Application Of Systems Theory Research Articles

The impact of supply chain integration practices on competitive advantage: A study of food and beverage manufacturing firms in Kenya

Purpose: This study aims to establish the relationship between supply chain integration practices and competitive advantage in Kenyan food and beverage manufacturing firms. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data was collected from 146 respondents across 73 firms using structured and unstructured questionnaires. Linear regression analysis was conducted using SPSS version 28. Results: The study found positive significant correlations between functional integration, supplier integration, customer integration, and technology integration with competitive advantage of the sampled firms. Theoretical contribution: This research extends the application of systems theory, resource-based view, social exchange theory, and relational exchange theory to supply chain integration in an emerging market context. Practical implications: Food and beverage manufacturers in Kenya can enhance their competitive advantage by strategically implementing supply chain integration practices across functional, supplier, customer, and technological domains. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Rainmaking: Observed with social systems theory

AbstractThis article examines contemporary efforts to control climate change through the lens of social systems theory, particularly by drawing comparisons to rain dances and shamanic rituals. It argues that modern climate control strategies bear functional similarities to archaic rituals aimed at influencing weather patterns, despite the absence of direct causality. Using Niklas Luhmann's concepts of autopoietic systems and functional equivalence, the article demonstrates that both historical and contemporary approaches to climate influence rely on blame‐shifting mechanisms and the social production of scapegoats, with failure often attributed not to the rituals or solutions themselves but to noncompliance or impurity among participants. The originality of this article lies in its application of social systems theory to link contemporary climate control strategies with ancient rituals, positioning them as functionally equivalent social phenomena. By drawing comparisons between shamanistic practices, corporate consulting, and global climate governance, the article provides a unique lens for understanding that the primary function of modern climate efforts may be to regulate social behaviour rather than achieving concrete natural environmental outcomes.

Psychometric network analysis in rehabilitation research: A methodological demonstration in depression symptoms of veterans and service members at 1 and 2 years after traumatic brain injury.

Psychometric network analysis (PNA) is an application of dynamic systems theory that can inform measurement of complex rehabilitation phenomena such as depressive symptom patterns in veterans and service members (V/SMs) after traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study applied PNA to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a common measure of depressive symptoms, in a sample of V/SMs with TBI at Years 1 and 2 (Y1-2) postinjury. A sample of 808 V/SMs with TBI participated, 594 contributing PHQ-9 data at Y1 and 585 at Y2. Participants were recruited while or after receiving inpatient postacute rehabilitation from one of five Veterans Affairs Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers. The networks were stable and invariant over time. At both times, network structure revealed the cardinal depressive symptom "feeling down, depressed, or hopeless," as evidenced by its strength centrality. In the Y1 network, the suicidal ideation node was connected exclusively to the network through the guilt node, and in the Y2 network, the suicidal ideation node formed a second connection through the low mood node. The guilt node was the second most influential node at Y1 but was replaced by anhedonia node at Y2. This study demonstrated the potential of PNA in rehabilitation research and identified the primacy of feeling down, depressed, and hopeless after TBI at both Y1 and Y2, with guilt being the second most influential symptom at Y1, but replaced by anhedonia at Y2, providing supportive evidence that the relationships among depressive symptoms after TBI are dynamic over time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Classical and nonclassical Lie symmetries, bifurcation analysis, and Jacobi elliptic function solutions to a 3D-modified nonlinear wave equation in liquid involving gas bubbles

The current paper undertakes an in-depth exploration of the dynamics of nonlinear waves governed by a 3D-modified nonlinear wave equation, a significant model in the study of complex wave phenomena. To this end, the study employs both classical and nonclassical Lie symmetries for rigorously deriving invariant solutions of the governing equation. These symmetries enable the formal construction of exact solutions, which are crucial for understanding the complex behavior of the model. Furthermore, the research extends into the realm of bifurcation analysis through the application of planar dynamical system theory. Such an analysis reveals the conditions under which the 3D-modified nonlinear wave equation admits Jacobi elliptic function solutions. The study also delves into the impact of the nonlinear parameter on the physical characteristics of bright and kink solitary waves as well as continuous periodic waves using Maple. Overall, the comprehensive analysis presented not only enhances the understanding of complex nonlinear wave dynamics but also sets the stage for future advancements in vast areas of fluid dynamics and plasma physics.

