Vol.4 No.4 2012

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Round-table talks : Systems and synthesiology−238−Synthesiology - English edition Vol.4 No.4 (2012) shared among researchers and designers trying to accomplish competitive systems. It means that what is important is the state of mind for the “spirit of never-give-up”, that one will never compromise until he/she achieves fully the objective. If the person has that spirit, whether he/she succeeds or not depends on the ability to create the system. The person with the ability should think of something totally unimaginable and come up with some new competitive system. Therefore, it is necessary to keep “training people” toward that direction by giving them actual hard work for a while (“a while” means until an academic system methodology is established). Excellent system designers have plenty of past experiences and wide-ranging knowledge, and draw them out according to the objective to create the scenario. I have been wondering whether it is possible to theorize such thinking process soon, and we must try to realize this. Other abilities include the ability to cooperate with other people to gain other’s help, the ability to organize the total process, and the ability to make appropriate compromises. AkamatsuFor researchers, it is important to maintain the goal without wavering in executing the research. When one feels, “Well, this will do”, it is usually when the goal becomes fuzzy and self-evaluation loosens. KuwaharaIn industry, easy compromise will always lead to failure. If one looses, one will know for sure. It is a very severe and cold finding. OnoIt means that the criterion of evaluation is very clear in companies, but it may not be so clear in academia. Objective self-evaluation is important. Systems building and scenarioAkamatsuEarlier, Mr. Kuwahara said, “If we have a clear objective, once the scenario is written everything will be easy thereafter.” As the editorial policy of Synthesiology, we ask the authors to “write your scenarios”, but this is rather difficult. Also, the Japanese iron and steel making technology became number one in the world in only 30 years after WWII because of the advanced control technology. It was the issue of systems of how to control the process. In the US, the method used was to gather and analyze voluminous data and control the plant by a simple feedback method, while in Japan the original approach for a control system was developed by seeking a theoretical solution by computer. The objectives were the improvement of operation efficiency and of product quality.Needless to say, systematic thinking and system technology are essential in R&D. The outlet of science and technology for society is the “system” as a complex body of various fields of science and technology. Systematic thinking is not about just creating systems and products, but about obtaining a solution when a certain objective is set. Since the “objective” is clearly set ahead of proposing, planning, and hypothesis formation, everything will be processed smoothly if one creates a competitive scenario to achieve the objective. I believe the key point here is that the challenger must take vigorous actions at this point, but what is the situation now? I think it is really pessimistic. I know the importance and the value of academic papers, but the Okochi Award is given to the achievements in R&D for production engineering and production technology as well as the actual execution of advanced production method, so this is an award for the world of practice. As Dr. Ono states, heavy emphasis is placed on the papers in traditional academic societies, and the issue is how Type 2 Basic Research can gain acceptance as a research discipline, including giving positive evaluation to researchers active in this field.However, I should say, the term Type 2 “Basic Research” gives us a feeling of a kind of uncertainty. Of course, I fully understand its importance, but the word, “basic research,” implies that “it is not an applied research”. Yet, I think we need to have the perception that there is Type 2 Basic Research together with applied research. The acceptance must be achieved as such . In Japan there are over 750 societies for natural science, and I think you should engage in a strong movement for creating a “systems society” and awarding the researches in this field. OnoCertainly, it is difficult in the traditional, segmented academic societies. AkamatsuHow do you think one can learn such systemic thinking or systems synthesis ability, and what do you think are the qualities necessary?KuwaharaWhat is most important is the “spirit of never-give-up” Dr. Motoyuki Akamatsu

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