On Purposeful Systems Author:Russell L. Ackoff, Fred E. Emery On Purposeful Systems provides an innovative foundation for looking at human and social behavior—as a system of purposeful (teleological) events. It uses a systems theoretical approach for the study of these phenomena, and illustrates and extends general systems theory. “What makes this book ‘magical’ is that Ackoff provides ‘operational definit... more »ions’ for many ill-defined words and concepts—from defining ‘knowledge’ and ‘understanding’ to providing definitions of feelings/emotions.... [T]his book represents a [paradigm] shift that has yet to be appreciated, thirty years later.”—W. Curtiss Priest, Massachusetts Institute of Technology« less