An Introduction to Neo-Cybernetic Roles

Introduction

Cybernetics, originating from the Greek word for “steersman,” is a transdisciplinary approach that explores systems, control processes, and the flow of information.

Since its inception, cybernetics has woven its influence through various fields, from biology and engineering to sociology, shaping our understanding of how systems operate, adapt, evolve, and also providing a framework for understanding cognition, language, and communication as self-regulated processes within constraints, rather than the mere transmission of objective information.

Back in 2014, there has been an interesting observation among those who delve into its study: a recurring confusion between two terms: “cyberneticist” and “cybernetician.” At a glance, they might appear synonymous, and indeed, they’re often used interchangeably.

However, as we’ll explore, there are subtle nuances and distinctions that differentiate these terms, shedding light on the diverse roles individuals play within the broad umbrella of cybernetics.

As one of the goals of the neo-cybernetics movement, we intend to shed clarity on the terminology around cybernetics researcher and practitioner roles. This clarity aims to equip future generations with a clear understanding, ensuring they are well-prepared to assume these roles in organizations, companies, and communities.

In the present article we will explore the distinctions and illuminate the unique contributions of both cyberneticists, cyberneticians and cybernetic leads to our shared future.

Cybernetic People

Cybernetics, in its modern understanding, traces its roots back to the 1940s, although the essence of its concepts can be found in much older philosophical and scientific inquiries.

The term was popularized by Norbert Wiener in his seminal work, “Cybernetics: Or the Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine” (1948).

Over seven decades since its inception and interactions between pioneers like Norbert Wiener, W. Ross Ashby, and Alan Turing, today’s world is primarily influenced by second-order cybernetics, however we still don’t have a precise term to refer to cybernetic scholars and practitioners.

In the context of neo-cybernetics, I identify three main categories of cyberneticians: theorists, practitioners and organization leaders, to which I will refer respectively as Cyberneticists, Cyberneticians and Cybernetic Leads.

The distinction is proposed to help communicate cybernetics to the outside world and allow for specialization and mutual feedback between theory and practice for the growth of the field.

However, given acknowledgement I’m aware that there is no consensus in the scientific community around the proper use of these terms.

The goal here is to promote discussions that can aid the development of the field by attempting to frame functions and responsibilities that would be expected from each role.

Theory vs Application

Despite I have mentioned three cybernetic roles, I would like to put aside Cybernetic Leads for a moment and focus on Cyberneticists and Cyberneticians, or in other terms, theorists and practitioners.

If we consider the two terms without the root Cybernet- we will get -icist and -ician.

Usually job titles ending with such terms usually refer to roles focused on theory and application of disciplines.

Some examples below:

“-icists”

• The physicist studies physics theory.
• The economist studies economy.
• The geologist focuses on geology research.

“-ician”

• A clinician is practitioner in the field of medicine or psychology who works directly with patients rather than in a laboratory or as a researcher.
• An electrician is tradesperson specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, transmission lines, machines, and related equipment.
• An optician, as opposed to optometrist, makes and fits eyeglasses.

As you can see from the roles above, the “-icist” suffix often implies a focus on theory or a specialized knowledge in a particular area, while -ician, often implies someone specialized in a discipline who works in the field to apply theoretical knowledge practically.

Framing Functions and Responsibilities

With the neo-cybernetics movement, we are positioning ourselves into the third wave of cybernetics. This evolution implies both updating traditional cybernetic principles and theories to align with contemporary scientific and organizational advancements, while keeping in mind the pressing challenges of the 21st century.

With this context in mind, below is an attempt to frame the distinct functions and responsibilities of cyberneticists and cyberneticians in our current society.

Cyberneticist

As the intellectual backbone of the neo-cybernetics movement, cyberneticists are deeply involved in the theoretical aspects of the discipline. They are responsible for the continuous evolution of cybernetic principles, ensuring their alignment with modern scientific paradigms and societal needs. They will also act as conduits in the academic communities helping scholars from different disciplines to better collaborate with each other.

Responsibilities:

1. Research & Development: Spearhead research to craft and refine neo-cybernetics theories and models, pushing the boundaries of traditional cybernetic thought.
2. Interdisciplinary Analysis: Identify synergies between diverse scientific disciplines, aiming to foster a holistic understanding through the lens of neo-cybernetics.
3. Education: Impart knowledge on the foundational and advanced tenets of cybernetics to students, nurturing the next generation of thought leaders.
4. Publication: Disseminate cutting-edge insights on neo-cybernetic concepts through academic papers and journals.
5. Mathematical Modeling: Craft detailed mathematical representations and simulations to better understand and predict the behavior of cybernetic systems.
6. Community Engagement: Attend and contribute to academic conferences and events, ensuring a robust exchange of ideas within the cybernetics and systems theory community and also work as a conduit for scientific silos.

Cybernetician

Cyberneticians are the pragmatic implementers of the neo-cybernetic movement. Their expertise lies in applying cybernetic principles to real-world scenarios, ranging from organizational design to artificial intelligence systems, ensuring optimal performance and human-centric benefits. We could see them work as consultants in companies, organizations, government agencies, communities, or perhaps they could be hired as full-time professionals, whenever the organization intends to implement a cybernetic function in their operations.