Sustainability and impact reporting in US higher education anchor institutions

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to assess how higher education anchor institutions (HEIs) voluntarily report their non-economic impacts. Its goals are to quantify the ease of public access to this information; strengthen the conceptual foundation for HEI impact reporting; and provide guidance for making HEI voluntary disclosures more accessible, comparable and systematic.Design/methodology/approachUsing an exploratory mixed methods design and purposeful sampling, this study analyzed voluntary public disclosures of 41 anchor institution universities in the USA to assess how they communicate their public value creation to stakeholders. Data sources included impact reports, donor reports, annual reports and sustainability reports. The study also analyzed the accessibility of this information by timing how long it took to locate.FindingsThe sampled US anchor institutions communicate their non-economic impact to stakeholders in myriad ways using a variety of formats. Time required to find the reports ranged from 37 to 50 min, with an average of 42.30 min. Disparate reporting formats inhibit comparability.Research limitations/implicationsOnly 41 anchor institutions were examined. The small sample may not be representative of the broader landscape of higher education institutions.Practical implicationsFindings offer guidance for improving voluntary nonfinancial disclosures to increase public confidence in higher education institutions while advancing community and global resilience. To strengthen voluntary disclosure practices, the study recommends using a standardized reporting format, framing HEI impact through socio-ecological resilience indicators, integrating reports and obtaining some form of assurance. These changes would enhance the credibility and comparability of the disclosures.Originality/valueThis research provides some of the first empirical insight into how US higher education anchor institutions report their value creation to the public. Its application of socio-ecological systems theory outlines an actionable conceptual foundation for HEI reporting by linking organizational, community and global resilience.

Utilizing Family Theories to Maximize Early Intervention Work: An Examination and Application of Family Systems Theory and Bioecological Theory

The field of early intervention is rapidly expanding. Individuals trained in Human Development and Family Science programs are uniquely situated for work in this setting, due to their diverse understanding of human development, from birth through death, and the role of the family system in influencing development. More specifically, individuals from this academic discipline can employ a family systems theory and bioecological theory perspectives to inform their intervention work. The unique insight these theories provide to enhance early intervention work will be discussed and then applied using an actual case study. Though family systems theory and bioecological theory do have limitations in this field, namely their inability to explain a behavioral change and non-linear orientation, the authors feel the benefits of both these theoretical perspectives for explaining family contexts outweigh the limitations.

Real-time application of grey system theory in intelligent traffic signal optimization

In order to solve these problems, this paper introduced the grey system theory (GST) method in the real-time application of intelligent traffic signal optimization (ITSO). In this paper, the deep Q-network (DQN) algorithm was used to realize the dynamic signal light setting of real-time traffic conditions, which can improve the overall operating efficiency of the traffic system, and the PPO (Proximal Policy Optimization) algorithm was used to solve the problem of the lack of real-time performance of the traditional traffic signal optimization methods. By comparing the traffic congestion index of S city before and after the application of the GST method, the paper found that the average one week before the application was 60.1%, but it dropped to 26.6% after the application. In the experimental test of average speed comparison, the speed after applying the GST method was generally higher than the value before application, and the overall speed increase was about 20 km/h. This paper emphasizes the importance of evaluating the robustness of the GST method, particularly in its ability to manage unexpected scenarios. The research concentrates on assessing four critical indicators: outlier handling, noise tolerance, handling missing data, and nonlinear coping ability.

Application of Time-Variant Systems Theory to the Unsteady Aerodynamics of Rotary Wings

This work employs the principles of time-variant systems theory to investigate the unsteady aerodynamics of rotary-wing configurations under periodic equilibrium conditions. Their application enables an extension of the pulse technique for system identification, as well as the adaptation of the linear-frequency-domain formulation commonly utilized in fixed-wing to rotary-wing scenarios. These methodologies effectively incorporate the aerodynamic nonlinearities associated with the equilibrium state into an efficient time-variant linearized representation of the unsteady aerodynamics. To promote its application in the context of rotary-wing aeroelasticity, a state-space realization based on a periodic autoregressive model with exogenous input is subsequently employed. Upon transformation from discrete to continuous time, the resulting aerodynamic model adopts a linear continuous-time periodic state-space formulation, offering compatibility for its coupling with a wide range of structural models. The proposed aerodynamic framework tailored to rotary-wing aeroelasticity holds applicability across a spectrum of aerodynamic models of arbitrary complexity, spanning from incompressible potential flow approximations to potentially more sophisticated methods. Showcasing the potential of this framework, the widely studied lossy Mathieu equation and the aerodynamic response to a flap perturbation about the periodic equilibrium condition of a prototypical rotor blade section, incorporating nonlinearities through an analytical dynamic stall model, are considered.

