- Email: [email protected]
Research notes
lntemational
Journal of information
Research
Management
Nirnal
Juyaratnu
Wutt
University
Edinburgh,
iJK
Interdisciplinary action research in the Latin American environment Government
recognition
The IAS has been recognized by the Peruvian Government as a major centre, and has received sponsorship from CONCYTEC (National Council for Science and Technology). It is an associate member of the International Federation of Systems Research (IFSR).
320
72 (32C-321)
Notes
This issue’s Research Notes section is devoted to a discussion of the research activities of the Institute Andino de Sistemas (Andean Institute of Systems), Lima, Peru. The Andean Institute of Systems (IAS) was established in September 1988 as a centre for research into the application of systems methodologies. techniques and models. The IAS is a private, non-profit making, scientific and academic/research institute engaged in research within the context of Latin American environments in general and Peruvian-Andean in particular. Systems approaches were seen as the means for overcoming the shortcomings of traditional and oldfashioned methods of problem solving in Peru. It was considered essential that a new approach is necessary if a country like Peru is to develop itself in a competitive environment. The Institute has now established itself as a major research institute with a team of professional researchers and support staff.
Heriot-
(1992),
Industrial
activities
The IAS has been involved with two major research projects. The first is with a large flour mill engaged in wheat processing and manufacture of flour derivatives (noodles. etc.). The mill is a large investment conglomerate composed of nine medium-sized ventures. The IAS is developing an intelligent decision support system for strategic management of the group. It is in the process of establishing a decisions support room at the head office. The second major project is in a beer manufacturing corporation consisting of 20 large and medium-sized companies. Research is concerned with the establishment of a diagnostic and strategic planning model for the corporation as a whole. Further projects are under way at two commercial banks and at a soft drinks manufacturer. Additionally. research work will be undertaken at two government institutions. As can be observed, research at the Institute is action-oriented and intcrdisciplinary in nature. Research solutions have to be appropriate to the cultural and economic conditions of the Latin American environment in general, and the Peruvian context in particular. Research is directed to wards abstracting major issues that are relevant to decisions and developments in similar environments.
Publications One of the most important activities to promote awareness of the research issues to be undertaken by the IAS is the publication of the six-monthly journal Sistemicu. The journal is fo cused on inter-disciplinary and transdisciplinary management of complexity. The journal is dedicated to the promotion and diffusion of systems approaches in the management of complex changes in dynamic environ-
026%4012/92/04
ments. The journal is distributed in the Latin American countries and is a major source through which discussions of problems and solutions in the Latin American environment are disseminated. It is international in its and has an international outlook, editorial panel. It is published in both Spanish and English - the translation of concepts from Spanish to English and vice versa has proved to be a challenge in its own right.
Seminars and lectures The IAS has been instrumental in organizing several international workshops, seminars and lectures. These have provided opportunities for Peruvian industrialists/researchers/decision makers/academics to develop, discuss and debate the relevance of theories to problems in the Peruvian environment. One of the most interesting features to emerge is the participants’ willingness to question the relevance of the decision-making models which have been developed in the West.
Collaborations The IAS is currently negotiating with the Open University, UK. and the Jozef Stefan Institute in Yugoslavia for undertaking projects related to research and teaching in large Peruvian public and private corporations. Strong links have been established with: Association Argentina de Teoria General de Sistemas y Abernetica (Argentina); the International Federation of Systems Research and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (Austria): Sociedad Chilena de Los Andes (Colombia); Instituto Technologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Monaco); Centro Regional para la Ensenarya de la Informatica Sociedad Espanola de Sistemas Genealos (Spain); Nether-
0320-02
0
1992 Butterworth-Heinemann
Ltd
Research
land International Institute of Management (Holland); Heriot-Watt University, Lancaster University, the London School of Economics, and the UK Systems Society (UK); the Systems Dynamics Society, the International Society for Systems Sciences, the American Society for Cybernetics,
and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA); and Universidad de Los Andes (Venezuela). The IAS is looking forward to joint collaborations with similar institutions and universities and welcomes requests for information and enquiries. It also welcomes articles for the journal Sisre-
notes
miru, especially those that address problems of third world countries. Anyone wishing to pursue collaborations with the Institute should contact Professor Ricardo RodriguezUlloa, Andean Institute of Systems (IAS), P.O. Box 18-0680, Lima 18, Peru (Tel/Fax: Peru 51-14-412784).
