Liz Varga

A co-evolutionary complex systems perspective on information systems

The co-evolution of information systems (IS) and the processes that underpin the construction and development of IT systems are explained from a complex systems perspective. Evolution operates at the microscopic level; in organizations, this is the individual or agent. Each agent has an idiosyncratic view of the organization, using to some extent personal constructs in dealing with the reality of organizational life. These objects or constructs can be described and measured by most agents; they are well defined. Many of these objects are represented in electronic, IT systems. Each agent also has their own view as to how they know what they know, that is, their epistemology, which we argue is their IS, and is wider than the IT systems they use. The IS of each agent co-evolves, by interaction with other agents, based on the agents view of reality. The interaction of all agents constitutes the organization. Even more importantly, different values and interests motivate each agent. This is their axiology and it is what motivates them to learn and to develop their IS. An agent-based axiological framework is essential to understanding the evolution of organizations. It is the interaction of agents that builds consensus as to the shared reality of the organization, and this affects each agents ability and motivation to evolve IS further. In addition, we propose that it is time that IT systems included modelling capabilities, based on multi-agent representations of the organization and its context, to explore and support strategic thinking and decision making.

A cladistic classification of commercial aerospace supply chain evolution

Purpose – This paper aims to address the advantage of considering an evolutionary classification scheme for commercial aerospace supply chains. It is an industry wide approach. By going beyond the performance of the single firm and considering the whole supply chain for a product a better understanding of present states and performances of the firms within the chain can be achieved.Design/methodology/approach – The approach is presented as evolutionary steps by introduction of key supply chain characters. These steps are brought together by applying cladistics to classify the evolutionary relationships between supply chain forms.Findings – Key character states define the change of supply chain forms in the evolutionary adaptation to market realities and to proactive responses to increased competition.Originality/value – The potential benefits of this approach include a benchmark of best practice, a strategic tool for policy development, and the creation of future scenarios.

A framework for targeting household energy savings through habitual behavioural change

This paper reviews existing up-to-date literature related to individual household energy consumption. The how and why individual behaviour affects energy use are discussed, together with the principles and perspectives which have so far been considered in order to explain the habitual consuming behaviour. The research gaps, which are revealed from previous studies in terms of the limitations or assumptions on the methodology to alter individuals’ energy usage, give insights for a conceptual framework to define a comprehensive approach. The proposed framework suggests that the individual energy perception gaps are affected by psychological, habitual, structural and cultural variables in a wider-contextual, meso-societal and micro-individual spectrum. All these factors need to be considered in order for a variety of combined intervention methods, which are discussed and recommended, to introduce a more effective shift in the conventional energy-consuming behaviour, advancing insights for successful energy policies.

Aerospace Supply Chains as Evolutionary Networks of Activities: Innovation Via Risk-Sharing Partnerships

In the aerospace industry competitive advantage is searched through product innovation. This paper sets out to explore the effects that relationship development in the commercial aerospace supply chains have on innovation and competitive advantage. A perspective of supply chains as complex activity networks is used for data analysis based on in-depth interviews in a global setting. Applying these concepts of supply chains as the interaction of multiple work activities assists in comprehending the forces of change. The processes of change are characterized by expansive learning processes of creating instruments for initializing, developing and sustaining these relationships. These processes take place in a terrain of complex power exercises. The long-term effects are totally dependent on nurturing the relationships. The findings may be useful to practitioners in understanding how implementation of successful supply chain changes may come about. It promotes risk-sharing partnerships as instruments for innovation. The paper provides evidence of changing relationships in commercial aerospace supply chains.

Complexity: The Evolution of Identity and Diversity

The consequences of complexity science is inevitable for our understanding of the emergence and evolution of identity and diversity in ecologies and human social systems. Resulting from evolutionary processes in which successive behavioural explorations occurred which enabled the capturing of resources in the system. By comparing examples studying the evolution and co-evolution of Darwin’s Finches, of economic markets and organizational forms and of social entities, the chapter offers a view of evolution in human systems that challenges traditional and reductionistic theories of biological determinism. Identities are created and co-evolve in an on-going evolutionary process. Even though one cannot understand what exactly creates the micro-diversity underlying a system, it can be established that all the underlying phenomena obey the same kind of behaviour – that of evolving complex systems. By allowing ourselves to be “evolvers” and by exploring our own diversity, a richer set of possibilities are created on which the collective system can thrive.

