William P. Hall National Fellow Australian Centre for Science, Innovation and Society - University of Melbourne DIS: ICT 5.39 - 8344 1522 Head Office / Engineering Tenix Defence, Williamstown [email_address] Visiting Faculty Associate University of Technology Sydney Dept Info Sci - 13/10/2006 Emergence and Growth of Knowledge and Diversity in Hierarchically Complex Organised Systems: Genesis of a theoretical framework

Some background My path to organisational KM is unique physics (3½ years from 1957) computers (all generations from cog-wheel calculators) neurophysiology (2+ years as research assistant - signal processing) comparative ethology, comparative anatomy and ecosystem theory PhD Evolutionary Biology (Harvard, 1973) - genetic system, systematics personal KM in the sciences with bibliographic search engines studied epistemology and scientific revolutions (1977-1979) I bought my first microcomputer in 1981 and it had to pay for itself 1980's: computer literacy journalism, software tech writing, and documenting Hogan banking systems With Tenix Defence since Jan 1990 full life of the ANZAC Ship Project - On time, on budget, all the time building content authoring/management systems now working on cross divisional knowledge management solutions This gives me some different perspectives!

My path to organisational KM is unique

physics (3½ years from 1957)

computers (all generations from cog-wheel calculators)

neurophysiology (2+ years as research assistant - signal processing)

comparative ethology, comparative anatomy and ecosystem theory

PhD Evolutionary Biology (Harvard, 1973) - genetic system, systematics

personal KM in the sciences with bibliographic search engines

studied epistemology and scientific revolutions (1977-1979)

I bought my first microcomputer in 1981 and it had to pay for itself

1980's: computer literacy journalism, software tech writing, and documenting Hogan banking systems

With Tenix Defence since Jan 1990

full life of the ANZAC Ship Project - On time, on budget, all the time

building content authoring/management systems

now working on cross divisional knowledge management solutions

This gives me some different perspectives!

The work summarised here began ~1977 in response to paradigmatic misunderstandings over my PhD PhD Evol. Biol. Harvard 1973 University of Melbourne Research Fellow in Genetics 77-78 Problems with reviewers of papers following my PhD led to studies in epistemology and history and philosophy of science Worked with computers since 1981; Tenix Defence since Jan 1990 Technical writers' holy wars in 2000 over content oriented vs page oriented writing & management led to book project Co-evolution of cognitive tools and human cognition When I got to KM organisations I found my understanding of "knowledge" differed from what my peers thought it was Had to stop writing until I understood the difference Solution re-formulates org theory and KM on evolutionary principles Reformulation now well underway with peer-reviewed published papers I am also reinventing the theory of life itself theory of self-organizing hierarchically complex dissipative systems evolutionary epistemology autopoiesis

PhD Evol. Biol. Harvard 1973

University of Melbourne Research Fellow in Genetics 77-78

Problems with reviewers of papers following my PhD led to studies in epistemology and history and philosophy of science

Worked with computers since 1981; Tenix Defence since Jan 1990

Technical writers' holy wars in 2000 over content oriented vs page oriented writing & management led to book project

Co-evolution of cognitive tools and human cognition

When I got to KM organisations I found my understanding of "knowledge" differed from what my peers thought it was

Had to stop writing until I understood the difference

Solution re-formulates org theory and KM on evolutionary principles

Reformulation now well underway with peer-reviewed published papers

I am also reinventing the theory of life itself

theory of self-organizing hierarchically complex dissipative systems

evolutionary epistemology

autopoiesis

KM is a mess in several other areas as well with too many poorly understood paradigms Epistemology (theory of knowledge) personal knowledge (Michael Polanyi) objective knowledge (Karl Popper) Organization theory (Donaldson recognises 15 paradigms) resource view environment view autopoietic view How to analyse knowledge in the organization individual view social view critical view alternative views How organizations create knowledge cognitivist view connectionist view autopoietic view Donaldson, L. 1995. American Anti-Management Theones of Organization, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press – see also McKelvey, B. 1997. Quasi-natural organization science. Organization Science 8:352-380

Epistemology (theory of knowledge)

personal knowledge (Michael Polanyi)

objective knowledge (Karl Popper)

