Unit

Code	A006189
CFU	3
Teacher	Pier Luigi Gentili
Teachers	Pier Luigi Gentili
Hours	36 ore - Pier Luigi Gentili
Learning activities	Altro
Area	Altre conoscenze utili per l'inserimento nel mondo del lavoro
Sector	NN
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	English, Italian.
Contents	Principles of the systemic approach. Concepts of stocks, flows, and dynamic equilibrium. Feedback actions. Domain changes, delays, and oscillations. Resilience, self-organization, and hierarchy. Discovering the traps that systems can fall into. How to manage and where to intervene in a complex system.
Reference texts	The text used as references are: 1) Pier Luigi Gentili, Il Mondo è Complesso: Parliamone, Morlacchi Editore, Perugia, 2025. 2) Pier Luigi Gentili, Untangling Complex Systems: A Grand Challenge for Science, CRC Press, Boca Raton (FL, USA) 2018. 3) Donella H. Meadows, Thinking in Systems Chelsea Green Publishing, Vermont, 2008.
Educational objectives	Knowledge of the properties of complex systems and principles of managing those complex systems through the systemic approach.
Prerequisites	Basic knowledge of mathematics, physics, and chemistry.
Teaching methods	The course topics will be presented with slides, and then computational experiments will be conducted to test the understanding of key concepts using Stella Architect and Insight Maker as software.
Other information	For any further questions, please contact the teacher.
Learning verification modality	In the oral exam, lasting approximately 15–20 minutes, the student will be required to demonstrate that they have acquired an understanding of the phenomena of complex systems and the principles governing their management. In this regard, they will be asked to present a project for the description and management of a sustainable chemical productive process, developed using software such as Stella Architect or Insight Maker. Students must demonstrate that they have acquired the methodologies and principles essential for addressing the investigation and management of Complex Systems. Students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (SLD) are encouraged to visit the dedicated webpage outlining the available tools and measures, and to arrange in advance any necessary accommodations with the instructor (https://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa).
Extended program	The laboratory course includes the discussion of the following topics: 1) Concept of system, stock, incoming and outgoing flow. 2) Negative feedback or balancing feedback. 3) Positive feedback or reinforcing feedback. 4) Behavior of systems with a single stock and: a) two competing negative feedback actions; b) one negative feedback action and one positive; c) delay in inventory. 5) Behavior of systems with two stocks: a) a renewable stock limited by a non-renewable stock; b) a renewable stock limited by another renewable stock. 6) Properties of systems: resilience, self-organization, hierarchy. 7) Opportunities and traps of systems. 8) Leverage points: places to intervene in a system.
Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile	The 2030 Agenda includes global challenges. To face these global challenges, it is necessary to know Complex Systems. This course provides fundamental contents and methodologies for understanding Complex Systems and therefore it favors the achievement of the objectives of the 2030 Agenda.

Code	A006188
CFU	3
Teacher	Pier Luigi Gentili
Teachers	Pier Luigi Gentili
Hours	21 ore - Pier Luigi Gentili
Learning activities	Affine/integrativa
Area	Attività formative affini o integrative
Sector	CHIM/02
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	English, Italian.
Contents	Global Challenges. Properties of Complex Systems and Epistemological Complexity. Principles and methods of investigation and management of Complex Systems.
Reference texts	The text used as references are: 1) Pier Luigi Gentili, Il Mondo è Complesso: Parliamone, Morlacchi Editore, Perugia, 2025. 2) Pier Luigi Gentili, Untangling Complex Systems: A Grand Challenge for Science, CRC Press, Boca Raton (FL, USA) 2018. 3) Donella H. Meadows, Thinking in Systems, Chelsea Green Publishing, Vermont, 2008.
Educational objectives	The module “Theory of the Systemic Approach to Sustainability” is the only course that presents the general characteristics of Complex Systems and the systemic approach to their management within the Professional Degree Program in Methodologies for Product and Process. The main objective of this module is to provide students with the conceptual and methodological foundations needed to investigate and manage Complex Systems in order to promote sustainable technological development. The main knowledge that students are expected to acquire includes: 1) characteristics of global challenges; 2) the evolution of scientific research, which has moved from the study of simple phenomena and systems to the study of complex systems; 3) characteristics of complex systems; 4) methodologies for the investigation and management of complex systems.
Prerequisites	Basic knowledge of mathematics, physics, and chemistry.
Teaching methods	The concepts proposed in this module will be taught through 21 hours of frontal lessons. During these lessons, the teacher will continuously test students' learning process by asking questions. The explanation of some subjects will be assisted by proposing videos and by computer simulations performed through software available online.
Other information	For any further questions, please contact the teacher.
Learning verification modality	The learning of course topics is assessed through an oral examination that includes questions related to the content covered during the course. The questions will concern the properties of Complex Systems, Epistemological Complexity, and the strategies for addressing Complexity and managing Complex Systems. Students must demonstrate that they have acquired the methodologies and essential principles for investigating and managing Complex Systems. The oral exam will last about 30 minutes. Students with disabilities and/or specific learning disabilities (DSA) are invited to visit the page dedicated to the tools and measures provided and to agree in advance on what is necessary with the instructor (https://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa).
Extended program	The topics of the course are as follows: 1) Introduction to the global challenges of the 21st century. 2) Historical excursus showing how scientific research has evolved from studying simple systems and phenomena to investigating Complex Systems through three periods: the so-called practical period, the philosophical period, and the experimental period. We are about to enter a fourth period that will likely be referred to as computational. 3) Characteristics of Complex Systems, Epistemological Complexity, and Bioethical Complexity. 4) Strategies to tackle Complexity following the crisis of the traditional experimental method.
Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile	The 2030 Agenda includes global challenges and aims to promote the sustainable development of humanity. To tackle these global challenges, it is necessary to understand Complex Systems and the systemic approach. This course provides essential content and methodologies for understanding complex systems, thereby facilitating the achievement of the goals of the 2030 Agenda.