Rethinking Future of Utilities: Supplying All Services through One Sustainable Utility Infrastructure

Sustainable Utility Infrastructure Fatih Camci,†,* Bogumil Ulanicki,‡ Joby Boxall, Ruzanna Chitchyan, Liz Varga, and Ferhat Karaca† †IVHM Centre, Cranfield University, Bedford, U.K. ‡Department of Engineering, De Montfort University, U.K. Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, University of Sheffield, U.K. Department of Computer Science, University of Leicester, U.K. Complex Systems Research Centre, Cranfield School of Management, U.K.

The evolution of commercial aerospace supply chains and the facilitation of innovation

The paper sets out to explore the effects relationships in commercial aerospace supply chains have on innovation and competitive advantage. A perspective of supply chains as complex activity systems is used for data analysis. Competitive advantage is searched through product innovation facilitated by risk-sharing partnerships. This is characterised by expansive learning processes of creating instruments for initialising, implementing and nurturing these relationships. These processes take place in a terrain of complex power exercises. The long-term effects are totally dependent on the success of nurturing the relationships.

Identifying Adaptation Options and Constraints: The Role of Agronomist Knowledge in Catchment Management Strategy

Water suppliers in parts of Europe currently face occasional Drinking Water Directive compliance challenges for a number of pesticide active substances including metaldehyde, clopyralid and propyzamide. Water Framework Directive (WFD) Article 7 promotes a prevention-led (catchment management) approach to such issues. At the same time, European pesticide legislation is driving reduced active substance availability. In this context, embedding agronomic drivers of pesticide use into catchment management and regulatory decision making processes can help to ensure that water quality problems are addressed at source without imposition of disproportionate cost on either agriculture or potable water suppliers. In this study agronomist knowledge, perception and expectations of current and possible future pesticide use was assessed and the significance of this knowledge to other stakeholders involved with pesticide catchment management was evaluated. This was then used to provide insight into the possible impacts of active substance restrictions and associated adaptation options. For many arable crops, further restrictions on the range of pesticides available may cause increased use of alternatives (with potential for “pollution swapping”). However, in many cases alternatives are not available, too costly or lack a proven track record and other adaptation options may be selected which catchment managers need to be able to anticipate.

Developing an AHP based decision model for energy systems policy making

Energy transitions have been increasingly researched as the security of UKs fossil fuel sources is of major concern for the next years to come. Also, the enforcement of Kyoto Protocol with several other agreements led to the UKs Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) requiring savings in the amount of CO2 emitted by households. In fact, there is growing pressure to reduce the amount of emission and the non-renewable resources used. In order for the policy makers to decide on an effective transition pathway which contributes to reaching to the above mentioned objectives, different alternatives need to be compared against each other. This decision has to be made based on a series of socio-technical criteria which are both of quantitative and qualitative nature. This paper proposes a novel decision support tool for decision makers to evaluate the consequences of different energy usage and transition pathways. The proposed tool is based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), a Multi Criteria Decision Making Model (MCDM) enabling the users to incorporate both tangible and intangible decision criteria in energy systems policy making which traditionally has mostly been just based on technical aspects of the decision problem.

Engaging stakeholders in research to address water-energy-food (WEF) nexus challenges

The water–energy–food (WEF) nexus has become a popular, and potentially powerful, frame through which to analyse interactions and interdependencies between these three systems. Though the case for transdisciplinary research in this space has been made, the extent of stakeholder engagement in research remains limited with stakeholders most commonly incorporated in research as end-users. Yet, stakeholders interact with nexus issues in a variety of ways, consequently there is much that collaboration might offer to develop nexus research and enhance its application. This paper outlines four aspects of nexus research and considers the value and potential challenges for transdisciplinary research in each. We focus on assessing and visualising nexus systems; understanding governance and capacity building; the importance of scale; and the implications of future change. The paper then proceeds to describe a novel mixed-method study that deeply integrates stakeholder knowledge with insights from multiple disciplines. We argue that mixed-method research designs—in this case orientated around a number of cases studies—are best suited to understanding and addressing real-world nexus challenges, with their inevitable complex, non-linear system characteristics. Moreover, integrating multiple forms of knowledge in the manner described in this paper enables research to assess the potential for, and processes of, scaling-up innovations in the nexus space, to contribute insights to policy and decision making.