Organization theory (Donaldson recognises 15 paradigms)

resource view

environment view

autopoietic view

How to analyse knowledge in the organization

individual view

social view

critical view

alternative views

How organizations create knowledge

cognitivist view

connectionist view

autopoietic view

Foundation Problems in KM: We can’t even define knowledge consistently A few definitions from the literature Stenmark, D. 2002. Information vs. Knowledge: The Role of intranets in Knowledge Management . In Proceedings of HICSS-35, Hawaii, January 7-10, 2002 * * Full text free to the web Justified, true beliefs Data vested with meaning Facts and messages Choo et al. (2000) Text that answers the questions why and how Text that answers the questions who, when, what, or where Text that does not answer questions to a particular problem Quigley and Debons (1999) Experiences, values, insights, and contextual information A message meant to change the receiver’s perception A set of descrete facts Davenport and Prusak (1998) Valuable information from the human mind Data with relevance and purpose Simple observations Davenport (1997) The ability to assign meaning Data with meaning Not yet interpreted symbols Spek and Spijkervet (1997) * Commitments and beliefs created from these messages A flow of meaningful messages Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995) Truths and beliefs, perspectives and concepts, judgements and expectations, methodologies and know how Facts organised to describe a situation or condition Wiig (1993) Knowledge Information Data Author(s)

A few definitions from the literature

Conflicting paradigms of knowledge in KM Michael Polanyi (1958, 1966): personal/tacit knowledge Focus knowing subjects knowledge of doing, personal skills belief, faith and intuition final arbiters of "truth" followers tend to denigrate explicit knowledge to mere "information" Popularised in KM and organization theory by Nelson & Winter, Sveiby, Nonaka , von Krogh & Roos Popper (1972): epistemology without a knowing subject Knowledge grows through conjecture & refutation , i.e., criticism against reality Different kinds of knowledge: Subjective or dispositional – as embodied in instantaneous structure Persistent or objective – in codified form Joe Firestone of Macroinnovation Associates one of few KM practitioners using Popperian epistemology

Michael Polanyi (1958, 1966): personal/tacit knowledge

Focus

knowing subjects

knowledge of doing, personal skills

belief, faith and intuition final arbiters of "truth"

followers tend to denigrate explicit knowledge to mere "information"

Popularised in KM and organization theory by Nelson & Winter, Sveiby, Nonaka , von Krogh & Roos

Popper (1972): epistemology without a knowing subject

Knowledge grows through conjecture & refutation , i.e., criticism against reality

Different kinds of knowledge:

Subjective or dispositional – as embodied in instantaneous structure

Persistent or objective – in codified form

Joe Firestone of Macroinnovation Associates one of few KM practitioners using Popperian epistemology

Incommensurability of the paradigms Search dates: 11/02/2002, (15/08/2002), [14/07/2004] Michael Polanyi "Personal Knowledge" Google hits = 1,760 (1,450) [4,040] Karl Popper "Objective Knowledge“ Google hits = 1,850 (1,570) [3,730] Both together Google hits = 64 (55) [88] Only 1.1% of authors citing either book cited both! Conclusion W riters concerned with one author's thinking were not interested in or could not cope with discussing the other author's thinking in the same document - even to the extent of listing them in a single bibliography.

Search dates: 11/02/2002, (15/08/2002), [14/07/2004]

Michael Polanyi "Personal Knowledge"

Google hits = 1,760 (1,450) [4,040]

Karl Popper "Objective Knowledge“

Google hits = 1,850 (1,570) [3,730]

Both together

Google hits = 64 (55) [88]

Only 1.1% of authors citing either book cited both!

Conclusion

W riters concerned with one author's thinking were not interested in or could not cope with discussing the other author's thinking in the same document - even to the extent of listing them in a single bibliography.

Key ideas for answering “What is knowledge?” Evolutionary biology and evolutionary epistemology J.D. Watson & Francis Crick (molecular genetics) Ernst Mayr (was still writing in his 100 th year), Steven J. Gould Donald T. Campbell Karl Popper’s mature epistemology: 1972 and later – published in his 70 th year Autopoiesis ( auto = ‘self’ + poiesis = ‘production’) Humberto Maturana & Francisco Varela Chilean neurobiologists working in the 1970’s Defining what it means to be alive Emergence of complex hierarchical systems Hebert Simon, Ilya Prigogine, Stuart Kauffman Biosemiotics Howard Pattee, Luis M Rocha, Hoffmeyer & Emmeche

Evolutionary biology and evolutionary epistemology

J.D. Watson & Francis Crick (molecular genetics)

Ernst Mayr (was still writing in his 100 th year), Steven J. Gould

Donald T. Campbell

Karl Popper’s mature epistemology: 1972 and later – published in his 70 th year

Autopoiesis ( auto = ‘self’ + poiesis = ‘production’)

