Preface

Citation

Rudall, B.H. (2004), "Preface", Kybernetes, Vol. 33 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.2004.06733baa.001

Preface

This special issue on Grey systems theory and its applications has been compiled by our guest editors – Mian-Yun Chen, Sifeng Liu and Yi Lin. It contains contributions by some of the leading researchers in this fascinating study.

The first paper published in this issue clearly introduces the state-of-the-art of the theory, founded in the 1980s and named grey systems. It also provides an historical review of their development. This enables the invited contributors to discuss some of the more specific advances and applications in the following 35 papers.

One of the main reasons why this subject was chosen was that it is a much misunderstood concept and one that required a more formal treatment than it has received in the literature. Sifeng Liu and Yi Lin have already attempted to remedy this by publishing in 1998, a book which offered an introduction to the foundations, methodology and applications of grey systems. The guest editors were also instrumental in organising the successful symposia on grey systems theory, methodology and applications at the 12th Joint Conference of the World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics (WOSC), and the International Institute of General Systems Studies (IIGSS). The event was held at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, in March 2002. It was at this conference that the Co-Chairman Dr Yi Lin and the symposia participants planned this special double issue of Kybernetes as a means of presenting to a much wider audience the developments in this field.

Cyberneticians and systemists are now given the opportunity of benefiting from the further research and the discussions that are presented in this compilation. Where possible, the subject has been dealt with in a formal, often mathematical manner, and in consequence, it provides a clear understanding for those who may not be familiar with its concepts. We know that the theory has been applied to numerous fields and disciplines and a detailed consideration of these will undoubtedly help our understanding of the concept of greyness and the contemporary theory of grey systems.

We are most grateful to the guest editors of this special issue, together with the invited authors, for compiling what we believe, will be a valuable contribution to this branch of science which is of such importance to systems and cybernetics.

Brian H. RudallEditor-in-Chief