Knowledge based interventions for sustainable development cooperation: insights from knowledge systems mapping in Zambia

Knowledge is an essential determinant and component of the international development cooperation agenda and projects. Therefore, it is vital to understand and reflect on how knowledge in international development cooperation is created, what knowledge counts, and how it influences the planning, implementation, and outcomes of international development cooperation projects. In this paper, we critically examine the knowledge system of the development cooperation of the Czech Republic, an emerging donor country, by applying system theory and utilizing system properties as an analytical tool. To this end, we carried out a multi-phase qualitative research with actors from the Czech Republic and Zambia. Subsequently, we analysed the knowledge system properties and identified those often overlooked by development actors, such as taboos, mistrust, and development burden, revealing how knowledge flows can be obstructed by these characteristics. In addition, we compiled a set of suitable interventions to tackle the overlooked system properties and foster knowledge cross-fertilisation. These interventions include, among others, active engagement of traditional leaders, active work with narratives of success, and introducing action-reflection-reaction cycle into the development practice. Furthermore, the proposed interventions clearly emphasize the need for more collaborative and transdisciplinary processes. Finally, we discuss that it is essential to uncover deep layers of the international development cooperation knowledge system to shift and leverage it towards more inclusive and just outcomes.

Strategic-oriented multiteam system cohesion and enterprise investment decision: Evidence from CESIM platform online simulation experiment

Using CESIM platform financial data on the quality of enterprise investment decision, we assess the impact of strategic-oriented multiteam system cohesion (SOMTS cohesion) on the quality of enterprise investment decision. Based on the resource allocation theory, we found that only SOMTS social cohesion is positively associated with enterprise investment decision, but this impact decreased over the period. Further, team task cohesion moderates the effect in that the positive relationship between SOMTS task cohesion and enterprise investment decision is stronger when team task cohesion is low. The negative relationship between SOMTS task cohesion and enterprise investment decision is stronger when high team task cohesion. The study findings expand the application of multiteam systems theory, offering valuable guidance for executives and boards to enhance decision-making effectiveness from an interdependence perspective.

Drawing up the public national Rational Pharmacotherapy Action Plan as part of social and health services reform in Finland: a bottom-up approach involving stakeholders

BackgroundEnsuring equal access to medicines and their appropriate and safe use at reasonable costs are core functions of health systems. Despite that, few descriptions of national medicines policies' development processes and implementation strategies have been published. This study aimed to describe the government program-based development of the Rational Pharmacotherapy Action Plan in Finland as a part of the undergoing major health and social service system reform, also covering the implementation of rational pharmacotherapy in the reformed system and processes.MethodsThe data of this qualitative study consisted of public reports and Steering Group meeting memos related to the development of the national Rational Pharmacotherapy Action Plan that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health coordinated. Qualitative content analysis applying systems theory and the conceptual framework of integrated services as theoretical frameworks was used as an analysis method.ResultsThe national Rational Pharmacotherapy Action Plan covering 2018–2022 was created in a bottom-up development process involving a wide range of stakeholders. Rational pharmacotherapy was redefined by adding equality as the fifth pillar to complement the previously defined pillars of being effective, safe, high-quality, and cost-effective. The Action Plan formed a normative framework for long-term development, with a vision and principles focusing on people-centeredness, better coordination and management of the medication use processes, the continuity of treatment paths and the flow of patient and medicines information through partnerships, and evidence-informed policies and practices.ConclusionThrough intensive stakeholder participation, the bottom-up approach created a national vision and principles of rational pharmacotherapy along with strong commitment to implementing the goals and measures. The concern lies in ensuring the continuity of the Action Plan implementation and achieving a balanced long-term development aligned with the integrated and reformed national social and health services system. The development of the pharmaceutical system has several national and EU-level dependencies requiring political long-term commitment. While the Action Plan differs from the national medicines policy, it forms a good basis for long-term development covering important parts of medicine policy at the micro, meso, and macro levels of the service system.