Humberto Maturana & Francisco Varela

Chilean neurobiologists working in the 1970’s

Defining what it means to be alive

Emergence of complex hierarchical systems

Hebert Simon, Ilya Prigogine, Stuart Kauffman

Biosemiotics

Howard Pattee, Luis M Rocha, Hoffmeyer & Emmeche

What is knowledge? Karl Popper - a philosopher who studied science " All life is problem solving " Knowledge is solutions to problems Epistemology summary Knowledge is fundamentally based on external reality The ultimate authority for deciding the truth of a claim to know is its correspondence with external reality - but .... Claims to know are cognitively constructed Impossible to prove any claim to know is true (or false) Any number of favourable tests are logically falsified by a single failure Any falsification can be "immunised" by auxiliary hypotheses Knowledge is fallible ( Firestone & McElroy 2003 )

Karl Popper - a philosopher who studied science

" All life is problem solving "

Knowledge is solutions to problems

Epistemology summary

Knowledge is fundamentally based on external reality

The ultimate authority for deciding the truth of a claim to know is its correspondence with external reality - but ....

Claims to know are cognitively constructed

Impossible to prove any claim to know is true (or false)

Any number of favourable tests are logically falsified by a single failure

Any falsification can be "immunised" by auxiliary hypotheses

Knowledge is fallible ( Firestone & McElroy 2003 )

Popper's t hree w orlds Polanyi's epistemology of personal knowledge encompassed within Popper's World 2 Regulate/Control Organismic/Personal Knowledge exists in World 2 Emerges from World 1 processes Objective Knowledge forms World 3 Persistent logical Content produced / evaluated by World 2 processes © William P. Hall 3. Expressed language Computer memory Recorded thought Logical artefacts Heredity Reproduction/Production 2. Cybernetic self-regulation Consciousness Cognition Drive/Enable Development/Recall Inferred logic Describe/Predict Test Observe 1. Energy Thermodynamics Physics Chemistry Biochemistry Existence/Reality World 1

Polanyi's epistemology of personal knowledge encompassed within Popper's World 2

Karl Popper's "tetradic schema" or "general theory of evolution " P n a real-world problem faced by an entity TS a tentative solution or tentative theory EE a process of error elimination P n+1 changed problem as faced from by an entity incorporating a surviving solution TS may be embodied in W2 in the individual entity, or TS may be expressed in words as a hypothesis in W3, subject to objective criticism Objective expression and criticism lets our theories die in our stead As an iterated cyclic process, solutions can approach reality TS 1 TS 2 • • • • • TS m P n P n +1 EE TS 1 TS 2 • • • • • TS m P n P n +1 EE TS 1 TS 2 • • • • • TS m P n P n +1 EE

P n a real-world problem faced by an entity

TS a tentative solution or tentative theory

EE a process of error elimination

P n+1 changed problem as faced from by an entity incorporating a surviving solution

TS may be embodied in W2 in the individual entity, or

TS may be expressed in words as a hypothesis in W3, subject to objective criticism

Objective expression and criticism lets our theories die in our stead

As an iterated cyclic process, solutions can approach reality

John Boyd's OODA Loop process wins conflicts An organisation's success in a competitive environment depends critically its ability to do a better job of assimilating information, increasing its epistemic quality to generate strategic power, and reducing decision cycle times. See http://www. belisarius .com . A O OBSERVE (Results of Test) OBSERVATION PARADIGMS EXTERNAL INFORMATION CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES UNFOLDING ENVIRONMENTAL RESULTS OF ACTIONS ORIENT D DECIDE (Hypothesis) O CULTURE PARADIGMS PROCESSES GENETIC HERITAGE MEMORY OF HISTORY INPUT ANALYSIS SYNTHESIS ACT (Test) GUIDANCE AND CONTROL PARADIGMS UNFOLDING INTERACTION WITH EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT

An organisation's success in a competitive environment depends critically its ability to do a better job of assimilating information, increasing its epistemic quality to generate strategic power, and reducing decision cycle times. See http://www. belisarius .com .

