Systemic Cognition: On the Complexity of Context

Context is at the heart of systemic cognition. We cannot discuss a sociotechnical system (STS) without considering the contexts in which it is designed, developed, validated, operated, maintained, and ultimately dismantled. More specifically, this is why we need a clearer understanding of what we mean by “context” in STS design and operations. The central assumption of the systemic cognition approach is that we gradually become familiar with the complexity of an STS through the creation and refinement of conceptual models in context. This process is incremental and integrative (i.e., anytime emerging behaviors, phenomena, and properties are discovered from experience, they are integrated into the STS at work). Concept models in context (CMC) are not only limited to providing a situated framework for operations people, but they also guide engineering people in human systems integration (HSI). Therefore, how can we figure out relevant contexts? How can we model them? How do we integrate them into the systemic cognition framework as CMCs to support HSI? More specifically, how are systemic cognition resources (SCRs) framed and articulated by context? This article proposes a constructivist approach for building CMCs that encompass the entire life cycle of an STS and are useful for tangibility testing and traceability. Documenting CMCs is helpful throughout the life cycle of an STS (i.e., from design to operations to dismantling). Several examples are used to support the CMCs being developed.