An Introduction to General Systems ThinkingFor more than twenty-five years, An Introduction to General Systems Thinking has been hailed as an innovative introduction to systems theory, with applications in computer science and beyond. Used in university courses and professional seminars all over the world, the text has proven its ability to open minds and sharpen thinking.Originally published in 1975 and reprinted more than twenty times over a quarter century-and now available for the first time from Dorset House Publishing-the text uses clear writing and basic algebraic principles to explore new approaches to projects, products, organizations, and virtually any kind of system.Scientists, engineers, organization leaders, managers, doctors, students, and thinkers of all disciplines can use this book to dispel the mental fog that clouds problem-solving. As author Gerald M. Weinberg writes in the new Preface to the Silver Anniversary Edition, "I haven't changed my conviction that most people don't think nearly as well as they could had they been taught some principles of thinking."Now an award-winning author of nearly forty books spanning the entire software development life cycle-including The Psychology of Computer Programming: Silver Anniversary Edition and Exploring Requirements (with Donald C. Gause)-Weinberg had already acquired extensive experience as a programmer, manager, university professor, and consultant when this book was originally published.With helpful illustrations, numerous end-of-chapter exercises, and an appendix on a mathematical notation used in problem-solving, An Introduction to General Systems Thinking may be your most powerful tool in working with problems, systems, and solutions. |
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adaptation analog computers analogy analysis Anatol Rapoport anthropologist biological black box boundary brilligance Cartesian product caste chronological graphs complementarity complete concept course cycle decomposition depends digits Dimensional Analysis directed graph Discuss equations equifinal example function generalist give granfalloon hand idea input interaction inventor Kenneth Boulding line of behavior look Ludwig von Bertalanffy machine mass mathematical mean measurements mechanics medium number metaphor method mimsy music box never NOTATIONAL EXERCISES observer OCCULT club organization pairs particular partition passenger pigeon physical physicist point of view possible precisely Principle of Indifference problem properties question random recognize reduce scientific scientists sequence simply simulation space specific stability state-determined structure superobserver systems laws Systems Research Systems Theory systems thinking Systems Yearbook temperature theory things thought tions transformation understand University variables Weinberg white box words York