Some OODA definitions Observation assembles data about the world in which the adaptive entity exists (including the entity's own effects and those of its competitors on that world). Data is given a context relating to the entity's interactions with the world. Orientation processes that observations into semantically linked knowledge in the form of a world view comprised of new information , memories of prior experience (which may be explicit, implicit or even tacit, genetic heritage (i.e., "natural talent" ) , cultural traditions (i.e., paradigms), and analysis (destruction) of the existing world view, and synthesis (creation) of a revised world view including possibilities for action. This generates intelligence (in a military sense). Decision selects amongst possible actions generated by the orientation, action(s) to try. Choice is governed and informed by wisdom based on prior experience gained from previous OODA cycles, and the synthesis (creation) of new possibilities to try. Action involves putting the decision to test by applying it to the world. The loop begins to repeat as the entity observes the results of its action.

Observation assembles data about the world in which the adaptive entity exists (including the entity's own effects and those of its competitors on that world). Data is given a context relating to the entity's interactions with the world.

Orientation processes that observations into semantically linked knowledge in the form of a world view comprised of

new information ,

memories of prior experience (which may be explicit, implicit or even tacit,

genetic heritage (i.e., "natural talent" ) ,

cultural traditions (i.e., paradigms), and

analysis (destruction) of the existing world view, and synthesis (creation) of a revised world view including possibilities for action. This generates intelligence (in a military sense).

Decision selects amongst possible actions generated by the orientation, action(s) to try. Choice is governed and informed by

wisdom based on prior experience gained from previous OODA cycles, and

the synthesis (creation) of new possibilities to try.

Action involves putting the decision to test by applying it to the world. The loop begins to repeat as the entity observes the results of its action.

Maturana and Varela: autopoiesis defines life Autopoiesis (= self + production) is the condition achieved by a bounded and self-regulating autocatalytic set of processes able to maintain its existence as an autonomous entity in the face of environmental perturbations; i.e., that which gives a living entity the property of life. Recognizing an autopoietic entity (see von Krogh & Roos) Self-identifiably bounded (membranes, tags) Individually identifiable components within the boundary (complex) Mechanistic (i.e., metabolism/cybernetic processes) System boundaries internally determined (self reference) System intrinsically produces own components Self-produced components are necessary and sufficient to produce the system (autonomy)

Autopoiesis (= self + production) is the condition achieved by a bounded and self-regulating autocatalytic set of processes able to maintain its existence as an autonomous entity in the face of environmental perturbations; i.e., that which gives a living entity the property of life.

Recognizing an autopoietic entity (see von Krogh & Roos)

Self-identifiably bounded (membranes, tags)

Individually identifiable components within the boundary (complex)

Mechanistic (i.e., metabolism/cybernetic processes)

System boundaries internally determined (self reference)

System intrinsically produces own components

Self-produced components are necessary and sufficient to produce the system (autonomy)

Paradigm of the autopoietic organised system Maturana and Varela (1980) - Autopoiesis & Cognition – properties of living things Early 1970s quest to define the property of life Autonomous entities defined by self regulation and self production Emergence I. Prigogine - Nobel Laureate Principles of non-equilibrium thermodynamics H. Simon (1962) – Architecture of Complex Systems H. Morowitz (1968) – Energy Flow in Biology: Systems forced through time to evolve increasingly complex cycles to transport energy/matter from sources to sinks J.J. Kay (1984) – Self-organization in living systems S. Salthe (1985, 1993) emergence in a scalar hierarchy S. Kauffman (1993) – Origins of Order: "autocatalytic sets" "organization for free"

Maturana and Varela (1980) - Autopoiesis & Cognition – properties of living things

Early 1970s quest to define the property of life

Autonomous entities defined by self regulation and self production

Emergence

I. Prigogine - Nobel Laureate

Principles of non-equilibrium thermodynamics

H. Simon (1962) – Architecture of Complex Systems

H. Morowitz (1968) – Energy Flow in Biology:

Systems forced through time to evolve increasingly complex cycles to transport energy/matter from sources to sinks

J.J. Kay (1984) – Self-organization in living systems

S. Salthe (1985, 1993)

emergence in a scalar hierarchy

S. Kauffman (1993) – Origins of Order:

"autocatalytic sets"

"organization for free"

Complexity theory: Hierarchically complex dissipative systems a nd the focal level (complex triad) HIGH LEVEL SYSTEM / ENVIRONMENT SYSTEM SYSTEM SYSTEM SUBSYSTEMS boundary conditions, constraints, regulations FOCAL LEVEL Possibilities initiating conditions universal laws "material - causes" Emergent properties Synthesis cannot predict higher level properties B ehaviour is uncomputable Boundary conditions & constraints select Analysis can explain Stanley Salthe (1993) Development and Evolution: Complexity and Change in Biology