Responsibilities:

1. System Design: Harness cybernetics principles, complemented by design thinking, ecological awareness and strategic foresight practices, to blueprint efficient organizations and systems.
2. Organizational Diagnostics: Employ neo-cybernetic models to pinpoint and rectify inefficiencies within organizational structures.
3. Consultation: Offer tailored strategies to organizations and engineering teams, emphasizing heterarchical, modular and adaptive designs in line with neo-cybernetics and futures thinking.
4. Knowledge Translation: Decode complex cybernetic terminologies and concepts for non-academic stakeholders, ensuring widespread comprehension and adoption.
5. Feedback Loop: Channel practical insights and on-ground experiences back to cyberneticists, ensuring a symbiotic relationship between theory and application.
6. Promotion of Ethical Practices: Advocate for the conscious benefit of humanity in the design and implementation of complex systems, ensuring ethical and sustainable outcomes.

So in summary, the cybernetician should be suited to working directly within companies and organizations, while the cyberneticist serves more as a creator and provider of fundamental theory that the cybernetician then consumes and applies.

However, there could be exceptions in some cases. The key distinction seems to be the focus on abstract theory vs practical application or on subject versus object of the discipline.

Cybernetics Lead

As enterprises transition into a future dominated by generative AI, the roles of managers and leaders evolve from mere people oversight to strategic facilitation.

The cybernetic lead emerges at the confluence of technological advancement and servant leadership. Rather than exerting hierarchical control, they operate as horizontal enablers, leveraging technology to optimize the synergies of team dynamics and improve flows of resources and information.

Responsibilities:

1. Adaptive Leadership: Navigate the fast-paced evolution of AI in enterprises, guiding teams to keep pace with technological advancements without compromising on mental health and well-being.
2. Facilitation over Dictation: Act not as traditional ‘bosses’, but as facilitators, ensuring efficient collaboration, communication, and task completion within teams.
3. Cultural Stewardship: Foster a work environment marked by integrity, inclusion, and diversity of thought. Recognize the strength in varied backgrounds and perspectives and harness them to the team’s advantage.
4. Bias Detection: With a nuanced understanding of both human psychology and AI systems, help teams identify and rectify biases, ensuring decisions are fair and representative.
5. Strategic Steering: While keeping the broader organizational objectives in focus, aid teams in aligning their efforts accordingly, ensuring cohesion and direction in the face of complex challenges.
6. Information Flow Optimizer: In large conglomerates, where information silos can slow down progress, serve as a conduit for seamless information transfer across departments. By breaking down barriers, ensure every team is equipped with the knowledge they need to excel.
7. Technological Integration: Leverage state-of-the-art AI systems and tools to bridge communication gaps, streamline processes, and enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of teams.
8. Continuous Learning and Development: Embrace the ever-evolving landscape of transformational technology, ensuring self and team remain updated and adept in leveraging new tools and methodologies.

The cybernetic lead’s role represents the future of leadership within organizations, businesses, communities and governments. It is a role where human qualities such as empathy, inclusivity, and foresight, seamlessly merges AI data processing capabilities .

As businesses and organizations embrace this evolved leadership paradigm, they unlock new avenues of innovation, collaboration, and growth.

Images generated with Midjourney

Closing Thoughts

Given our complex world, where society runs faster and faster due to technological advancements, it becomes important to better define the roles of cyberneticists, cyberneticians, and cybernetic leads.

However, theories and concepts truly come alive when applied and tested in real-world scenarios.

This is precisely why we want to establish partnerships with visionary enterprises and thriving communities. These collaborations are symbiotic relationships that help integrate and manifest cybernetic principles in everyday contexts to craft learning programmes that will forge the workforce of the future.

At the heart of neo-cybernetics is the profound principle of ‘steering’ systems in a manner that inherently benefits humanity.

This is not just about reactive problem-solving but proactive anticipation.

Neo-cybernetic roles will equip entities to foresee potential failures, design robust and ethically sound systems, and ensure an uninterrupted, efficient flow of information and resources.

The aim is to craft systems where both functional and human components coalesce harmoniously, driving towards outcomes that are both progressive and humane.

Our Neo-Cybernetics Federation Initiative serves as a collaborative nexus, bringing together a diverse range of organizations, enterprises, online and offline communities.

Express your interest in joining the federation here

This initiative is not just a way for sharing neo-cybernetic principles but also a way to start building a dynamic forum where these roles can be continuously refined, molded, and enhanced based on real-world feedback and use cases.

If you’re contemplating a career shift and are interested in becoming a cyberneticist, cybernetician, or cybernetic lead, we encourage you to connect with us.

Stay tuned to our spaces for updates and opportunities to delve into the world of neo-cybernetics.

References

1. Vinnakota, Tirumala Rao, Faisal L. Kadri, Simon Grant, Ludmila Malinova, Peter David Tuddenham, Santiago Garcia. (2014). “Multiple perspectives on the terms ‘cyberneticist’ versus ‘cybernetician’.” Kybernetes, Vol. 43, №9/10, pp. 1425–1434. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. ISSN: 0368–492X. DOI: 10.1108/K-07–2014–0146.
2. Von Glasersfeld, E. (1992), “Why I consider myself a cybernetician. Cybernetics and human knowing”, A Journal of Second Order Cybernetics & Cyber-Semiotics, Vol. 1№1, pp.21–25.

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