Distractions, reflections

Distractions, reflections

David Ing, at large … Sometimes, my mind wanders

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    • Causal Texture of the Environment
      For those who haven’t read the 1965 Emery and Trist article, its seems as though my colleague Doug McDavid was foresighted enough to blog a summary in 2016!  His words have always welcomed here, as Doug was a cofounder of this web site.  At the time of writing, the target audience for this piece was […]
    • Causal texture, contextualism, contextural
      In the famous 1965 Emery and Trist article, the terms “causal texture” and “contextual environment” haven’t been entirely clear to me.  With specific meanings in the systems thinking literature, looking up definitions in the dictionary generally isn’t helpful.  Diving into the history of the uses of the words provides some insight. 1. Causal texture 2. […]
    • Trist in Canada, Organizational Change, Action Learning
      Towards appreciating “action learning”, the history of open systems thinking and pioneering work in organization science, the influence of Action Learning Group — in the Faculty of Environment Studies founded in 1968 at York University (Toronto) — deserves to be resurfaced. 1. Trist in Canada 2. Environmental studies, and contextualism in organizational-change 3. Action learning, […]
    • Remembering Doug McDavid
      The news that Doug McDavid — my friend, colleague, and one of the original cofounders of the Coevolving Innovations web site in 2006 — had passed, first came through mutual IBM contacts.  More details subsequently showed up on LinkedIn from Mike McClintock. Doug left us on May 9, while working at his desk, likely in […]
    • Pattern language, form language, general systems theory, R-theory
      One of the challenges with the development of pattern languages is the cross-appropriation of approaches of techniques from one domain (i.e. built physical environments) into others (e.g. software development, social change). The distinction between pattern language and form language is made by Nikos Salingaros. Design in architecture and urbanism is guided by two distinct complementary […]
    • How do Systems Changes become natural practice?
      The 1995 article by Spinosa, Flores & Dreyfus on “Disclosing New Worlds” was assigned reading preceding the fourth of four lectures for the Systemic Design course in the Master’s program in Strategic Foresight and Innovation at OCAD University.  In previous years, this topic was a detail practically undiscussed, as digging into social theory and the phenomenology […]

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    • Wholism, reductionism (Francois, 2004)
      Proponents of #SystemsThinking often espouse holism to counter over-emphasis on reductionism. Reading some definitions from an encyclopedia positions one in the context of the other (François 2004).
    • It matters (word use)
      Saying “it doesn’t matter” or “it matters” is a common expression in everyday English. For scholarly work, I want to “keep using that word“, while ensuring it means what I want it to mean. The Oxford English Dictionary (third edition, March 2001) has three entries for “matter”. The first two entries for a noun. The […]
    • Systemic Change, Systematic Change, Systems Change (Reynolds, 2011)
      It's been challenging to find sources that specifically define two-word phrases -- i.e. "systemic change", "systematic change", "systems change" -- as opposed to loosely inferring reductively from one-word definitions in recombination. MartinReynolds @OpenUniversity clarifies uses of the phrases, with a critical eye into motives for choosing a specific label, as well as associated risks and […]
    • Environmental c.f. ecological (Francois, 2004; Allen, Giampietro Little 2003)
      The term "environmental" can be mixed up with "ecological", when the meanings are different. We can look at the encyclopedia definitions (François 2004), and then compare the two in terms of applied science (i.e. engineering with (#TimothyFHAllen @MarioGiampietro and #AmandaMLittle, 2003).
    • Christopher Alexander’s A Pattern Language: Analysing, Mapping and Classifying the Critical Response | Dawes and Ostwald | 2017
      While many outside of the field of architecture like the #ChristopherAlexander #PatternLanguage approach, it's not so well accepted by his peers. A summary of criticisms by #MichaelJDawes and #MichaelJOstwald @UNSWBuiltEnv is helpful in appreciating when the use of pattern language might be appropriate or not appropriate.
    • Field (system definitions, 2004, plus social)
      Systems thinking should include not only thinking about the system, but also its environment. Using the term "field" as the system of interest plus its influences leaves a lot of the world uncovered. From the multiple definitions in the International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics , there is variety of ways of understanding "field".

