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Article
Publication date: 16 March 2010

Yi Lin

The purpose of this paper is to systematically, but briefly, outline the theoretical and empirical foundations for the validity of the general systemic yoyo model in order to lay…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to systematically, but briefly, outline the theoretical and empirical foundations for the validity of the general systemic yoyo model in order to lay down a solid basis for future studies of this model and relevant applications in various traditional research areas as presented in this special issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is developed on the available theoretical knowledge from a wide range of areas, such as kinematics, fluid mechanics, vector analysis, quantitative representations of solenoidal rotations, geometry in curvature spaces, etc. and empirical facts from areas like quantum mechanics, astronomy, particle physics, meteorology, etc. The spirit of this work is truly systemic, where conclusions are drawn using cross‐disciplinary syntheses of conclusions and observations.

Findings

The paper develops a plausible and convincing series of evidence for the validity of the general systemic yoyo model and presents the relevant highlights of the dishpan experiment in order to pave the way for a follow‐up and detailed study of this yoyo model and its applications in natural and social sciences.

Originality/value

After the systemic yoyo model is initially proposed, this work is the first to develop the foundation of this useful model of systems research.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 39 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 March 2010

Yi Lin and Bailey Forrest

The purpose of this paper is to apply the general thinking logic and methodology of the systemic yoyo model to provide novel resolutions for some of the very important questions…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply the general thinking logic and methodology of the systemic yoyo model to provide novel resolutions for some of the very important questions studied in the research of history and civilizations.

Design/methodology/approach

To lay the foundation for brand new results and conclusions, laboratory observations, such as the dishpan experiments, the theory of the general systemic yoyo model, and calculus‐based differential equations were combined into an organic whole of reasoning. What is obtained in this paper surely proves the merit of this approach.

Findings

By modeling the world of civilizations using systemic yoyos, the paper provides novel and convincing answers to such important questions as who we are, asked in search for identities, and whether or not the appearance of the global identity crisis in the 1990s is an indicator for the USA to cease its global dominance as the sole superpower. By using the figurative analysis, naturally available along with the systemic yoyo model, the paper analyzes external pressures each civilization experiences and when and why a prosperous civilization would possibly choose to isolate itself from the rest of the world. By introducing the concepts of stirring energies and stirring momentum, it will be possible to study three‐ringed circulations and explore the human desire for stability out of a universe of permanent instabilities.

Originality/value

Instead of using statistics, this paper is among the first of its kind in the study of civilizations that collectively applies rigorous mathematics, the systems research and laboratory experiments in the study of social phenomena. So, when compared to other studies in the area of civilizations that are either language or statistics based using short time‐series data, this work brings forward more affirmative conclusions without involving any chance or guess work.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 39 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 April 2008

Yi Lin, Wujia Zhu, Ningsheng Gong and Guoping Du

The paper aims to show the existence of the systemic yoyo structure in human thoughts so that the human way of thinking is proven to have the same structure as that of the…

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to show the existence of the systemic yoyo structure in human thoughts so that the human way of thinking is proven to have the same structure as that of the material world.

Design/methodology/approach

Parallel comparison is used to reveal the underlying structure existing in human thoughts.

Findings

After highlighting all the relevant ideas and concepts, which are behind each and every crisis in the foundations of mathematics, it becomes clear that some difficulties in the authors' understanding of nature are originated from confusing actual infinities with potential infinities, and vice versa. By pointing out the similarities and differences between these two kinds of infinities, then some hidden contradictions existing in the system of modern mathematics are handily picked out. Then, theoretically, using the authors' yoyo model, it is predicted that the fourth crisis in the foundations of mathematics has appeared. And, a plan of resolution of this new crisis is provided.

Originality/value

This paper shows the first time in history that human thought, the material world, and each economic entity, share a common structure – the systemic yoyo structure. And it proves the arrival of the fourth crisis in mathematics by using systems modeling and listing several; contradictions hidden deeply in the foundations of mathematics.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 37 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 February 2017

Jeffrey Yi-Lin Forrest, John Buttermore and Theresa A. Wajda

This paper aims to investigate the dynamics of a coordinate monopoly with established, risk-neutral firms; how these firms compete by adjusting prices; and when new competition(s…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the dynamics of a coordinate monopoly with established, risk-neutral firms; how these firms compete by adjusting prices; and when new competition(s) might enter the market with expectations of making more profits than any of the incumbents.