Emergent

properties

Synthesis cannot predict higher level properties

B ehaviour is uncomputable

Boundary conditions & constraints select

Analysis can explain

Stanley Salthe (1993) Development and Evolution: Complexity and Change in Biology

Emergence of knowledge Cognition is the cybernetics of autopoiesis (Maturana) Emergence = establishment of a complex system at a new level in the hierarchy between two pre-existing levels of complexity (Salthe) Early autopoietic systems emerge close to thermodynamic equilibrium between coalescence/disintegration (Kauffman's autocatalytic sets) Autopoietic systems produce more components that favour autopoiesis Dis-integrationg systems lose history, but return components to the environment that have previously worked in autopoietic systems Knowledge of autopoiesis is inherent in the environment, thus shared promiscuously Promiscuity impedes specialisation because random components need to work together Early reproduction requires only growth and fragmentation - where fragments would retain some of the parent's history Selection for self-stabilization evolves towards clonal reproduction away from equilibrium, to preserve structural history that worked Knowledge defines the nature and behaviour of the autopoietic system Meaning = knowledge of solutions to life embodied in dynamic structure Knowledge = heredity = historically accumulated 'information' controlling autopoietic cybernetics to regulate problem responses

Cognition is the cybernetics of autopoiesis (Maturana)

Emergence = establishment of a complex system at a new level in the hierarchy between two pre-existing levels of complexity (Salthe)

Early autopoietic systems emerge close to thermodynamic equilibrium between coalescence/disintegration (Kauffman's autocatalytic sets)

Autopoietic systems produce more components that favour autopoiesis

Dis-integrationg systems lose history, but return components to the environment that have previously worked in autopoietic systems

Knowledge of autopoiesis is inherent in the environment, thus shared promiscuously

Promiscuity impedes specialisation because random components need to work together

Early reproduction requires only growth and fragmentation - where fragments would retain some of the parent's history

Selection for self-stabilization evolves towards clonal reproduction away from equilibrium, to preserve structural history that worked

Knowledge defines the nature and behaviour of the autopoietic system

Meaning = knowledge of solutions to life embodied in dynamic structure

Knowledge = heredity = historically accumulated 'information' controlling autopoietic cybernetics to regulate problem responses

The nature and growth of autopoietic knowledge Turbulent flow from available energy (exergy) sources to entropy sinks forces conducting systems to become more organised (state of decreased entropy ) - Prigogine, Morowitz, Kay and Schneider, Kauffman ) Coalescent systems have no past . Self-regulatory/self-productive (autocatalytic) activities that persist for a time before disintegrating produce components whose individual histories "precondition" them to form autopoietic systems. Each emerged autopoietic system represents a tentative solution to problems of life. Those that dis-integrate lose their histories (heredity/knowledge). Stable systems are those whose tentative solutions enable them to persist indefinitely. Competition among such systems for resources is inevitable. Survivors thus perpetuate historically successful solutions into their self-produced structure to form dispositional or tacit knowledge (W2). Those that fail to solve new problems dis-integrate and lose their histories. Replication, transcription and translation . With semantic coding and decoding, knowledge can be preserved and replicated in physiologically inert forms for recall only when relevant to a particular problem of life. Objective knowledge may be shared across space and through time . - Howard Pattee (1965-2000) series of papers; Luis Rocha (1995-) series of papers. Knowledge: a phenomenon of emergent and evolving autopoiesis Tentative solutions Coalescence / Emergence † Stable solutions Stabilised autopoiesis † Selected solutions Dispositional autopoiesis † Semiotic autopoiesis Knowledge sharing Shared solutions † Criticised solutions Dis-integration Integration Turbulence Evolutionary Stage

The nature and growth of autopoietic knowledge

Turbulent flow from available energy (exergy) sources to entropy sinks forces conducting systems to become more organised (state of decreased entropy ) - Prigogine, Morowitz, Kay and Schneider, Kauffman )

Coalescent systems have no past . Self-regulatory/self-productive (autocatalytic) activities that persist for a time before disintegrating produce components whose individual histories "precondition" them to form autopoietic systems. Each emerged autopoietic system represents a tentative solution to problems of life. Those that dis-integrate lose their histories (heredity/knowledge).

Stable systems are those whose tentative solutions enable them to persist indefinitely. Competition among such systems for resources is inevitable. Survivors thus perpetuate historically successful solutions into their self-produced structure to form dispositional or tacit knowledge (W2). Those that fail to solve new problems dis-integrate and lose their histories.

