| Code |
A004766 |
| CFU |
3 |
| Teacher |
Pier Luigi Gentili |
| Teachers |
|
| Hours |
- 36 ore - Pier Luigi Gentili
|
| Learning activities |
Altro |
| Area |
Altre conoscenze utili per l'inserimento nel mondo del lavoro |
| Academic discipline |
NN |
| Type of study-unit |
Obbligatorio (Required) |
| Language of instruction |
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. 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. |
| 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. |
| Other information |
For any further questions, please contact the teacher. |
| Learning verification modality |
In the oral exam, lasting approximately 15-20 minutes, the students must demonstrate that they have acquired knowledge of the phenomena of complex systems and the principles of their management. To this end, an exercise similar to those performed in the laboratory course will be proposed. Students with disabilities and/or specific learning disabilities are encouraged 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 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 |
A004619 |
| CFU |
3 |
| Teacher |
Pier Luigi Gentili |
| Teachers |
|
| Hours |
- 21 ore - Pier Luigi Gentili
|
| Learning activities |
Affine/integrativa |
| Area |
Attività formative affini o integrative |
| Academic discipline |
CHIM/02 |
| Type of study-unit |
Obbligatorio (Required) |
| Language of instruction |
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 for managing complex systems within the Professional Degree course in Methodologies for Product and Process. The primary objective of this module is to equip students with the conceptual and methodological foundations necessary to investigate and manage complex systems, thereby promoting sustainable technological development. The main knowledge that students must acquire is: 1) characteristics of global challenges; 2) evolution of scientific research that has moved from the investigation of simple phenomena and systems to the investigation 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. |
