Cognitive Centres: technology for designing the future

• Published in: Kybernetes Vol. 40; no. 3/4; pp. 528 - 535
• Main Authors: Ototsky, Peter, Manenkov, Sergey
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Emerald Group Publishing Limited 03.05.2011
• Subjects: Applied mathematics; Design; Earthquakes; Economic development; Meetings; R&D; Research & development; Space exploration; Studies; System theory; Technological change; Training; Decision support systems; Modelling; Cognition; General management; Cybernetics; Russia; Communication
• ISSN: 0368-492X; 1758-7883
• DOI: 10.1108/03684921111133728

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to introduce and conceptualize the topic of Cognitive Centres. It emphasizes the importance of complexity management and cognitive technologies in management practice.Design methodology approach - It elaborates the relevance of different types of models for management: Stafford Beer's operations room, viable system model, subject-object and subject-subject management models, expert-based mathematical modelling and computational experiment, organizational-activity games theory and cybernetic (Viplan) methodology.Findings - The paper suggests models and approaches for strategic management. It shows the inadequacy of a subject-object management model for industrial or regional governance. It integrates a communicative management approach, complexity management methods, the USSR's Gosplan experience of long-term planning, the Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics experience of modelling extremely complex systems and modern cognitive and information technologies into the concept of a Cognitive Centre.Practical implications - Cognitive Centres can enhance the adaptation and viability of a large network of small organizations: public enterprises, business and not-for-profit regional industries. The paper describes two cases of practical implementation.Originality value - The paper contributes to research on management models that integrates cybernetics, cognitive technologies and computational experiments.