Replication, transcription and translation . With semantic coding and decoding, knowledge can be preserved and replicated in physiologically inert forms for recall only when relevant to a particular problem of life. Objective knowledge may be shared across space and through time . - Howard Pattee (1965-2000) series of papers; Luis Rocha (1995-) series of papers.

Emergent orders of autopoietic complexity Presence of autopoietic system self-defines the focal level of a complex triad 1st order triad Focal level = living cell Subsystems/components = macromolecules Supersystem/environment = dynamic medium/ecosystem/multicellular organisms 2nd order triad Focal level = multicellular organism Subsystems/components = living cells Supersystem/environment = dynamic ecosystem 3rd order triad Focal level = society of organisms (ants, bees, termites) Subsystems/components = multicellular organisms Supersystems/environment = dynamic ecosystem 3rd order triad Focal level = human economic organization Subsystems/components = entities with linguistic capabilities Supersystems/environment = dynamic economy

Presence of autopoietic system self-defines the focal level of a complex triad

1st order triad

Focal level = living cell

Subsystems/components = macromolecules

Supersystem/environment = dynamic medium/ecosystem/multicellular organisms

2nd order triad

Focal level = multicellular organism

Subsystems/components = living cells

Supersystem/environment = dynamic ecosystem

3rd order triad

Focal level = society of organisms (ants, bees, termites)

Subsystems/components = multicellular organisms

Supersystems/environment = dynamic ecosystem

3rd order triad

Focal level = human economic organization

Subsystems/components = entities with linguistic capabilities

Supersystems/environment = dynamic economy

Reproduction, sex, and diversification (1) World 2 knowledge transmitted by the division of pre-existing dynamic structure inescapable consequence of autopoiesis entails some loss of computationally irreducible structure depends on what parts of structure passed on Emergence of world 3 knowledge depends on evolution of codification systems Autocatalytic nucleic acid polymers in emergence of first order autopoiesis. Nucleic acid polymers may have enzymatic and/or structural fns Autoreplication of polymer replicates the polymer's functions RNAs retain structural & enzymatic functions to apply control info DNAs codified control information into "genes" Selective advantages for grouping genes into chromosomes Accurate replication Controlled segregation into daughter cells

World 2 knowledge transmitted by the division of pre-existing dynamic structure

inescapable consequence of autopoiesis

entails some loss of computationally irreducible structure

depends on what parts of structure passed on

Emergence of world 3 knowledge depends on evolution of codification systems

Autocatalytic nucleic acid polymers in emergence of first order autopoiesis.

Nucleic acid polymers may have enzymatic and/or structural fns

Autoreplication of polymer replicates the polymer's functions

RNAs retain structural & enzymatic functions to apply control info

DNAs codified control information into "genes"

Selective advantages for grouping genes into chromosomes

Accurate replication

Controlled segregation into daughter cells

Reproduction, sex, and diversification (2) Clonal reproduction in prokaryotes Clonal evol & differentiation of coadapted snippets in lineages Advantage: Protected accuracy of existing world 3 knowledge Disadvantage: Reduced ability to recombine tested knowledge from different sources in one lineage Sexual recombination totally independent from reproduction Transformation (naked DNA absorbed from environment) Transduction (viral transfer) Conjugation (transfer of plasmid DNA via cell bridge) Recognition of related & rejection of unrelated DNA sequences Pairing & crossing over of homologous DNA Eukaryote DNA well isolated from external exchanges Choreographed cell & nuclear fusion Choreographed recombination and assortment Specialised knowledge allows emergence of biological speciation and gene pools as evolutionary entities

Clonal reproduction in prokaryotes

Clonal evol & differentiation of coadapted snippets in lineages

Advantage: Protected accuracy of existing world 3 knowledge

Disadvantage: Reduced ability to recombine tested knowledge from different sources in one lineage

Sexual recombination totally independent from reproduction

Transformation (naked DNA absorbed from environment)

Transduction (viral transfer)

Conjugation (transfer of plasmid DNA via cell bridge)

Recognition of related & rejection of unrelated DNA sequences

Pairing & crossing over of homologous DNA

Eukaryote DNA well isolated from external exchanges

Choreographed cell & nuclear fusion

Choreographed recombination and assortment

Specialised knowledge allows emergence of biological speciation and gene pools as evolutionary entities

