Multi-level Modeling of Complex Socio-Technical Systems

This report presents a conceptual framework for multi-level modeling of complex sociotechnical systems, provides linkages to the historical roots and technical underpinnings of this framework, and outlines a catalog of component models for populating multi-level models. This includes a description of the “systems movement,” a summary of philosophical underpinnings, a review of seminal concepts, an overview of complex systems, discussion of complex adaptive systems, and contrasts of a range of systems approaches. Alternative modeling frameworks, including multi-level modeling frameworks, problem structuring methods, and computational representations, are also addressed. A proposed framework is presented for multi-level modeling of socio-technical systems, including discussion of the phenomena typically associated with each level, as well as a wide range of models of human behavior and performance. A comparison is provided of multi-level representations of the domains of healthcare delivery, energy consumption, and military operations. An illustrative example is presented focused on counterfeit parts in the military supply chain, in terms of both the consequences of such parts and interdicting the motivations to counterfeit. Finally, a wide range of fundamental research issues underlying multi-level modeling of complex systems is summarized.