Structural analyses of general systems theory

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to show some foundations for a systematic analysis and synthesis of knowledge organizations. It deals with some suggested ways of indexing, classifying, and mapping interrelationships between general systems theory and the conventional fields of a number of academic disciplines. A content analysis of several issues of the International Journal of General Systems is carried out to separate the content into an array or relatively independent subjects. It was found that the issues of the journal that were examined could be described using six broad descriptors: mathematical theory, philosophical theory, systems theory, systems methodology, social theory, and general theory. Each of these broad descriptors could be further categorized to lend specificity.