Sustainability under Active Inference

In this paper, we explore the known connection among sustainability, resilience, and well-being within the framework of active inference. Initially, we revisit how the notions of well-being and resilience intersect within active inference before defining sustainability. We adopt a holistic concept of sustainability denoting the enduring capacity to meet needs over time without depleting crucial resources. It extends beyond material wealth to encompass community networks, labor, and knowledge. Using the free energy principle, we can emphasize the role of fostering resource renewal, harmonious system–entity exchanges, and practices that encourage self-organization and resilience as pathways to achieving sustainability both as an agent and as a part of a collective. We start by connecting active inference with well-being, building on existing work. We then attempt to link resilience with sustainability, asserting that resilience alone is insufficient for sustainable outcomes. While crucial for absorbing shocks and stresses, resilience must be intrinsically linked with sustainability to ensure that adaptive capacities do not merely perpetuate existing vulnerabilities. Rather, it should facilitate transformative processes that address the root causes of unsustainability. Sustainability, therefore, must manifest across extended timescales and all system strata, from individual components to the broader system, to uphold ecological integrity, economic stability, and social well-being. We explain how sustainability manifests at the level of an agent and then at the level of collectives and systems. To model and quantify the interdependencies between resources and their impact on overall system sustainability, we introduce the application of network theory and dynamical systems theory. We emphasize the optimization of precision or learning rates through the active inference framework, advocating for an approach that fosters the elastic and plastic resilience necessary for long-term sustainability and abundance.

Can dynamical systems theory be applied to second language acquisition? The issues of reductionism and intentionality

In this article we address two key questions in the application of dynamical systems theory (DST) to second language acquisition (SLA) that have not been resolved in recent debates about this issue. The first question relates to reductionism. Is an antireductionist position a necessary element of DST? We show that the radical antireductionist stance put forward by key movers of the application of DST to SLA neither follows from the mathematics of DST nor from the application of DST to science and that radical antireductionism results in an impasse for empirical research. In contrast, we argue that reductionism offers ways in which theory-derived hypotheses can be formed about subsystems that can be studied empirically using DST mathematics. The second question relates to intentionality. Are physical systems and mental systems similar enough to justify applying DST principles based in the physical sciences to processes in the human mind? Following Tschacher, we argue that current evidence suggests that there is a limited class of mental phenomena that can arise from physical phenomena. It is only this class of mental phenomena that can currently be modeled using DST mathematics. We offer a discussion of these perspectives to indicate how important it is to resolve these fundamental questions. In our view, these fundamental issues need resolution to put the application of DST to SLA on a solid conceptual and empirical footing.

Rural Research and Development Corporations’ Connection to Agricultural Industry School Partnerships

The Australian Government has prioritized science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in recent years to ensure that the country has an adequate future workforce. The agriculture industry is a major employer with a diverse range of occupations heavily focused on STEM. Many students do not realize the career opportunities in the sector, which is currently facing severe workforce shortages. Industry school partnerships (ISPs) have been identified as one creative model to improve students’ knowledge of an industry and aspirations for associated careers. Whilst ISPs have been implemented in the STEM context, limited research understands how industry organizations are involved in, influence, and interconnect with ISPs. Australia’s Rural Research and Development Corporations (RRDCs) are legislated agricultural industry bodies and were selected to investigate due to the value ISPs could provide to this STEM-focused industry with workforce shortages. This qualitative case study analyzed data from the most current RRDC strategic and annual operating plans as of 27 July 2023 and semi-structured interviews with an employee(s) in a position relevant to student education of all 15 RRDCs in 2022. The key findings were that ISPs were considered part of the solution to address industry sustainability, though RRDCs were commonly only informally involved. Collaboration between industry partners, facilitators, and teachers at strategic and management levels and across commodities was essential. RRDCs were found to be strongly connected to ISP ecosystems through their role in research and development. We argue that RRDCs are positioned as essential stakeholders with the scope to improve agricultural ISP ecosystems as part of their role in driving agricultural innovation. These findings support the application of ecological systems theory to agricultural ISPs and help us to understand these structures. This paper aims to help those creating ISPs to consider and understand all stakeholders, including industry bodies, to deliver quality future partnerships that benefit both STEM sectors and primary and secondary student education.

