<p>Living systems theory provides a conceptual model the use of which might help to improve the understanding of an organisation and its problems, thus helping analysts to find solutions to these problems. A method to guide the application of living systems theory to the analysis of organisations is needed. In this work, a number of methods based on living systems theory are analysed, and a method for analysing organisations that consists of nine steps based on fundamental living systems theory concepts and, to some extent, the aforementioned methods is proposed. The steps of the method range from the initial problem, i. e. the reason to undertake the analysis, to the evaluation of the final solution. The method is iterative - the analyst will have to go back and forth between the steps of the method - and is also supposed to be continually applied. Together with this method a number of description techniques are proposed. Several of these description techniques are graphical, which will hopefully enhance readability and maintainability.</p>

<p>This work is a research in the field of systems science, emphasising the importance of applying models and theories that have been developed in this area. This work studies the possibility of using James Miller's living systems theory (LST) as a diagnostic tool. The application area was project management processes used when developing computerised information systems. The focus on the analyses was on the critical subsystems that process information. Based on this study it was found that LST function as a diagnostic tool according to the following criteria: it was possible to identify the critical subsystems in the application, the critical subsystems covered relevant information flows in the application and LST could make a unique contribution in the analyses of the application.</p>

This work is a research in the field of systems science, emphasising the importance of applying models and theories that have been developed in this area. This work studies the possibility of using James Miller's living systems theory (LST) as a diagnostic tool. The application area was project management processes used when developing computerised information systems. The focus on the analyses was on the critical subsystems that process information. Based on this study it was found that LST function as a diagnostic tool according to the following criteria: it was possible to identify the critical subsystems in the application, the critical subsystems covered relevant information flows in the application and LST could make a unique contribution in the analyses of the application.

Living systems theory provides a conceptual model the use of which might help to improve the understanding of an organisation and its problems, thus helping analysts to find solutions to these problems. A method to guide the application of living systems theory to the analysis of organisations is needed. In this work, a number of methods based on living systems theory are analysed, and a method for analysing organisations that consists of nine steps based on fundamental living systems theory concepts and, to some extent, the aforementioned methods is proposed. The steps of the method range from the initial problem, i. e. the reason to undertake the analysis, to the evaluation of the final solution. The method is iterative - the analyst will have to go back and forth between the steps of the method - and is also supposed to be continually applied. Together with this method a number of description techniques are proposed. Several of these description techniques are graphical, which will hopefully enhance readability and maintainability.

Potentially transformational ideas in several applications of human and computer interaction form the motivation for this work. It is targeted towards a systematic approach to the design of systems with complex, intelligent and interactive exchange of information between a system and the environment it is meant to monitor, and gather knowledge about. The Pahl and Beitz systematic design method is modified with the inclusion of generic sub-systems from Living Systems Theory, modeling and simulation tools and other adaptations within the context of the validation square to synthesize a design method for the design of systems with intelligent and interactive information flow. The validation of the proposed design method is carried out with the aid of an example wherein a motion capture system is designed based on the Nintendo Wii Remote(TM). Results include an evaluation of the performance of a prototype as well as the design method itself in the context of the requirements that the method must fulfill.