Knowledge in higher order autopoiesis (1) Second order systems (multicellular organisms) Clonal budding and alternation of generations common in lower orgs W2 knowledge transmitted via structure of egg cell Learning reflected in structural connections of neurones and other aspects of dispositional structure (physiological adaptation) Most dispositional (somatic) learning cannot be transferred via sexual reproduction Extended parental care can transfer some W2 knowledge via demonstration and copying (i.e., tacit exchange) W3 knowledge in DNA All cells have same DNA Some DNA is control info for cell differentiation and development Only evolves via blind variation and selective elimination of carriers W3 knowledge in extrasomatic heritage Evolution of semiotic/linguistic transfers Encoded objects

Second order systems (multicellular organisms)

Clonal budding and alternation of generations common in lower orgs

W2 knowledge transmitted via structure of egg cell

Learning reflected in structural connections of neurones and other aspects of dispositional structure (physiological adaptation)

Most dispositional (somatic) learning cannot be transferred via sexual reproduction

Extended parental care can transfer some W2 knowledge via demonstration and copying (i.e., tacit exchange)

W3 knowledge in DNA

All cells have same DNA

Some DNA is control info for cell differentiation and development

Only evolves via blind variation and selective elimination of carriers

W3 knowledge in extrasomatic heritage

Evolution of semiotic/linguistic transfers

Encoded objects

Knowledge in higher order autopoiesis (2) Third order systems (societies, organizations) Pubs: Hall 2003, 2005, 2006; Else 2004; Hall et al. 2005; Nousala et al, 2005; Dalmaris et al. 2007 W2 knowledge layout and capabilities of plant and machinery social network structure tacit organizational routines tacit personal knowledge cultural dynamics W3 knowledge part of DNA at level of individual organisms encodes adaptations for social behaviours pheromonal trails, published inducements, etc. records and documents of organizational significance explicitly defined processes and procedures

Third order systems (societies, organizations)

Pubs: Hall 2003, 2005, 2006; Else 2004; Hall et al. 2005; Nousala et al, 2005; Dalmaris et al. 2007

W2 knowledge

layout and capabilities of plant and machinery

social network structure

tacit organizational routines

tacit personal knowledge

cultural dynamics

W3 knowledge

part of DNA at level of individual organisms encodes adaptations for social behaviours

pheromonal trails, published inducements, etc.

records and documents of organizational significance

explicitly defined processes and procedures

The organisation is a complex system in the environment Processes (which may be complex subsystems that are autopoietic in their own rights) are necessary responses to imperatives: Survival Self-maintenance of the processes themselves Constraints and boundaries (laws of nature determine what is possible) Processes The organisation's imperatives and goals Energy (exergy) Recruitment Materials Income Observations Entropy/Waste Products Departures Expenses Actions

Processes (which may be complex subsystems that are autopoietic in their own rights) are necessary responses to imperatives:

Survival

Self-maintenance of the processes themselves

Some concepts building on autopoiesis theory and Karl Popper's theory of knowledge Organisations (and other living things) are complex dissipative systems emerging from the medium They consume environmental resources that are limited Resources People Income Sinks for entropically degraded materials/devalued energy Competition limits survival WORLD 1 ("everything") Medium or supersystem Resources People Economics Information Constraints { Organisation 1 Organisation 3 Organisation 2 Organisation 4

Organisations (and other living things) are complex dissipative systems emerging from the medium

They consume environmental resources that are limited

Resources

People

Income

Sinks for entropically degraded materials/devalued energy

Competition limits survival

Knowledge in an autopoietic entity AUTOPOIETIC SYSTEM Constrain/Control Observe/Measure Recall Material Reality WORLD 1 Embodied cybernetic knowledge WORLD 2 ITERATION/SELECTION THROUGH TIME Produce Symbolically encoded knowledge/ memory WORLD 3

Personal Research http://www.orgs-evolution-knowledge.net/ Emergent autopoietic vortexes forming world 2 and world 3 in a flux of exergy to entropy World 1  Flux along the focal level  Symbolic knowledge Embodied knowledge Autonomy Autocatalytic metabolism Material cycles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exergy source Entropy sink

Cognition (terms are meaningful in relation to autopoietic or artificially intelligent systems) Observation : Initial change induced within the autopoietic system by a perturbation Classification ( / decision ): Process by which an induced change results in the system settling into one of alternative attractor basins on a landscape of potential gradients Meaning : The net result in the system due to the initial propagation and classification of an observation Coombe's Hierarchy (Australian Army Info Mgmt Manual) Data : The atomic level of meaning Information (first level of synthesis): Classified observations assembled into relationship structures Knowledge (second level of synthesis): Semantically identified and linked information Intelligence (third level of synthesis): Tentative theory(ies) about the world based on knowledge Wisdom (fourth level of synthesis): Solutions after the elimination of errors through testing theories against the world Strategic power (the result): Wisdom applied to control the world

