In 1956, Kenneth Boulding explained the concept of General Systems Theory as a skeleton of
science. He describes that it hopes to develop something like a “spectrum” of theories—a
system of systems which may perform the function of a “gestalt” in theoretical construction.
Such “gestalts” in special fields have been of great value in directing research towards the gaps
which they reveal.
There were, at that time, other important conceptual frameworks and theories, such as
cybernetics. Additional theories and applications developed later, including synergetics,
cognitive science, complex adaptive systems, and many others. Some focused on principles
within specific domains of knowledge and others crossed areas of knowledge and practice,
along the spectrum described by Boulding.
Also in 1956, the Society for General Systems Research (now the International Society for
the Systems Sciences) was founded. One of the concerns of the founders, even then, was the
state of the human condition, and what science could do about it.
The present Translational Systems Sciences book series aims at cultivating a new frontier
of systems sciences for contributing to the need for practical applications that benefit people.
The concept of translational research originally comes from medical science for enhancing
human health and well-being. Translational medical research is often labeled as “Bench to
Bedside.” It places emphasis on translating the findings in basic research (at bench) more
quickly and efficiently into medical practice (at bedside). At the same time, needs and
demands from practice drive the development of new and innovative ideas and concepts. In
this tightly coupled process it is essential to remove barriers to multi-disciplinary
collaboration.
The present series attempts to bridge and integrate basic research founded in systems
concepts, logic, theories and models with systems practices and methodologies, into a process
of systems research. Since both bench and bedside involve diverse stakeholder groups,
including researchers, practitioners and users, translational systems science works to create
common platforms for language to activate the “bench to bedside” cycle.
In order to create a resilient and sustainable society in the twenty-first century, we
unquestionably need open social innovation through which we create new social values,
and realize them in society by connecting diverse ideas and developing new solutions. We
assume three types of social values, namely: (1) values relevant to social infrastructure such as
safety, security, and amenity; (2) values created by innovation in business, economics, and
management practices; and, (3) values necessary for community sustainability brought about
by conflict resolution and consensus building.
The series will first approach these social values from a systems science perspective by
drawing on a range of disciplines in trans-disciplinary and cross-cultural ways. They may
include social systems theory, sociology, business administration, management information
science, organization science, computational mathematical organization theory, economics,
evolutionary economics, international political science, jurisprudence, policy science, socioinformation studies, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, complex adaptive systems theory, philosophy of science, and other related disciplines. In addition, this series will promote
translational systems science as a means of scientific research that facilitates the translation of
findings from basic science to practical applications, and vice versa.
We believe that this book series should advance a new frontier in systems sciences by
presenting theoretical and conceptual frameworks, as well as theories for design and application, for twenty-first-century socioeconomic systems in a translational and trans-disciplinary
context.
More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/11213
science. He describes that it hopes to develop something like a “spectrum” of theories—a
system of systems which may perform the function of a “gestalt” in theoretical construction.
Such “gestalts” in special fields have been of great value in directing research towards the gaps
which they reveal.
There were, at that time, other important conceptual frameworks and theories, such as
cybernetics. Additional theories and applications developed later, including synergetics,
cognitive science, complex adaptive systems, and many others. Some focused on principles
within specific domains of knowledge and others crossed areas of knowledge and practice,
along the spectrum described by Boulding.
Also in 1956, the Society for General Systems Research (now the International Society for
the Systems Sciences) was founded. One of the concerns of the founders, even then, was the
state of the human condition, and what science could do about it.
The present Translational Systems Sciences book series aims at cultivating a new frontier
of systems sciences for contributing to the need for practical applications that benefit people.
The concept of translational research originally comes from medical science for enhancing
human health and well-being. Translational medical research is often labeled as “Bench to
Bedside.” It places emphasis on translating the findings in basic research (at bench) more
quickly and efficiently into medical practice (at bedside). At the same time, needs and
demands from practice drive the development of new and innovative ideas and concepts. In
this tightly coupled process it is essential to remove barriers to multi-disciplinary
collaboration.
The present series attempts to bridge and integrate basic research founded in systems
concepts, logic, theories and models with systems practices and methodologies, into a process
of systems research. Since both bench and bedside involve diverse stakeholder groups,
including researchers, practitioners and users, translational systems science works to create
common platforms for language to activate the “bench to bedside” cycle.
In order to create a resilient and sustainable society in the twenty-first century, we
unquestionably need open social innovation through which we create new social values,
and realize them in society by connecting diverse ideas and developing new solutions. We
assume three types of social values, namely: (1) values relevant to social infrastructure such as
safety, security, and amenity; (2) values created by innovation in business, economics, and
management practices; and, (3) values necessary for community sustainability brought about
by conflict resolution and consensus building.
The series will first approach these social values from a systems science perspective by
drawing on a range of disciplines in trans-disciplinary and cross-cultural ways. They may
include social systems theory, sociology, business administration, management information
science, organization science, computational mathematical organization theory, economics,
evolutionary economics, international political science, jurisprudence, policy science, socioinformation studies, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, complex adaptive systems theory, philosophy of science, and other related disciplines. In addition, this series will promote
translational systems science as a means of scientific research that facilitates the translation of
findings from basic science to practical applications, and vice versa.
We believe that this book series should advance a new frontier in systems sciences by
presenting theoretical and conceptual frameworks, as well as theories for design and application, for twenty-first-century socioeconomic systems in a translational and trans-disciplinary
context.
More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/11213