the incompleteness of knowledge and the uncertainty of the future, we realize that simplifying is not an adequate approach to complexity, even in the humanities and social sciences. This book explores the relationship between order and disorder in this field of knowledge.

Complexities 1

Complexities 1
Author: Jean-Pierre Briffaut
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 153
Release: 2023-11-20
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1394255497

Complexity is not a new issue. In fact, in their day, William of Ockham and René Descartes proposed what can best be described as reductionist methods for dealing with it. Over the course of the twentieth century, a science of complexity has emerged in an ever-increasing number of fields (computer science, artificial intelligence, engineering, among others), and has now become an integral part of everyday life. As a result, everyone is confronted with increasingly complex situations that need to be understood and analyzed from a global perspective, to ensure the sustainability of our common future. Complexities 1 analyzes how complexity is understood and dealt with in the fields of cybersecurity, medicine, mathematics and information. This broad spectrum of disciplines shows that all fields of knowledge are challenged by complexity. The following volume, Complexities 2, examines the social sciences and humanities in relation to complexity.

Knowledge Production Modes between Science and Applications 1

Knowledge Production Modes between Science and Applications 1
Author: Jean-Claude Andre
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 141
Release: 2024-02-28
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1394275846

Inventing isn’t easy! In this book, twelve “valleys of death” are identified which, following a linear approach, correspond to the various obstacles that limit the various passages from an original idea to invention, and then to industrial innovation. These various limiting factors have a variety of origins: disciplined scientific training, weak general and scientific culture, New Public Management, hierarchical support, funding, evaluation, proof of concepts, complexity management, and heuristic and interdisciplinary approaches on the one hand, and attractiveness for the new on the other. After an idea is formulated, these contexts bring small elements of science into play, but above all human aspects ranging from motivation and the quality of exchanges to responsibility. In short, it is a possible dynamic way of living together to promote innovations stemming from science. This is not easy, but if the invention is profitable for society, the downstream sector can greatly facilitate the various stages of commercialization.

Control in System Dynamics

Control in System Dynamics
Author: Alain Oustaloup
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 468
Release: 2024-10-30
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1394332688

In order to ensure a pedagogical presentation of the fundamentals, this book, which is based on 45 years of experience, endeavors to identify the main principles of the control scheme and its dynamics. The control loop is extensively developed because of the reference it constitutes in control. By establishing the control loop as equivalent to any other control or, more precisely, by making an elementary control loop appear, it becomes possible to reveal a part of this loop in other controls and, thanks to its regulator, qualitatively evaluate the control strategy. A comparative analysis then shows that the complexification of the control scheme does not necessarily go hand in hand with a better control strategy and therefore a better performance. Since robustness results from innovations in terms of performance desensitization, the CRONE control is presented, in view of the genuine domains of uncertainty taken into account and the small number of parameters to be optimized. The educational nature of this book is enhanced by numerous solved problems that develop examples of synthesis of different controls. Control in System Dynamics is intended for a very wide audience, including engineers, researchers, teachers and students hoping to expand their knowledge of control and dynamics in automatic control.

Technologies and African Societies in Pandemic Times

Technologies and African Societies in Pandemic Times
Author: Saikou Diallo
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 212
Release: 2023-08-15
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 178630452X

In February 2020, the Coronavirus pandemic became a worldwide health emergency, and in April of that year, the ITU and the WHO created a joint declaration to show their commitment to using ICTs to overcome the pandemic. Technologies and African Societies in Pandemic Times explores the impact of Covid-19 on African societies in North and West Africa through the lens of technology and social media. The authors of this book highlight how everyday people dealt with the pandemic from its onset, through the process of the development of the vaccine and to its eventual dissemination. This book tells stories of survival, of coping and, eventually, of economically thriving. The authors also describe how, in this extremely challenging moment for humanity, people used music, art and social media to reinvent the community, to share joy and pain and to try to remain connected.

4D Printing, Volume 2

4D Printing, Volume 2
Author: Frederic Demoly
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 324
Release: 2022-09-14
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 139417151X

Who hasn’t dreamed of seeing matter transformed in a way that suits you? This is the goal of 4D printing, using materials that can change in terms of shape and property under the effect of energy stimulation. From the description of the actions and actuators, the authors show the weaknesses that limit the industrialization of 4D printing processes; these are the modes of energy stimulation. To prepare for the future, two chapters are introduced: “Material-Process Duality in Industrial 4D Printing” and “How to Approach 4D Printing in Design”. If the capture and reuse of 4D printing knowledge is necessary for this objective, the conclusion leaves the existing myth around the 4D printing theme and proposes a “draft” roadmap that should be the subject of reflection and scientific debate on a concept that is still immature, but full of promise.

Complexity Science in Air Traffic Management

Complexity Science in Air Traffic Management
Author: Andrew Cook
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 188
Release: 2016-06-03
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1317162730

Air traffic management (ATM) comprises a highly complex socio-technical system that keeps air traffic flowing safely and efficiently, worldwide, every minute of the year. Over the last few decades, several ambitious ATM performance improvement programmes have been undertaken. Such programmes have mostly delivered local technological solutions, whilst corresponding ATM performance improvements have fallen short of stakeholder expectations. In hindsight, this can be substantially explained from a complexity science perspective: ATM is simply too complex to address through classical approaches such as system engineering and human factors. In order to change this, complexity science has to be embraced as ATM's 'best friend'. The applicability of complexity science paradigms to the analysis and modelling of future operations is driven by the need to accommodate long-term air traffic growth within an already-saturated ATM infrastructure. Complexity Science in Air Traffic Management is written particularly, but not exclusively, for transport researchers, though it also has a complementary appeal to practitioners, supported through the frequent references made to practical examples and operational themes such as performance, airline strategy, passenger mobility, delay propagation and free-flight safety. The book should also have significant appeal beyond the transport domain, due to its intrinsic value as an exposition of applied complexity science and applied research, drawing on examples of simulations and modelling throughout, with corresponding insights into the design of new concepts and policies, and the understanding of complex phenomena that are invisible to classical techniques.

4D Printing, Volume 1

4D Printing, Volume 1
Author: Frederic Demoly
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 372
Release: 2022-09-21
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1786307316

Any time objects and their (self-)organization are to be put into use, their models and methods of thinking as well as their designing and manufacturing need to be reinvented. 4D printing is a future technology that is capable of bringing 3D objects to life. This ability, which gives objects the power to change shape or properties over time through energy stimulation from active materials and additive manufacturing, makes it possible to envisage technological breakthroughs while challenging the relationship between people and objects. 4D Printing 1 presents the different facets of this technology, providing an objective, critical and even disruptive viewpoint to enable its existence and development, and to stimulate the creative drive that industry, society and humanity need in the perpetual quest for evolution and transformation.