Feedback thought at the intersection of systems and design science

Paper title: Feedback thought at the intersection of systems and design science

Authors: Igor Czermainski de Oliveira, Daniel Guzzo and Daniela C. A. Pigosso

Abstract:
This paper explores the interplay of feedback principles in design and systems science. From their roots in engineering, biology, and economics, it investigates intersections between design, cybernetics and servomechanisms. The synthesis emphasizes the need for considering feedback in anticipating unintended consequences and proposes an integrative view reconciling fundamental assumptions from the different fields through simulation. This holistic approach underscores the pivotal role of feedback in understanding and addressing complex phenomena, such as rebound effects, in design science.

DESIGN 2024 Conference presentation

1. 1
Feedback Thought at the
Intersection of Systems and
Design Science
Oliveira, Igor; Guzzo, Daniel; Pigosso, Daniela C. A.
Daniel Guzzo
Assistant Professor / Researcher
Section of Design for Sustainability – DTU Construct
Technical University of Denmark

2. What is feedback?
2
Circles of interactions or closed loops of information
The forces that determine system behaviour
(Richardson, 1991)

3. Research Gap
3
Feedback in design has mainly manifested as iterative processes that
systematically considers and tests design alternatives against requirements.
As a result…
•Trial-and-error
mindset
•Unintended
consequences
•Rebound effects

4. Research Goal
4
Explore the intersections of feedback principleswithin the
context of design and systems sciences, reflecting on
historical perspectives.

5. Methodology
5
Literature reviewlooking for the intersections of systems and design science
guided by the feedback thought lenses (Richardson, 1991)
Feedback thought

6. Our adopted framework
6
Richardson, G. P. (1991).Feedback thoughtin social
scienceand systems theory. University of Pennsylvania.
Econometrics
Social sciences
Engineering
Homeostasis studies
within biology
Biology-math models
Logic
Six traditions… … originating two threads
Cybernetic
Servomechanisms

7. Methodology
7
Literature reviewlooking for the intersections of systems add design science
guided by the feedback thought lenses (Richardson, 1991)
Feedback thought
Research Input 2
Design science
canons
Research Input 1
Systems science
canons
Step 1.a
Identification of
mentions to design
Step 1.b
Identification of
(implicit and explicit)
manifestations of
feedback
Step 2
Formulation of
hypothetical
intersections
Step 3
Illustration of
integration
avenues

8. Found evidence of connections in
some of the threads and traditions
9

9. Some fundamentally different
views on what a system is ...
10

10. Some fundamentally different
views on what a system is ...
11
Image: Heylighen, F. (1998). Principia Cybernetica
Most design literature frames systems as early cyberneticists and
system theorists did.
The focus is on engineered (artificial) systems.
The idea is that we can govern the behaviour of those systems.

11. Some fundamentally different
views on what a system is ...
12
Image: Heylighen, F. (1998). Principia Cybernetica
Feedback is often seen as a single linkage between output and input
to be investigated over and over again to redesign the product (iteration)

12. Some fundamentally different
views on what a system is ...
13
Image: Heylighen, F. (1998). Principia Cybernetica
Designing requires accepting that social and biological
systems contain feedback we do not control, which
interact with designed systems…
[Servomechanism view]

13. Some fundamentally different
views on what a system is ...
14
Image: Adapted from Heylighen, F. (1998). Principia Cybernetica
…across different scales. And which interact.
[Biology-inspired view]

14. Some fundamentally different
views on what a system is ...
15
Image: Adapted from Heylighen, F. (1998). Principia Cybernetica
a new product

15. Some fundamentally different
views on what a system is ...
16
Image: Adapted from Heylighen, F. (1998). Principia Cybernetica
a new product
a new
product-service system

16. Some fundamentally different
views on what a system is ...
17
Image: Adapted from Heylighen, F. (1998). Principia Cybernetica
a new product
a new
product-service system
a new sectoral
regulation

17. Some fundamentally different
views on what a system is ...
18
Image: Adapted from Heylighen, F. (1998). Principia Cybernetica
a new product
a new
product-service system
a new sectoral
regulation
a new governance
system

18. 19
As taught by Simon (1955),
human cognition is not made
to consider such complexity
(simulation may help…)

19. We included integrative approaches
21

20. One promissing approach...
22
Using simulation to reconcile the artificial (i.e., designed components) with
explanatory models of complex societal phenomena
Chavy-MacDonald, M. A., Oizumi, K., & Aoyama, K. (2019). Towards a
generalized system dynamics model for product design & adoption.

21. Main points and vision
23
Further endogenizing feedback (S) atmultiple-levels (B) is required to help dealing with
non-linear dynamic behaviour (S) and support anticipatory decision-making (S).
(S) Servomechanism-inspired feedback thought
(B) Biological analogies on feedback thought
Simulation is a path forward to reconcile engineering, social and systems science.
But… Simulation models need to be meaningful and accommodate the fast pace of
design process.
Vison:
Customisable approach for simulation-based decision-making in design practice.

22. Thank you
Daniel Guzzo <[email protected]>

23. Found evidence of connections in
some of the threads and traditions
27
Cybernetics-inspired Biological analogies Servomechanism-inspired
Origin of
problems
Lack of information about
system outputs; limited
iteration
Lack of self-regulation
capability
Interconnected, non-linear
nature of systems
Consideration
of feedback
Exogenous link between
output and input
Both at internal and
ecosystem level
As integrating elements of
systems (endogenous view)
Nature of
complexity
Excessive or lacking detail in
engineered systems as
compared to requirements
(variety mismatch)
Interaction of function-driven
entities (e.g., ‘organs’) with
their context
Dynamic complexity (causing
non-linear behaviour over time)
Purpose of
modelling
To prescribe recursive and
iterative processes and
devices
To describe cross-scale
relationships
To expand mental models
and support decision making
(policy models)