• DOI:10.1145/355578.366521
• Corpus ID: 5473619

Theory of abstract machines

@article{Ginsburg1961TheoryOA,
  title={Theory of abstract machines},
  author={Seymour Ginsburg},
  journal={Commun. ACM},
  year={1961},
  volume={4},
  pages={195}
}

• S. Ginsburg
• Published 1 April 1961
• Computer Science
• Commun. ACM

The Leviathan studies are investigations into how people operate in large social organizations. Examples of such groups are a large military command, a governmental agency like the U. S. Bureau of Internal Revenue, or an industrial combination like an international oil corporation. The general theory of organizations accepted in the Leviathan studies construes organizations as particular dynamic processes continually integrated into complex formal structures. Novel syntheses of strategies, of norms, of responsibilities, and of spans of authority emerge and hold sway over and over again at successively higher levels of integration. Each higher-level synthesis absorbs lower-level integrations, in analogy to the organization of molecules into cells, of cells into organs, of organs into animals. It appears reasonably certain that neither classical symbolic logic nor existing mathematical formulations of social processes are adequate at present to provide analytic predictive control over such lnulti-level processes. The Leviathan studies provide an alternative technique for scientifically analyzing large social groups. The Leviathan technique comprises, first, a hypothetico-deductive formulation in terms of general rules; and second, a logical, analogue simulation on a large digital computing machine. On the computer one can obtain precise systemic consequences of various constellations of general social rules. Approximately half of the programs for the first Leviathan model is now checked out and operating on the IBM 709 computer, and half of the remainder has been formulated. The computer programs cause the IBM 709 computer to operate in ways directly analogous to the operations of large social groups. (1) A standardized artificial task is performed and the functioning of workers, civil servants or enlisted men in real organizations is simulated. (2) Internal events in the subprocesses, in the intermediate storage queues, and among the simulated workers are sensed. Information about these events is made to flow through standard channels in pyramids of command. (3) At appropriate nodes, information is selected, filtered, and evaluated or assessed. Thus operating data are converted into propositions about such data. Decisions on organizationally higher levels can therefore differ radically in content from level to level. (4) Informal associations are made to develop according to general rules. (5) In a command pyramid, simulated individuals ~rnd coalitions have demands for specific policies, success, status, and monetary rewards. To each agent and viable coalition, the organization makes side payments to placate demands. (6) All the foregoing activities proceed in time. Differential rates of the flow of these processes are …