The IFSR
THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FOR SYSTEMS RESEARCH (IFSR), founded 1981, is a non-profit, scientific and educational organization comprising 42 member organizations (status May 2013) from all continents. The overall purpose of the Federation is to advance cybernetic and systems research and systems applications in order to serve the international systems community (see also its constitution).
Aims and Goals of the IFSR
The aims of the Federation are to stimulate all activities associated with the scientific study of systems and to co-ordinate such activities at the international level by:
- promoting international publications in the area of systems research
- promoting systems education;
- organizing international meetings, courses, workshops, and the like;
- maintaining standards and competence in systems research and education; and
- further means to serve the aims of the members.
The first Board Meeting in June 1980 defined the strategic goals:
Social Learning Goal: Strengthen the programs of member societies by their involvement in the program and network of IFSR.
Membership Development Goal: Facilitate (encourage) the development of Systems science in countries in which such programs do not yet exist or are now developing.
Synergetic Goal: Develop – implement – evaluate IFSR-level programs to meet the purposes of IFSR to advance systems science.
Resource Development Goal: Identify an inventory of system science relevant resources, acquire those and make them accessible to member societies.
Global Mission: Make contribution to the larger (global) scientific community, be of service to improve the (global) human condition, and enrich the quality of life of all.
====== a historical report from 1981 ====