A Linguistic-Based Systematic Approach to Complex System Dynamics and its Application to E-government Introduction in Zanzibar

System thinking has become an effective strategy when dealing with complex systems. Such systems are characterized by mutual interactions, causality and inter-dependency between system components. A typical example is the cooperation between governmental organizations and stakeholder interaction. Th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Maryam M. Khamis, Theo P. van der Weide
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Riga Technical University Press 2017-07-01
Series:Complex Systems Informatics and Modeling Quarterly
Subjects:
Online Access:https://csimq-journals.rtu.lv/article/view/1782
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850242051819438080
author Maryam M. Khamis
Theo P. van der Weide
author_facet Maryam M. Khamis
Theo P. van der Weide
author_sort Maryam M. Khamis
collection DOAJ
description System thinking has become an effective strategy when dealing with complex systems. Such systems are characterized by mutual interactions, causality and inter-dependency between system components. A typical example is the cooperation between governmental organizations and stakeholder interaction. The complexity of developing an e-government system suggests a more fundamental approach, where the roles of domain expert and system analyst are clearly separated. The main focus of this article is (1) to propose a linguistically-based systematic approach to the construction of models for the dynamics of complex systems, and (2) to propose extended causal diagrams. Our research methodology is based on Design Science. We start from a conceptual language developed for the application domain at hand and use this to define the dynamic factors. Then, we show how the resulting extended causal diagram is transformed into a framework for System Dynamics. We have demonstrated this approach by using a basic form of an e-Government as a running example. Our intention is to use this approach as a basis for a systematic step-wise introduction of e-Government in Zanzibar. Besides, this method is useful for modeling any complex system, especially for the description and evaluation of intended policies.
format Article
id doaj-art-bb755dccaadd4fcea63e36e2a344f2de
institution OA Journals
issn 2255-9922
language English
publishDate 2017-07-01
publisher Riga Technical University Press
record_format Article
series Complex Systems Informatics and Modeling Quarterly
spelling doaj-art-bb755dccaadd4fcea63e36e2a344f2de2025-08-20T02:00:24ZengRiga Technical University PressComplex Systems Informatics and Modeling Quarterly2255-99222017-07-010118511110.7250/csimq.2017-11.051014A Linguistic-Based Systematic Approach to Complex System Dynamics and its Application to E-government Introduction in ZanzibarMaryam M. Khamis0Theo P. van der Weide1Institute of Computing and Information Sciences, Radboud University, Toernooiveld 212 6525 EC NijmegenInstitute of Computing and Information Sciences, Radboud University, Toernooiveld 212 6525 EC NijmegenSystem thinking has become an effective strategy when dealing with complex systems. Such systems are characterized by mutual interactions, causality and inter-dependency between system components. A typical example is the cooperation between governmental organizations and stakeholder interaction. The complexity of developing an e-government system suggests a more fundamental approach, where the roles of domain expert and system analyst are clearly separated. The main focus of this article is (1) to propose a linguistically-based systematic approach to the construction of models for the dynamics of complex systems, and (2) to propose extended causal diagrams. Our research methodology is based on Design Science. We start from a conceptual language developed for the application domain at hand and use this to define the dynamic factors. Then, we show how the resulting extended causal diagram is transformed into a framework for System Dynamics. We have demonstrated this approach by using a basic form of an e-Government as a running example. Our intention is to use this approach as a basis for a systematic step-wise introduction of e-Government in Zanzibar. Besides, this method is useful for modeling any complex system, especially for the description and evaluation of intended policies.https://csimq-journals.rtu.lv/article/view/1782Complex systemsconceptual modelingsystem dynamicsextended causal diagrammodel transformatione-government introduction.
spellingShingle Maryam M. Khamis
Theo P. van der Weide
A Linguistic-Based Systematic Approach to Complex System Dynamics and its Application to E-government Introduction in Zanzibar
Complex Systems Informatics and Modeling Quarterly
Complex systems
conceptual modeling
system dynamics
extended causal diagram
model transformation
e-government introduction.
title A Linguistic-Based Systematic Approach to Complex System Dynamics and its Application to E-government Introduction in Zanzibar
title_full A Linguistic-Based Systematic Approach to Complex System Dynamics and its Application to E-government Introduction in Zanzibar
title_fullStr A Linguistic-Based Systematic Approach to Complex System Dynamics and its Application to E-government Introduction in Zanzibar
title_full_unstemmed A Linguistic-Based Systematic Approach to Complex System Dynamics and its Application to E-government Introduction in Zanzibar
title_short A Linguistic-Based Systematic Approach to Complex System Dynamics and its Application to E-government Introduction in Zanzibar
title_sort linguistic based systematic approach to complex system dynamics and its application to e government introduction in zanzibar
topic Complex systems
conceptual modeling
system dynamics
extended causal diagram
model transformation
e-government introduction.
url https://csimq-journals.rtu.lv/article/view/1782
work_keys_str_mv AT maryammkhamis alinguisticbasedsystematicapproachtocomplexsystemdynamicsanditsapplicationtoegovernmentintroductioninzanzibar
AT theopvanderweide alinguisticbasedsystematicapproachtocomplexsystemdynamicsanditsapplicationtoegovernmentintroductioninzanzibar
AT maryammkhamis linguisticbasedsystematicapproachtocomplexsystemdynamicsanditsapplicationtoegovernmentintroductioninzanzibar
AT theopvanderweide linguisticbasedsystematicapproachtocomplexsystemdynamicsanditsapplicationtoegovernmentintroductioninzanzibar