Design/methodology/approach

All results are established on the intuition of systems research and the concept of Nash equilibria of game theory.

Findings

Established results include how in a developed marketplace, risk neutrality would lead to stagnation in profits and irrational decision on pricing, and a sufficient and necessary condition under which new competition(s) would enter, although the market is coordinately monopolized.

Research limitations/implications

Conclusions presented are initial results in the direction of research. More real-life-like, asymmetrical conditions need to be considered to see what variations of similar results could hold true.

Practical implications

Presented are an operational aspect on how to compete although the consequent level of profits might not change much or any at all and how some of the key issues on market entry timing are theoretically resolved.

Social implications

This work indicates that for the minimum objective of business survival, existing firms, no matter how established, have to without any choice participate in market competition and look for new market opportunities.

Originality/value

Other than the established thought-provoking results, this work is the first of its kind. It organically combines recent achievements of systems research with game theory to explore issues of marketing, market entry timing and the dynamics of business firms’ behaviors.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 46 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 April 2007

Yi Lin

This paper aims to show that systemic methods and thinking can be used to develop useful tools to address problems open in traditional science, such as Newtonian physics…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to show that systemic methods and thinking can be used to develop useful tools to address problems open in traditional science, such as Newtonian physics, universal gravitation, planetary motions, and the three‐body problem.

Design/methodology/approach

Expanded on the yoyo model introduced earlier for general systems, a new figurative analysis method is introduced in this paper.

Findings

After establishing its theoretical and empirical foundations, this method is used to generalize Newton's laws of mechanics by addressing several unsettled problems in the history. Through the concept of equal quantitative effects, it is argued that this new method possesses some strength not found in pure quantitative methods. After studying the characteristics of whole evolutions of converging and diverging fluid motions, the concept of time is revisited using the new model. As further applications of the new method, one covers Kepler's laws of planetary motion, Newton's law of universal gravitation, and explains why planets travel along elliptical orbits, why no external forces are needed for systems to revolve about one another, and why binary star systems, tri‐nary star systems, and even n‐nary star systems can exist, for any natural number n≥2. By checking the study of the three‐body problem, a brand new method is provided to analyze the movement of three stars, visible or invisible. At the end, some open problems are cast for future research.

Originality/value

This paper shows for the first time in history that several well‐established laws in physics can be generalized using systemic thinking. Beyond that, an operative method of analysis is introduced to investigate problems that have been extremely difficult to handle in the scientific history. With adequate quantitative tools developed to accompany this method, it can be reasonably expected that an active systemic scientific era with a slightly different tilt from the contemporary science will follow shortly.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 36 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 March 2010

Yi Lin and Xiaoya He

The purpose of this paper is to investigate such fundamental concepts as mass, charge, and quark structure of the general systemic yoyo model so that this model could be more…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate such fundamental concepts as mass, charge, and quark structure of the general systemic yoyo model so that this model could be more widely applied in studies of various scientific disciplines.

Design/methodology/approach

Laboratory experiments well documented in quantum mechanics and particle physics are employed as supporting evidence.

Findings

A yoyo model explanation for Stern‐Gerlach experiment is provided. The yoyo structures of an electron and a positron are established. Other than illustrating how a radioactive element is decayed, the paper provides an argument for why n‐quark yoyos can theoretically exist in the physical world, for any natural number n.

Originality/value

The paper shows how some properties of the general systemic yoyo model can be established and how some of these very properties can be employed to deepen the understanding of the elementary particles studied in particle physics.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 39 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 March 2010

Yi Lin and Bailey Forrest

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the mechanism underlying three fascinating problems that have been investigated by many first class scholars in sociology throughout history.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the mechanism underlying three fascinating problems that have been investigated by many first class scholars in sociology throughout history.