321
Journal of information
Research
Management
Nirnal
Juyaratnu
Wutt
University
Edinburgh,
iJK
Interdisciplinary action research in the Latin American environment Government
recognition
The IAS has been recognized by the Peruvian Government as a major centre, and has received sponsorship from CONCYTEC (National Council for Science and Technology). It is an associate member of the International Federation of Systems Research (IFSR).
320
72 (32C-321)
Notes
This issue’s Research Notes section is devoted to a discussion of the research activities of the Institute Andino de Sistemas (Andean Institute of Systems), Lima, Peru. The Andean Institute of Systems (IAS) was established in September 1988 as a centre for research into the application of systems methodologies. techniques and models. The IAS is a private, non-profit making, scientific and academic/research institute engaged in research within the context of Latin American environments in general and Peruvian-Andean in particular. Systems approaches were seen as the means for overcoming the shortcomings of traditional and oldfashioned methods of problem solving in Peru. It was considered essential that a new approach is necessary if a country like Peru is to develop itself in a competitive environment. The Institute has now established itself as a major research institute with a team of professional researchers and support staff.
Heriot-
(1992),
Industrial
activities
The IAS has been involved with two major research projects. The first is with a large flour mill engaged in wheat processing and manufacture of flour derivatives (noodles. etc.). The mill is a large investment conglomerate composed of nine medium-sized ventures. The IAS is developing an intelligent decision support system for strategic management of the group. It is in the process of establishing a decisions support room at the head office. The second major project is in a beer manufacturing corporation consisting of 20 large and medium-sized companies. Research is concerned with the establishment of a diagnostic and strategic planning model for the corporation as a whole. Further projects are under way at two commercial banks and at a soft drinks manufacturer. Additionally. research work will be undertaken at two government institutions. As can be observed, research at the Institute is action-oriented and intcrdisciplinary in nature. Research solutions have to be appropriate to the cultural and economic conditions of the Latin American environment in general, and the Peruvian context in particular. Research is directed to wards abstracting major issues that are relevant to decisions and developments in similar environments.
Publications One of the most important activities to promote awareness of the research issues to be undertaken by the IAS is the publication of the six-monthly journal Sistemicu. The journal is fo cused on inter-disciplinary and transdisciplinary management of complexity. The journal is dedicated to the promotion and diffusion of systems approaches in the management of complex changes in dynamic environ-
026%4012/92/04
ments. The journal is distributed in the Latin American countries and is a major source through which discussions of problems and solutions in the Latin American environment are disseminated. It is international in its and has an international outlook, editorial panel. It is published in both Spanish and English - the translation of concepts from Spanish to English and vice versa has proved to be a challenge in its own right.
Seminars and lectures The IAS has been instrumental in organizing several international workshops, seminars and lectures. These have provided opportunities for Peruvian industrialists/researchers/decision makers/academics to develop, discuss and debate the relevance of theories to problems in the Peruvian environment. One of the most interesting features to emerge is the participants’ willingness to question the relevance of the decision-making models which have been developed in the West.
Collaborations The IAS is currently negotiating with the Open University, UK. and the Jozef Stefan Institute in Yugoslavia for undertaking projects related to research and teaching in large Peruvian public and private corporations. Strong links have been established with: Association Argentina de Teoria General de Sistemas y Abernetica (Argentina); the International Federation of Systems Research and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (Austria): Sociedad Chilena de Los Andes (Colombia); Instituto Technologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Monaco); Centro Regional para la Ensenarya de la Informatica Sociedad Espanola de Sistemas Genealos (Spain); Nether-
0320-02
0
1992 Butterworth-Heinemann
Ltd
Research
land International Institute of Management (Holland); Heriot-Watt University, Lancaster University, the London School of Economics, and the UK Systems Society (UK); the Systems Dynamics Society, the International Society for Systems Sciences, the American Society for Cybernetics,
and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA); and Universidad de Los Andes (Venezuela). The IAS is looking forward to joint collaborations with similar institutions and universities and welcomes requests for information and enquiries. It also welcomes articles for the journal Sisre-
notes
miru, especially those that address problems of third world countries. Anyone wishing to pursue collaborations with the Institute should contact Professor Ricardo RodriguezUlloa, Andean Institute of Systems (IAS), P.O. Box 18-0680, Lima 18, Peru (Tel/Fax: Peru 51-14-412784).
321