Dynamic, living, social and cultural complex systems: principles of design-oriented analysis

This chapter proposes to the discussion a set of principles for a design-oriented analysis of technico-organisational systems as dynamic, living, social and cultural systems, through eleven questions. After developing an ontological notion of complexity adequate to technico-organisational systems, these questions deal with the different theoretical, epistemological and methodological (data collecting, analysis and modelling) aspects of the knowledge of this complexity and their relation to design. The discussion appeals to many different disciplinary contributions, in empirical science, ergonomics and philosophy, and relates to ideas developed by other authors in other chapters of this book.