Social Systems Engineering : The Design of Complexity

Social Systems Engineering: The Design of Complexity Cesar Garcia-Diaz and Camilo Olaya, Department of Industrial Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia A systematic approach to social system design from an engineering perspective Social systems are purposeful collectives of free individuals who are organised through diverse and dynamic relationships. Permeated by the way in which natural systems are studied, scientific activities in the social sciences seek to explain, and sometimes to predict, the behaviour of social systems, usually through the technical analysis of observations, either quantitative or qualitative, or both. Social Systems Engineering introduces the characteristic elements of engineering for improving social systems. Presenting various engineering methods and tools for accomplishing effective action in complex settings, this book provides illustrative cases that show how and why an engineering approach may achieve successful results. Key features: * Provides a rationale for using engineering epistemologies as a way for effective action in social systems * Emphasises the role of locality and contingency in the study and improvement of social systems * Explores a wide variety of applications areas such as urban systems, health care systems, and industrial ecosystems, together with modelling examples to explore the design aspect of social systems. * Highlights the use of computational models and the development of portfolios of solutions in systems design. This book provides a useful resource to academics and graduate students in business and management, the social sciences, computer science, and industrial engineering as well as practitioners in consulting companies, government departments and analytics professionals in the private sector.