Design/methodology/approach

The thinking logic and figurative method of the general systemic yoyo model, combined with laboratory experiments, are collectively employed to present a brand new methodology for the study of three unsettled problems in the research of civilizations.

Findings

The paper provides novel explanations for such fascinating but unsettled problems as: what factors determine whether a civilization is to live or die? What brings prosperity to a specific geographic region? How does a new emerging or reviving civilization adopt elements of existing or other civilizations to build or reconstruct its own organizational structure?

Originality/value

This paper presents how laws and conclusions developed in systems science in general and the systemic yoyo model in particular can bring forward tangible results in social science with solid scientific merits. Considering the importance of the conclusions drawn in this paper, it is expected that this paper will produce results that can be truly useful for policy makers at national and international levels.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 39 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 March 2010

Yi Lin and Bailey Forrest

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the mechanism underlying many inexplicable phenomena observed in social organizations and human history by using the general systemic yoyo…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the mechanism underlying many inexplicable phenomena observed in social organizations and human history by using the general systemic yoyo model.

Design/methodology/approach

Such traditional tools as laboratory experiments, calculus‐based methods, quantitative reasoning of microeconomics, and set‐theoretical logic are collectively employed to present a brand new method for the study of many unsettled problems in the research of civilizations.

Findings

Among a whole series of open problems, novel explanations are provided for important questions like: how do civilizations or cultures form? Why did Western democracy not originate in Eastern Asian or other parts of the world? Why does each blown‐up that it bridges a transition between organizational expansion and contraction represents a weakest link in the evolution of a social entity? Why are there nation states within a civilization? Why is the Western civilization having multiple centers or core states, while the Sinic civilization has one core state and the Islamic civilization does not seem to have any core states? How can policy makers separate civilizations from each other?

Originality/value

This work presents how systems science in general and the systemic yoyo model in particular can bring forward tangible results in social science with solid scientific merits. Owing to the novelty of reasoning and sound conclusions derived on solid scientific foundations, it is expected that this work will produce such results that can be truly useful for policy makers at national and international levels.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 39 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 February 2008

Yi Lin and Dillon Forrest

This paper aims to establish a systemic yoyo model for economic entities so that the most recent developments in systems research can be applied to the study of economics and…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to establish a systemic yoyo model for economic entities so that the most recent developments in systems research can be applied to the study of economics and finance.

Design/methodology/approach

The concept and methods of whole systemic evolution are employed so that each economic entity, be it an individual, a family, a company, or any organization, can be analyzed with the help of systems research.

Findings

It is first shown that, in a market of free competition, a concept as fundamental as demand and supply is about mutual reactions and mutual restrictions of different forces under equal quantitative effects. Second, each economic entity is modelled and simulated as an economic yoyo or a flow of such yoyos. Owing to the wide applicable scope and practical significance of the Rotten Kid theorem and the excellent analysis of Bergstrom concerning the fact that this theorem is not generally true, after developing the yoyo model for various economic entities, in this paper the main result is established, a sufficient and necessary condition under which the Rotten Kid theorem holds true in general in light of whole systems evolution.

Originality/value

For the first time in history, the general structure of systems is employed to analyze topics in household economics and a long‐sought‐for sufficient and necessary condition is obtained successfully.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 37 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 March 2010

Yi Lin

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the necessary background information and literature in order to make this special issue self‐contained.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the necessary background information and literature in order to make this special issue self‐contained.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper comprises: an Introduction; Section 2 outlines the origin of the yoyo structure by presenting a brief historical account and the concept of whole evolution of systems; Section 3 introduces the literature on applications of the systemic yoyo model in areas of natural science, social science, epistemology, and practical disastrous weather forecasts; and Section 4 outlines what is contained in this special issue.

Findings

A personal account of aspects of a career in systems research and description of a personal ambition to introduce laws for social science and laws that make both natural and social sciences exact at the same time.

Originality/value

With regard to the systemic yoyo model, this paper presents an introduction to what has been accomplished by using this model and what will be presented in this special issue in order to provide all interested colleagues with an overall picture in terms of where the paper stands in the relevant research activities.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 39 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

1 – 10 of 16