A Systemic Perspective to Realizing and Improving Quality of Education in Schools

Poor education quality leads to student failure. Improving education quality requires an interdisciplinary approach from various stakeholders with skills to develop educational interventions. Training education personnel in quality improvement processes without buy-in from systems theory is unlikely to be successful. We examine how systems theory helps in education quality realization. An analysis of education levels and their roles in the attainment of education quality is done. This discussion leads to a conclusion of the need for an effective interdisciplinary systemic perspective to realize education quality. The study recommends education systems to apply systems theory to understand educational issues for improvement purposes.

A novel hybrid grey-BCM approach in multi-criteria decision making: An application in OTT platform

Real world decision making is like a puzzle having complex, uncertain and vague information and this fact portray the wide range applicability of grey system theory in decision making procedure as grey system theory deals with the systems having information with uncertainty. In order to extend the base-criterion method to uncertain conditions, grey information may be a better way to solve a lot of multi-criteria decision-making problems. In this paper, we proposed a novel approach ‘grey base-criterion method’ (GBCM) based on the linguistic variables extended to the grey information. Weights of criteria have been calculated using GBCM. Numerical examples are illustrated and then the results are compared by the grey best-worst method (GBWM). Results of comparison show the high reliability of GBCM method with less consistency ratio over GBWM. A real case study of the fastest growing OTT (Over the Top) platforms in India has been taken to bestow the robustness of the proposed method.

A port-Hamiltonian model of airplane longitudinal dynamics

This paper contributes to the application of port-Hamiltonian systems (pHs) theory in the context of fixed-wing airplanes, an area challenged by the difficulty of introducing aerodynamics in this framework. Expanding on recent initiatives that applied pHs theory to fixed-wing airplane dynamics - a move that simplified thrust and aerodynamics - our study introduces a comprehensive longitudinal dynamics formulation. This approach not only clarifies these earlier models by aligning more closely with traditional airplane dynamics equations but also integrates physical parameters from an A300 airplane model. By addressing and enhancing the thrust and aerodynamic representations, our formulation achieves a more accurate depiction of airplane dynamics. This work marks a step forward in the ongoing efforts to adapt pHs theory for aerospace engineering, laying the groundwork for more effective modeling and control strategies in this field.

Research through co-design

Abstract Research Through Design (RTD) needs to reconsider the meaning of “designing” in the research process of “through design.” We propose Research Through Co-design (RTC) as a new application of Control System Theory (CST) that includes a research problem assigned to a co-design process in RTD. It embeds the participatory paradigm through collaborative design practice and makes the research a collaborative process for learning from all the participants. To sustain the RTC theory, we present a cognitive model of RTC. It is a “model for” – rather than a “model of” – describing how the co-design, as a neural network process, works through its nodes’ collaboration to find co-designed solutions and the research answer. Diversity increases as non-experts and non-designers with different backgrounds participate. This is valuable for the RTC learning system. The discussions highlight the possibility of considering (i) the RTC model as useful for describing a robust RTD process through CST; (ii) RTC as a cognitive model for explaining the value of co-design in research processes; and (iii) RTC as a strategy for applying the participative paradigm in formal research. Finally, new insights and implications are highlighted, including using RTC as a predictive tool through artificial intelligence.

The interaction of factors in constructing English learning motivation of China’s government-sponsored overseas academic visiting candidates on an official preparatory program

The present study investigates the English learning motivation of China’s government-sponsored overseas academic visiting candidates on an official intensive English preparatory program. A structural equation model (SEM) analysis was conducted on the results of a 33-item questionnaire survey taken by 632 such candidates, most of whom were university academics. By establishing a SEM model for the general sample and four sub-models for its sub-samples, the study delineates the complex interaction of the components in shaping this population’s English learning motivation against the backdrop of China’s grand socio-educational ambition. It also reveals some nuanced differences in the path coefficients in this motivational complex within each of its two sub-sample sets: the candidates with humanities and social science backgrounds vs. those with science backgrounds and the candidates from an institution or program on China’s Double First Class initiative vs. those not. These research findings may help a better understanding of the English learning ecology in today’s China. Theoretically, this study reinforces the usefulness of the prevailing L2 Motivational Self System framework while at the same time accentuating its socio-contextual variance; it also illuminates the future direction pertaining to the application of the Complex Dynamic Systems theory.

Automatic Control and System Theory and Advanced Applications—Volume 2

The aim of the Special Issue on Automatic Control and System Theory and Advanced Applications, the second volume of a previous paper selection, is to emphasize the role of new inventions in the area of automatic control applications [...]