Principles of Systems Science by George E Mobus

Principles of Systems Science by George E Mobus

This pioneering text provides a comprehensive introduction to systems structure, function, and modeling as applied in all fields of science and engineering. Systems understanding is increasingly recognized as a key to a more holistic education and greater problem solving skills, and is also reflected in the trend toward interdisciplinary approaches to research on complex phenomena. While the concepts and components of systems science will continue to be distributed throughout the various disciplines, undergraduate degree programs in systems science are also being developed, including at the authors’ own institutions. However, the subject is approached, systems science as a basis for understanding the components and drivers of phenomena at all scales should be viewed with the same importance as a traditional liberal arts education.

Principles of Systems Science contains many graphs, illustrations, side bars, examples, and problems to enhance understanding. Frombasic principles of organization, complexity, abstract representations, and behavior (dynamics) to deeper aspects such as the relations between information, knowledge, computation, and system control, to higher order aspects such as auto-organization, emergence and evolution, the book provides an integrated perspective on the comprehensive nature of systems. It ends with practical aspects such as systems analysis, computer modeling, and systems engineering that demonstrate how the knowledge of systems can be used to solve problems in the real world. Each chapter is broken into parts beginning with qualitative descriptions that stand alone for students who have taken intermediate algebra. The second part presents quantitative descriptions that are based on pre-calculus and advanced algebra, providing a more formal treatment for students who have the necessary mathematical background. Numerous examples of systems from every realm of life, including the physical and biological sciences,humanities, social sciences, engineering, pre-med and pre-law, are based on the fundamental systems concepts of boundaries, components as subsystems, processes as flows of materials, energy, and messages, work accomplished, functions performed, hierarchical structures, and more. Understanding these basics enables further understanding both of how systems endure and how they may become increasingly complex and exhibit new properties or characteristics.

• Serves as a textbook for teaching systems fundamentals in any discipline or for use in an introductory course in systems science degree programs
• Addresses a wide range of audiences with different levels of mathematical sophistication
• Includes open-ended questions in special boxes intended to stimulate integrated thinking and class discussion
• Describes numerous examples of systems in science and society
• Captures the trend towards interdisciplinary research and problem solving

“Principles of systems science consists of 14 chapters organized in five parts… This book is a feast--full of systems theory and sage guidance about systems practice.” (Ernest Hughes, Computing Reviews, computingreviews.com, August, 2016)

Michael C. Kalton is Professor of Liberal Studies at the University of Washington at Tacoma. Oaksook C. Kim is Director of the Korea Program at the University of California, Los Angeles. Sung Bae Park is Professor at the Center for Religious Studies, State University of New York at Stony Brook.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781493919192
ISBN 10	1493919199
Title	Principles of Systems Science
Author	George E Mobus
Series	Understanding Complex Systems
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Year published	2014-11-11
Number of pages	755
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.