Observation : Initial change induced within the autopoietic system by a perturbation

Classification ( / decision ): Process by which an induced change results in the system settling into one of alternative attractor basins on a landscape of potential gradients

Meaning : The net result in the system due to the initial propagation and classification of an observation

Coombe's Hierarchy (Australian Army Info Mgmt Manual)

Data : The atomic level of meaning

Information (first level of synthesis): Classified observations assembled into relationship structures

Knowledge (second level of synthesis): Semantically identified and linked information

Intelligence (third level of synthesis): Tentative theory(ies) about the world based on knowledge

Wisdom (fourth level of synthesis): Solutions after the elimination of errors through testing theories against the world

Strategic power (the result): Wisdom applied to control the world

Coombe's hierarchy in the autopoietic entity Environment Autopoietic system Cell Multicellular organism Social organisation State Perturbations Observations ( data ) Classification Meaning An "attractor basin" Related information Memory of history Semantic processing to form knowledge Predict, propose Intelligence

Another view Decision Medium/ Environment Autopoietic system World State 1 Perturbation Transduction Observation Memory Classification Evaluation Synthesis Processing Paradigm Assemble Response Internal changes Effect action Effect Iterate Conscious OODA Loop in Material Terms Codified knowledge Observed internal changes Time World State 2

Paradigm of the autopoietic organization (2) Nelson & Winter ( 1982 ) : Evolutionary Theory of Economic Change Postulated that organizational knowledge transcends knowledge of individual members to form organizational heredity to maintain the existence and behaviour of the organization (i.e., self-production). Assumed this t ranscendent knowledge was tacit (Polanyi) physical layout routines contexts connections von Krogh and Roos (1995) Organizational Epistemology

Nelson & Winter ( 1982 ) : Evolutionary Theory of Economic Change

Postulated that organizational knowledge transcends knowledge of individual members to form organizational heredity to maintain the existence and behaviour of the organization (i.e., self-production).

Assumed this t ranscendent knowledge was tacit (Polanyi)

physical layout

routines

contexts

connections

von Krogh and Roos (1995) Organizational Epistemology

Existing users of Autopoiesis neglect World 3 C urrent paradigm of organizational autopoiesis Blind spot: Maturana & Varela legitimately did not include reproduction in their minimal definition of autopoiesis As stated the concept does not consider persistent heredity transcending the life of a single entity Nelson & Winter Focus on tacit personal & organizational knowledge Represents late 1970s early 1980s thinking As they were writing, world 3 organizational content largely consisted of data, information & transaction records, not knowledge Roles of persistent knowledge (heredity) to guide growth & maintenance of the living organization The exception is Hugo Urrestarazu (2004) On Boundaries of Autopoietic Systems Three domains: phenomenological, "biological", "languaging Funct. equivalent to Popper's 3 worlds

C urrent paradigm of organizational autopoiesis

Blind spot: Maturana & Varela legitimately did not include reproduction in their minimal definition of autopoiesis

As stated the concept does not consider persistent heredity transcending the life of a single entity

Nelson & Winter

Focus on tacit personal & organizational knowledge

Represents late 1970s early 1980s thinking

As they were writing, world 3 organizational content largely consisted of data, information & transaction records, not knowledge

Roles of persistent knowledge (heredity) to guide growth & maintenance of the living organization

The exception is Hugo Urrestarazu (2004) On Boundaries of Autopoietic Systems

Three domains: phenomenological, "biological", "languaging

Funct. equivalent to Popper's 3 worlds

Organisational knowledge in World 3 Persistent objects of corporate knowledge Articles of incorporation & employment agreements Contracts E-mails & correspondence Graphics and drawings Plans, records, process & procedure documents Enacted workflow systems Written history Links & captured contexts Databases AV recordings World 3 comprises the bulk of organizational memory or heredity

Persistent objects of corporate knowledge

Articles of incorporation & employment agreements

Contracts

E-mails & correspondence

Graphics and drawings

Plans, records, process & procedure documents

Enacted workflow systems

Written history

Links & captured contexts

Databases

AV recordings

World 3 comprises the bulk of organizational memory or heredity

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