Esa Saarinen

On the importance of behavioral operational research: The case of understanding and communicating about dynamic systems

We point out the need for Behavioral Operational Research (BOR) in advancing the practice of OR. So far, in OR behavioral phenomena have been acknowledged only in behavioral decision theory but behavioral issues are always present when supporting human problem solving by modeling. Behavioral effects can relate to the group interaction and communication when facilitating with OR models as well as to the possibility of procedural mistakes and cognitive biases. As an illustrative example we use well known system dynamics studies related to the understanding of accumulation. We show that one gets completely opposite results depending on the way the phenomenon is described and how the questions are phrased and graphs used. The results suggest that OR processes are highly sensitive to various behavioral effects. As a result, we need to pay attention to the way we communicate about models as they are being increasingly used in addressing important problems like climate change.

Acting with systems intelligence: integrating complex responsive processes with the systems perspective

The systems thinking literature assumes that the concept of a system is useful in management and organizational research. Ralph D. Stacey and his collaborators, however, have questioned this. They have presented the theory of complex responsive processes (CRP) as an alternative to systems thinking. We argue that systems thinking and the CRP perspective are complementary. The CRP illuminates many of the micro-behavioural, local interaction and creativity-related organizational phenomena whereas the systems perspective is useful for other purposes. CRP misses the mark in its criticism of systems thinking. The insights of CRP should and could be incorporated, not switched, with the systems perspective. The systems intelligence perspective, proposed by Hämäläinen and Saarinen, provides a framework to accomplish that. By integrating systems thinking and the CRP model we hope to provide a platform from which it is possible to appreciate the relative merits of the two apparently conflicting strands of thought.

Philosophy for Managers: Reflections of a Practitioner

The aim of this article is to describe the significance and key challenges of philosophy for managers as perceived on the basis of a particular understanding of philosophy and my personal experience as a practitioner.The paper will be more visionary than argumentative. I recognise there are important alternative approaches but I will not engage in detailed analysis of them.2Drawing heavily on my own experience, the paper will present an outline and meta-philosophy of philosophical practices that have proven useful in actual interface with practising managers.

Backwards-Looking Operators in Tense Logic and in Natural Language

This paper contains two parts. In the first one, we shall argue that in the tense system of English there are particles which are best analysed as, what we call, backwards-looking operators. By means of these operators (whose formal counterparts are to a large extent new in the literature) we shall establish the following limiting thesis concerning an adequate semantics for English tenses: For all natural numbers n, the semantics should have a capacity to keep track of n, points introduced earlier in an evaluation. In the second part of this paper, we shall present a formal language which contains operators of this new kind. We formulate explicit model theory for this formal language in Hintikka’s game-theoretical semantics. This semantical approach is sufficiently rich to satisfy the condition laid down by the limiting thesis mentioned.

Quantifier Phrases are (at Least) Five Ways Ambiguous in Intensional Contexts

This paper discusses various ambiguities which arise when quantifier phrases interact with intensional verbs. We shall try to demonstrate that (at least) five different kinds of ambiguities can be isolated.

Mathematical modeling is more than fitting equations

Comments on the comments made by Brown et al. (see record 2013-24609-001). The article by Brown et al. regarding the Fredrickson and Losada (see record 2005-11834-001) article discussed the use of differential equations in science and repeated our earlier observation (Luoma, Hämäläinen, & Saarinen, 2008) that there is lack of justification for the use of the Lorenz equations in the latter article. In this comment we want to point out that Brown et al. presented a very narrow view on mathematical modeling in behavioral research. We describe how the conceptual use of mathematical models is essential in many fields.

Systems intelligence inventory

Purpose Systems intelligence (SI) (Saarinen and Hamalainen, 2004) is a construct defined as a person’s ability to act intelligently within complex systems involving interaction and feedback. SI relates to our ability to act in systems and reason about systems to adaptively carry out productive actions within and with respect to systems such as organizations, family and everyday life. This paper aims to develop an inventory to measure the SI construct. Design/methodology/approach A combination of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were carried out using data from self-report questionnaires. Findings Eight factors labeled systemic perception, attunement, attitude, spirited discovery, reflection, wise action, positive engagement and effective responsiveness are identified as the main components of SI. SI has associations with emotional intelligence but also captures additional dimensions. People in supervisor positions are found to score higher in a number of the SI factors. Originality/value A new measure is developed to evaluate and develop our ability to succeed in systemic contexts. The new measure is suggested to be particularly applicable in organizational contexts. It is directly related to the original core disciplines of the learning organization as described by Senge (1990), in particular personal mastery and systems thinking.

The Systems Metaphor in Therapy Discourse: Introducing Systems Intelligence

Following the relational turn in psychoanalytic theorizing, the systems metaphor has increasingly become a part of the therapeutic vocabulary. This has led to a view of therapy as an ongoing process in which the mutual interplay between the analyst and the patient cocreates a systemic higher level dimension that is based on bidirectional and jointly coordinated, simultaneous forms of interaction that influence the mental processes and regulatory patterns of both of the participants thus creating possibilities for creative therapeutic interventions. However, the objectivistic overtones of the systems metaphor can lead to reifying interpretations of the therapeutic encounter and to a failure to acknowledge its intrinsically subtle context-bound nuances and often idiosyncratic possibilities. This pitfall is avoided by introducing into therapeutic discourse the concept of systems intelligence, which integrates systems thinking with subjectivistic and intersubjectivistic parameters. By emphasizing the analysts embeddedness within the systemic wholeness of the therapeutic situation and her sensibilities-based abilities to act intelligently in it, systems intelligence provides a humanly tuned meta-understanding for the systemic aspects of the therapist in action. Analytic therapists tolerate uncertainty, find meaning in apparently disordered communication, and embrace the unexpected twists and turns that emerge from intimate attention to the ordinary complexities of everyday life. These are hallmarks of a psychoanalytic sensibility that spans various theoretical persuasions. Non-linear dynamic systems embodies the same sensibilities: It emphasizes such descriptions as pattern, complexity, flux and flow, the interplay of ambiguity and order, stability and instability, and the natural value of uncertainty and generative chaos. — Seligman (2005, p. 285)

Castañeda’S Philosophy of Language

Castaneda’s work in philosophy of language, as his philosophical work in general, is strikingly holistic in nature. There is more of a philosophical system in CastaŇeda’s work than in the work of more influential philosophers in the analytic tradition in our times. In most interesting cases CastaŇeda’s philosophical stand can be understood only when interpreted in the context of a more comprehensive vision outlined by CastaŇeda in separate works.

On the logic of perception sentences

In this paper I discuss perception sentences of the following there syn-tactic types:(1) John saw Mary (perceives { direct object)(2) John saw Mary run (perceives { naked in nitive)(3) John saw that Mary run (perceives {sentential complement)Our aim is to present an interpretation of Hintikka’s logic of perception,extend it to case (2) and de ned the approach against the cirticism levelledagainst it by Jon Barwise.Hintikka’s semantics for perception sentences applies most straightfor-wardly to reports with a sentential complement. It analyses such a percep-tion expression as a usual (one-place) intensional operator.Hintikka’s proposal for an analysis of direct object perception reportsis more controversial, even given faith in possible worlds semantics. Theidea is that (1) has the following underlying logical form:(1)