This single‐author work is the second volume in its series and it is mentioned in the introduction by the series editors that the previous one was a multi‐author collection, and the intention is that subsequent volumes will also be collections. Rather surprisingly, details of the previous volume are not given but can be obtained from the publishers' website. The earlier volume is entitled: Managing Organizational Complexity: Philosophy, Theory and Application, published in 2005 and edited by Kurt Richardson, one of the series editors, with a long list of contributors including well‐known names The ISBN numbers are 1‐59311‐319‐6 (hardcover); 1‐59311‐318‐8 (pbk), with respective prices $105.95 and $62.50.
In their brief introduction the series editors hail the new book as a tour‐de‐force. They say that the treatment impinges on various previous areas, including (they say) third‐order cybernetics, viable systems theory and social constructivism. It was initially expected that the disparate theories would be covered but with possible links between them only indicated as topics for future research. It is suggested, however, that the author has arrived at something that could be the beginnings of a unified theory.
The book has a total of 16 chapters, divided into five Parts. The titles of these are: “Fundamentals” “Complex organizations” “Knowledge and cybernetics” “The cybernetics of communication” and “Social behavior”.
Near the beginning of Chapter 2 in the first part a distinction is drawn between ontological and epistemological approaches, referred to frequently in the later treatment. I found the distinction unconvincing, since ontology, the study of Being or existence, is held to imply the creation of a referencing system with symbolic expression, which would seem to bring it into the realm of epistemology. The distinction is, however, maintained, and in Chapter 6 in the second part the ideas behind Stafford Beer's viable system model are extended to a social viable system with the comment that the VSM is fundamentally an epistemological approach that benefits from being supplemented by ontological considerations.
In the final chapter, a number of interactions of knowledge and belief with social behaviour are discussed, in ways that are held to constitute a novel theme of Knowledge Cybernetics. In the Introduction to the book it is said that this developed from a mathematical theory of Sociohistory developed by the author and a colleague. There is however, nothing in the nature of mathematics in the present book, unless for some hint of it on pages 765‐9. A distinction is made between three levels of what can be loosely termed “information” namely data, information and knowledge, with references also to “wisdom” and there is emphasis on knowledge as migrating,.rather than passing along identifiable channels. The theory also bears on less tangible aspects like attitudes and emotions, for instance associated with ethics and traditions. Its application to analysis of a Liverpool docks dispute is described in considerable detail in the final Chapter.
This tour‐de‐force was initially expected to take a year to write but in fact required three, and cannot have left much time for leisure even then. Although it seems mean in the face of such an achievement, I have to admit to failing to get fully to grips with the treatment and also to having uneasy feelings about it. An early reason for unease is in the introduction by the series editors, where “third‐order cybernetics, viable systems theory and social constructivism” are referred to as though these were established and well‐defined subject areas, instead of rather loose headings for ongoing (though no doubt valuable) discussion. There is an undue readiness to represent these topic headings as though they were, to use a current buzzword, “set in stone”. (Actually, third order cybernetics does seem to be a reasonably well‐defined topic, as the study of systems where the operation of observation inevitably alters what is observed. This must be common in social systems and is reminiscent of a much‐used illustration of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle by reference to observation of a particle under a microscope.)
The treatment in the book, as a whole, has a didactic flavour that seems inappropriate to the subject matter and is in contrast to the relatively diffident approach in a review by Herting and Stein (2007). The latter contains the surprising statement that in Germany it has been decided that the notion of “Systemtheorie” should be used only in a sociological sense, a restriction that would presumably not have pleased Stafford Beer, whose viable system model was launched in a paper (Beer, 1962) that invoked parallels with neurology.
As mentioned, I have to admit to not having really got to grips with the content of this book. I feel sure there is a coherent thread running through it, but familiarity with earlier material is needed in order to discern it. The author mentions that his treatment builds on the earlier one of Sorokin (1962) published in no less than four volumes. I also feel, though, that my difficulty is not entirely attributable to ignorance, since the author's Introduction that is meant to set the scene contains a great deal of ponderous matter and covers no less than 26 pages without subdivision by section headings.
The list of references occupies 33 pages and must be a pretty comprehensive review of the relevant literature. There is also a very complete subject index, which however could have been made more convenient to use by indicating, for instance by bold print, which page or pages are most relevant to a topic. The coverage of the work is indicated by a note on the back cover, as follows:
This book develops a cybernetic theory of the organization as a complex and autonomous and self‐organizing, self‐producing and self‐creating social community, and in so doing it will set the scene to discuss a variety of aspects of organization and social processes and forms that arise from a systemic view. It begins by creating a philosophical foundation, it develops a viable systems approach that proceeds to cover a whole range of topics in a coherent and integrated way that are today seen to be important to social communities. Fundamentally developing as a knowledge management text, topics covered include community mission, purposes, interests, structure, politics, ethics, control, communications, management and conflict processes. It will also deliver an appreciation of the nature and use of information, knowledge and intelligence to assist the management of social communities.
