Design Research Methods for Systemic

Peter Jones, PhD Peter Jones, PhD OCAD University, Toronto OCAD University, Toronto Institute for 21st Century Agoras Institute for 21st Century Agoras ISSS 2014 July 31, 2014 ISSS 2014 July 31, 2014 Before methods, contexts.

• Systems science has preferred theories for system description (explanation), prediction (control), & intervention (change).

• Contributions of modern design disciplines ‐ industrial, information, –are marginal at best.

• “Design” as problem solving, or a process of system design

• Social as a template for in complex socially‐constructed domains.

• Which are (now) everything. Hugh Dubberly (& Nelson) argues that design processes are embodiments of systems thinking.

Banathy (& Gharajedaghi) advocate a designing orientation to social systems as designing.

22 Compatible philosophies, different generations.

Participatory Generation: First Second Third Fourth

Philosophy Rational Pragmatic Phenomenological Generative 1960’s 1970’s 1980’s 2000’s Methods Movement Instrumentality, and Generative, from craft to Methods stakeholder empathic & standardized customized to methods transdisciplinary methods context Design cognition

Authors Simon, Fuller Rittel, Jones Schon, Don Norman Dubberly, Sanders & trends Design Wicked problems, User‐centered & Generative , Evolution Service Design Planning Reflective action Systemic design

Systems Sciences, Natural systems System dynamics Complexity influences OR System dynamics Social systems Socio‐ecological Cybernetics Systems Soft systems Dialogic Design doesn’t really integrate systems thinking.

Tendency to adopt system thinking as method. Systems thinking influenced management practices similarly.

• System dynamics too positivist, analytical for design. • Externalizes systems as behaviors, but not artifactual • Senge, Meadows ignored design thinking • Incompatible with social systems • Ackoff school was not methodological, or “design‐endorsed”

• in practice often use what works & do not care about the pedigree Design thinking also deals with complexity.

Design must become more systemic – as we confront wicked problems.

Complex domains have > stakeholders

Design 1.0 Craft design, Advertising

Design 2.0 Industrial, Products, Web

Design 3.0 Organizational & institutional

Design 4.0 Distributed social systems Mixed stakeholders

What are equivalent units in systems theory?

25 10 Shared Design Principles

“The primary aim the two systems of thought share today is enabling organized high‐ leverage action in increasingly complex and systemic problems as design situations.”

Design Principle Design Methodologies Guidance for complex systems design from 1. Idealization systems,Iteration cybernetic & complexity principles. 2. Appreciating Complexity Sensemaking 3. Purpose finding FoundationSaliency ‐ Meaningfor practitioners‐making to enhance 4. Boundary framing engagementProvocation and and evolve strange better‐making practices. 5. Requisite variety Multiple perspectives 6. Feedback coordination ElicitedModeling from systems theoretic concepts, but 7. System ordering proposeStructuring no new theory. 8. Generative emergence Future projection 9. Continuous adaptation ElementsMultiple to reasoning form net modes new frameworks 10. Self‐organizing enablingCo‐creation integration of other concepts for specific design contexts. by outcome intent

Modes Design methods associated with principles

Principle Design Methodologies

1. Idealization Framing, Iteration 2. Appreciating Complexity Sensemaking 3. Purpose finding Saliency ‐ Meaning‐making 4. Boundary framing Provocation and strange‐making 5. Requisite variety Multiple perspectives 6. Feedback coordination Modeling 7. System ordering Structuring 8. Generative emergence Future projection 9. Continuous adaptation Multiple reasoning modes 10. Self‐organizing Co‐creation

We might also observe design of: Time (4), (3), Information (3) (Some) systemic methods by principles

Principle Systems Methodologies

1. Idealization Dialogic design, Idealized design 2. Appreciating Complexity Problematique 3. Purpose finding Function hierarchy 4. Boundary framing Critical system heuristics 5. Requisite variety System modeling 6. Feedback coordination System dynamics 7. System ordering Process models 8. Generative emergence Cellular automata 9. Continuous adaptation Intervention (leverage points) 10. Self‐organizing Dialogic design, Developmental Eval Possible system methods in design / Systems pairs

D4.0 Policy / Dialogic Design

D3.0 Org Process / Social Systems, Panarchy

D2.0 Practice & Information / Service Systems

D1.0‐2.0 Product, Comm / Activity Systems

31 GIGAMAPPING

32 Activity Systems Analysis / as Service Journey

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S O - O

C R Copyright © 2012, Peter JonesR C Service System Design / As Work Domain Analysis

34 Adaptive cycles in organizational design

35 Dialogic Design in Policy Making

What do we (stakeholders selected for requisite variety) agree are the deep drivers resisting change in the Canadian36 healthcare system? Shared wayview / systemics & design thinking

• Framing ‐ Refraining from premature problem solving • Iterative inquiry • Dialogic processes elicit depth of participation • By participants with stake in outcome • Selected for requisite variety to the problem

• Human centered –across contexts • Complexity embraced as reality in fuzzy situations • Multiple design actions over time • Temporality is critical to decision / intervention

• Understanding systemics does not assume design or action. • Design actions need not be systemic in every case! Design Languages for Systems Methods

Rheinfrank, J. and Evenson, S. Rheinfrank,From Winograd, J. and Evenson, Terry. 1996. S. Bringing design to software. New York: Addison‐Wesley. From Winograd, Terry. 1996. Bringing design to software. why has Systems Thinking ignored Design?

“Though a handful design thinkers have made some substantial contributions to systems thinking in general, hardly anybody has developed a systems practice from within design, specially informed by design thinking and design practice. This is remarkable when we compare us with other fields where proprietary adaptations of systems perspectives are normal.”

Birger Sevaldson, Oslo School Of & Design Giga‐Mapping: Visualisation For Complexity & Systems Thinking In Design Nordic Design Research Conference 2011

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