Preface and Highlights of KICSS’2013—the 8th International Conference on Knowledge, Information and Creativity Support Systems

Abstract

We present, first of all, a broader perspective on the essence of problem solving and decision-making in complex real-world environments. Then, we address a special role of decision support, and decision support systems, as those solutions are generally considered the most promising for solving all kinds of nontrivial problems in our context. Finally, we analyze a vital need for tools and techniques that could involve elements of creativity in problem solving and decision-making, and systems for the support of them. We advocate a need for grasping creativity from many points of view, starting from its role to solve problems in the even more complex present world, and its role as the only means that can yield an added value and hence help attain innovativeness and competitiveness. After those general remarks we present a critical overview of the papers in this volume, peer reviewed and carefully selected, subdivided into six topical parts, and remarks on the scope and an outline of the 8th International Conference on Knowledge, Information and Creativity Support Systems (KICSS’2013) held in Krakόw and Wieliczka, Poland, in November 2013, in the context of the historical development of this conference series and an increased interest of a large community of researchers and scholars, but also practitioners that have been decisive for the development of this conference series. The contents and main contributions of accepted papers are briefly outlined in the order as they appear in this volume. Some general remarks and acknowledgements are also included.