Implementation Of System Approach Research Articles

Developing Basic Systems Thinking Skills for Deeper Understanding of Chemistry Concepts in High School Students

The implementation of systems approaches and systems thinking has been considered as an important parameter for reforming chemistry education and practice. The “Systemic Approach to Teaching and Learning (SATL)” strategy is a teaching-learning approach which is based on the development and use of cyclic concept mapping procedures, known as systemics, for teaching as well as for students’ assessment, known as SAQs. The SATL strategy focuses on the enhancement of students’ systems thinking skills, which are believed to enhance their understanding of relevant science concepts. The aims of this study were: (a) To investigate the effect of the implementation of the SATL strategy on 11th grade students’ deep understanding of chemistry concepts, and (b) to explore the relationship between students’ understanding in chemistry and the development of basic systems thinking skills. For this purpose, an experimental group, taught by the SATL strategy, was compared with a control group taught by a traditional linear approach, regarding students’ chemistry understanding. For the intervention group, the relationship between students’ understanding and their systems thinking skills was also explored. The results indicated that chemistry understanding of students taught by the SATL strategy was significantly greater compared to that of students taught by a traditional linear approach. Moreover, a significant correlation was observed between students’ deep understanding of chemistry concepts and their systems thinking level. This research provides evidence for a possible relationship between chemistry deep understanding and the development of systems thinking skills.

Agent-based modeling as a tool for program design and evaluation

Recently, systems thinking and systems science approaches have gained popularity in the field of evaluation; however, there has been relatively little exploration of how evaluators could use quantitative tools to assist in the implementation of systems approaches therein. The purpose of this paper is to explore potential uses of one such quantitative tool, agent-based modeling, in evaluation practice. To this end, we define agent-based modeling and offer potential uses for it in typical evaluation activities, including: engaging stakeholders, selecting an intervention, modeling program theory, setting performance targets, and interpreting evaluation results. We provide demonstrative examples from published agent-based modeling efforts both inside and outside the field of evaluation for each of the evaluative activities discussed. We further describe potential pitfalls of this tool and offer cautions for evaluators who may chose to implement it in their practice. Finally, the article concludes with a discussion of the future of agent-based modeling in evaluation practice and a call for more formal exploration of this tool as well as other approaches to simulation modeling in the field.

Gestión municipal desde la perspectiva de las organizaciones inteligentes y ámbito jurídico

<p>El presente texto pretende realizar una propuesta para mejorar la gestión del sector municipal desde la perspectiva de las organizaciones inteligentes y el marco jurídico aplicable a partir del análisis de la problemática que presenta este sector. Para ello comienza analizando la figura de la descentralización en el ordenamiento jurídico costarricense y procede a realizar una descripción detallada de la problemática del sector a partir de los resultados del Índice de Gestión Municipal, considerando las debilidades de la gestión presupuestaria y analizando la gestión tributaria municipal. A partir de ésta contextualización procede a realizar propuestas desde el ámbito del diseño de las organizaciones como desde la perspectiva jurídica. Desde el enfoque del diseño de las organizaciones se recalca la necesidad de Líderes transformacionales, la necesidad de la caórdica en el ámbito municipal, plantea la aplicación de la adhocracia en proyectos municipales y la implementación del enfoque sistémico en el ámbito municipal, todo ello con el fin de arribar al modelo de la nueva gerencia pública. Desde el marco jurídico se analiza la necesidad de aplicar una interpretación sistémica del ordenamiento jurídico vigente y la aprobación de un Código Tributario Municipal y reforma a las leyes que crean tributos especiales municipales. Concluye con la imperiosa necesidad de transformar romper los paradigmas imperantes en la gestión municipal y avanzar del modelo burocrático al diseño de las organizaciones inteligentes modernas.</p>

Critical Infrastructure Designation in European Union Countries: Implementation of Systems Approach

The contribution deals with the issue of designating critical infrastructure elements in European Union Countries. Based on approach analysis in selected countries, where sufficient attention is paid to the area of critical infrastructure, the aim of the article is to propose a systems approach to critical infrastructure designation. The aim is determined by the fact that a significant number of EU countries do not currently apply the systems approach and designating of elements is realized via sectors approach, i.e. without taking possible bonds with other sectors into consideration. Therefore, using the systems approach may be a solution to realizing further necessary steps in the area of critical infrastructure protection, for example complementing the issue of resilience and modelling dependences in the area of critical infrastructure.

Holistic Thinking Aproach: Case Study of Post Network in Slovenia

Modern complexity of management is associated with importantdecision making, confronting a great number of uselessinformation. Selection of information- the choice of only qualityones, i. e. essential ones, is a big problem in management decision-making. Implementation of systemic approach i. e. dialectical-network thinking (DNT) can help to deal with it. Thepaper presents a holistic thinking approach in a case study forthe Slovenian parcel postal problem. The volume of parcelflows at the Post of Slovenia between Posts is increasing rapidlyand it requires a new design of the postal network. This paperpresents a reorganization of parcel services between Postal LogisticsCenters and Posts by adding Regional Parcel Centersand Parcel Posts to the network. A case for the area covered byLjubljana Postal Logistics Center is given, which takes intoconsideration the sorting out and the retaining of parcels in thePosts, Parcel Posts and Regional Parcel Centers within their individualareas.