The International Federation for Systems Research

Citation

(2007), "The International Federation for Systems Research", Kybernetes, Vol. 36 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.2007.06736bab.003

The International Federation for Systems Research

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the International Federation of systems Research (IFSR) its background, foundation, and its aims and goals are highlighted.

Background to IFSR

A good half a century ago, right after the end of the dreadful period from 1914 to 1945 comprising World War I, the World Economic crisis, and World War II, scientists such as Ludwig von Bertalanffy, Norbert Wiener and their colleagues found a response to the terrible events that killed tens of millions of people: holistic rather than fragmented thinking, decision making and action. They established two sciences to support humankind in the effort of meeting this end, which are a promising alternative to the worldwide and local crises. These sciences were Systems Theory and Cybernetics. System was and is the word entitled to represent the whole. One fights one-sidedness in order to survive. Nevertheless, every human must be specialized in a fragment of the immense huge knowledge humankind possesses today. Thus, one-sidedness is unavoidable and beneficial, too. But networking of many one-sided insights can help all of us overcome the weak sides of a narrow specialization. Thus, we all need a narrow professional capacity and add to it systemic/holistic thinking.

From this combination most modern equipment resulted, most modern knowledge in all spheres of human activity, solutions to environmental problems, etc. Most of the remaining problems can be ascribed to a lack of this combination, and there are many around that can hardly be solved without systems thinking and creative co-operation of diverse specialists.

Our responsibility for the future obliges us to try to improve the current situation and not to leave an excessive burden to future generation.

The founding of the IFSR

Since, a system, in its general abstract definition, is more than its parts as well more than the sum of its parts, it was decided to interlink groups of system thinkers around the world and to try to find answers to some of the pressing problems of the world.

On March 12, 1980 during the 5th EMCSR-Congress in Vienna three important societies in the area of systems research, the Osterreichische Studiengesellschaft fiir Kybemetik, the Systemgroup Nederland, and the Society for General System Research founded the International Federation for Systems Research....The key persons were: Robert Trappl, George J. Klir, Gerard de Zeeuw. They became the first officers of the IFSR.

Strong support came from the then Austrian Ministry of Science and; in the person of Norbert Rozsenich providing some financial support and F de. P. Hanika, taking the responsibility of Editor-in-Chief of the Newsletter of the IFSR.

Aims and goals of the IFRS

The constitution of the Federation states:

The aims of the Federation are to stimulate all activities associated with the scientific study of systems and to co-ordinate such activities at the international level... by:

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  co-coordinating systems research activities of private persons and/or organizations;

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  organizing international meetings, courses, workshops, and the like;

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  promoting international publications in the area of systems research;

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  promoting systems education;

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  maintaining standards and competence in systems research and education;

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  and any other means ... [to] serve the aims of the members.

The first Board Meeting in June 1980 defined the Federation's goals:

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  Social learning goal. Strengthen the programs of member societies by their involvement in the program and network of IFSR.

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  Membership development goal. Facilitate (encourage) the development of Systems science in countries in which such programs do not yet exist or are now developing.

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  Synergetic goal. Develop – implement – evaluate IFSR-level programs to meet the purposes of IFSR to advance systems science.

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  Resource development goal. Identify an inventory of system science relevant resources, acquire ... and make them accessible to member societies.

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  Global mission. Make contribution to the larger (global) scientific community, be of service to improve the (global) human condition, and enrich the quality of life of all.

Future plans of the IFRS

More than ever Systems Sciences are seen as a basis for balancing the divergent needs and interests between individuals and society worldwide, between ecology and economy, between nations of various levels of development and between differing worldviews.

The IFSR commits itself to increase its contributions answering the needs as expressed in its original aims and goals. Some new activities, in line with the needs and the challenges, have already been started:

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  The Bertalanffy Library. In cooperation with the Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science (led by W. Hofkirchner) the IFSR will both help to preserve, revive and disseminate systems concepts and knowledge in general and L.v. Bertalanffy's ideas and work on General Systems Theory in particular.

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  ESCO. The International Encyclopaedia of Systems and Cybernetics based on Charles Francois' seminal International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics. This work will be continued, supplemented electronically as an attempt clarify and reduce inconsistent terminology and semantics in the field,

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  The International Academy of Systems and Cybernetics (led by M. Mulej) as a forum for persons professionally excelling in System and Cybernetics Research.

The IFSR 200x Congress: The outstanding success of IFSR 2005 in Kobe, encourages the IFSR to organise a further IFSR-Congress in cooperation with one or more of its member organisations within the next two years.