Beyond reductionism: systems thinking for the next generation of electrical and computer engineering.
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| Title: | Beyond reductionism: systems thinking for the next generation of electrical and computer engineering. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Sutikno, Tole1,2 tole@uad.ac.id |
| Source: | Telkomnika. Aug2026, Vol. 24 Issue 4, p1083-1090. 8p. |
| Subjects: | Sociotechnical systems, Reductionism, Computer engineering, Systems theory, Complexity (Philosophy), Paradigm (Theory of knowledge), Electrical engineering |
| Abstract: | Classical electrical and computer engineering has achieved remarkable progress through reductionist methodologies that decompose complex systems into manageable, analyzable, and optimizable components. While this paradigm remains indispensable for scientific rigor and engineering design, it is increasingly challenged by contemporary systems characterized by interconnectedness, dynamic interactions, and multi-scale complexity. This editorial argues that future engineering requires extending, rather than replacing, reductionist thinking with systems thinking capable of capturing interdependence, emergence, resilience, and holistic system behaviour. Beyond component-level optimization, engineering must increasingly consider interactions among technological, human, environmental, and societal dimensions that collectively shape system performance and long-term sustainability. Systems thinking therefore provides a complementary paradigm for understanding how complex engineering systems adapt, evolve, and generate behaviours that cannot be inferred solely from individual subsystems. This perspective redefines electrical and computer engineering as an integrated socio-technical discipline in which analytical precision is combined with systemic understanding to address increasingly complex real-world challenges. Moving beyond reductionism does not diminish the value of analytical methods but expands their scope within broader interconnected contexts. This paradigm shift establishes the conceptual foundation for the subsequent evolution toward adaptive, humancentred, and ultimately responsible engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Telkomnika is the property of Department of Electrical Engineering, Ahmad Dahlan University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 195566633 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Beyond reductionism: systems thinking for the next generation of electrical and computer engineering. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sutikno%2C+Tole%22">Sutikno, Tole</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo><i> tole@uad.ac.id</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Telkomnika%22">Telkomnika</searchLink>. Aug2026, Vol. 24 Issue 4, p1083-1090. 8p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sociotechnical+systems%22">Sociotechnical systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reductionism%22">Reductionism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+engineering%22">Computer engineering</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Systems+theory%22">Systems theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Complexity+%28Philosophy%29%22">Complexity (Philosophy)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Paradigm+%28Theory+of+knowledge%29%22">Paradigm (Theory of knowledge)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electrical+engineering%22">Electrical engineering</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Classical electrical and computer engineering has achieved remarkable progress through reductionist methodologies that decompose complex systems into manageable, analyzable, and optimizable components. While this paradigm remains indispensable for scientific rigor and engineering design, it is increasingly challenged by contemporary systems characterized by interconnectedness, dynamic interactions, and multi-scale complexity. This editorial argues that future engineering requires extending, rather than replacing, reductionist thinking with systems thinking capable of capturing interdependence, emergence, resilience, and holistic system behaviour. Beyond component-level optimization, engineering must increasingly consider interactions among technological, human, environmental, and societal dimensions that collectively shape system performance and long-term sustainability. Systems thinking therefore provides a complementary paradigm for understanding how complex engineering systems adapt, evolve, and generate behaviours that cannot be inferred solely from individual subsystems. This perspective redefines electrical and computer engineering as an integrated socio-technical discipline in which analytical precision is combined with systemic understanding to address increasingly complex real-world challenges. Moving beyond reductionism does not diminish the value of analytical methods but expands their scope within broader interconnected contexts. This paradigm shift establishes the conceptual foundation for the subsequent evolution toward adaptive, humancentred, and ultimately responsible engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Telkomnika is the property of Department of Electrical Engineering, Ahmad Dahlan University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.12928/TELKOMNIKA.v24i4.3776 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 8 StartPage: 1083 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Sociotechnical systems Type: general – SubjectFull: Reductionism Type: general – SubjectFull: Computer engineering Type: general – SubjectFull: Systems theory Type: general – SubjectFull: Complexity (Philosophy) Type: general – SubjectFull: Paradigm (Theory of knowledge) Type: general – SubjectFull: Electrical engineering Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Beyond reductionism: systems thinking for the next generation of electrical and computer engineering. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Sutikno, Tole IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 08 Text: Aug2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 16936930 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 24 – Type: issue Value: 4 Titles: – TitleFull: Telkomnika Type: main |
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