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  • moments. daviding.com

    Random selections from the past year
    Jimmie Simpson Rec Centre -- Beautiful fall day for federal @ElectionsCan_E #elxn43 advance poll, #ItsOurVote in our neighbourhood #tordan. Quick in-and-out, with poll clerks at door checking card, directing to small gym, waiting for just a few people in line, giving card and ID, getting ballot and marking off. I prefer the big picture, and am unlikely to change my opinion before election day with crowds. (Toronto-Danforth riding, Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre, Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20191011
    Beautiful fall day for federal @ElectionsCan_E #elxn43 advance poll, #ItsOurVote in our neighbourhood #tordan. Quick in-and-out, with poll clerks at door checking card, directing to small gym, waiting for just a few people in line, giving card and ID, getting ballot and marking off. I prefer the big picture, and am unlikely to change my opinion before election day with crowds. (Toronto-Danforth riding, Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre, Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20191011
    Riverside neighbourhood -- Sparkler means no candles to blow out. Departing from usual cake to accommodate preferences, donuts are less sweet, and the banana bread is even less. Packaging says plant-based, gluten-free, peanut-free, nut-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free and sesame-free, leaving us wondering what ingredients could potentially still be on the list. (Riverside neighbourhood, Toronto, Ontario) 20200211
    Sparkler means no candles to blow out. Departing from usual cake to accommodate preferences, donuts are less sweet, and the banana bread is even less. Packaging says plant-based, gluten-free, peanut-free, nut-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free and sesame-free, leaving us wondering what ingredients could potentially still be on the list. (Riverside neighbourhood, Toronto, Ontario) 20200211
    East West Futons -- Remote viewing of product selection for futon cover, videoconference on smartphone for opinion from home. Agreed on smoothest fabric in upholstery grade, available in grey. Replacing an older futon, we tried out three models and selected the firmest. While it's possible to order online, it's worth the drive uptown to see and feel furniture in person. (East West Futons, Cartwright Avenue, North York, Ontario) 20190908
    Remote viewing of product selection for futon cover, videoconference on smartphone for opinion from home. Agreed on smoothest fabric in upholstery grade, available in grey. Replacing an older futon, we tried out three models and selected the firmest. While it's possible to order online, it's worth the drive uptown to see and feel furniture in person. (East West Futons, Cartwright Avenue, North York, Ontario) 20190908
    Cochina Licha -- Noticed Mercado Medillin lit up en route to vegan tacos, so we circled back for additional courses as samples. Selected a busy curbside kitchen, friendly waiter pulled two tables in the back together, and gave us menu. Enjoyed tacos carnitas, tamale mole, tostada bacalao. Followed by dessert at Neveria Paleteria with mango and coconut popsicles. Some stomaches with regrets a little later, could be altitude, jet lag, or too much variety in foods. (Cochia Licha, Mercado Medillin, Roma Sur, Mexico City) 20191218
    Noticed Mercado Medillin lit up en route to vegan tacos, so we circled back for additional courses as samples. Selected a busy curbside kitchen, friendly waiter pulled two tables in the back together, and gave us menu. Enjoyed tacos carnitas, tamale mole, tostada bacalao. Followed by dessert at Neveria Paleteria with mango and coconut popsicles. Some stomaches with regrets a little later, could be altitude, jet lag, or too much variety in foods. (Cochia Licha, Mercado Medillin, Roma Sur, Mexico City) 20191218
    Delicious Paradise Kitchen -- Schedule for family lunch at congee-noodle restaurant diverted, as grandfather decides his driving on the day of the first major snowfall is imprudent. Alternative plan to pick up takeout food from the local stall, and bring it to his apartment. Six dishes made-to-order with rice, complemented by barbeque duck and rice noodles ordered at the adjacent shops. (Delicious Paradise Kitchen, Silver Star Boulevard, Scarborough, Ontario) 20191201
    Schedule for family lunch at congee-noodle restaurant diverted, as grandfather decides his driving on the day of the first major snowfall is imprudent. Alternative plan to pick up takeout food from the local stall, and bring it to his apartment. Six dishes made-to-order with rice, complemented by barbeque duck and rice noodles ordered at the adjacent shops. (Delicious Paradise Kitchen, Silver Star Boulevard, Scarborough, Ontario) 20191201

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