What is Cybernetics?

Since Norbert Wiener published the famous book Cybernetics: The Science of Control and Communication in Animals and Machines in 1948, cybernetic ideas and methods have penetrated into almost all natural sciences and society science field. Wiener regards cybernetics as a science that studies the general laws of control and communication in machines, living societies, and a science that studies how dynamic systems maintain equilibrium or stability under changing environmental conditions. He deliberately coined the new English word "Cybernetics" to name the science. The word "control theory" originally came from the Greek word "mberuhhtz", which originally meant "steering", which means the method and technology of steering. In the works of Plato (ancient Greek philosopher), it is often used to represent the art of management.

[kòng zhì lùn]

Cybernetics

[English] Cybernetics

[Pinyin] kòng zhì lùn

Studying animals (including humans) and machines

1834, famous French physicist

Information theory

It is mainly a statistical theory on the processing, transmission and storage of information in various pathways (including machines and biological organisms).

Theory of automatic control systems

mainly

Looking at the management system from the main characteristics of the control system, it can be concluded that the management system is a typical control system. The control process in the management system is essentially the same as the engineering and biological system, and it uses information feedback to reveal the difference between effectiveness and standards, and adopts corrective measures to stabilize the system at a predetermined target state . Therefore, theoretically speaking, the theory and method of cybernetics suitable for engineering and biology are also suitable for analyzing and explaining management control problems.

In describing his purpose in creating cybernetics, Wiener said, "The purpose of cybernetics is to create a language and technology that allows us to effectively study general control and communication issues, and also to find an appropriate set of ideas and techniques so that Various special manifestations of communication and control problems can be classified using certain concepts. " Indeed, cybernetics has provided a set of ideas and techniques for scientific research in other fields, so that in the decades since the publication of Wiener's Cybernetics, various disciplines bearing the title of cybernetics have sprung up. Grow out. E.g

With the study of physical structure and energy conversion

Concept of management control

In management work, the control as one of the management functions refers to: in order to ensure that the goals of the organization and the plans formulated for this purpose can be achieved, the masters at all levels re-draft standards based on predetermined standards or development needs Measure, measure and evaluate the work of lower levels, and correct when deviations occur to prevent them from continuing to develop and recurrence in the future; or, according to changes in the internal and external environment of the organization and the development needs of the organization, during the implementation of the plan , Revise the original plan or make a new plan, and adjust the entire management work process. therefore,

Application of Cybernetics in Engineering Project Management

After the project plan is determined, the first task of project management is to track and control the realization of the project plan during the implementation process. Project objectives-It is determined that the project plan must then be concretely divided into various plans, as well as the division of labor and detailed work processes, and the project management has entered the control cycle. During this period, the following questions must be available at all times:

(1) How is the progress of the project.

(2) Whether the actual situation deviates from the plan.

(3) If there are deviations, how to take necessary corrective measures to bring the project operation back into the planned track or keep the project on a normal track.

(4) What is the possibility of achieving the project goal, that is, predicting the further development of the project. With the continuous progress of the project, the target value of the project should be continuously refined and refined. When necessary, the original goals in the project plan should be re-demonstrated.

Project control is a management function that ensures the organization's output and planning are consistent. If the project has no goals, there is no way to talk about project planning, let alone project control. At the same time, the plan is relative, the change is absolute, the static is relative, and the change is absolute. It is always the most famous saying of engineering project management theory. This sentence does not negate the need for planning, but emphasizes the absoluteness of change and the importance of goal control. The success or failure of engineering project management largely depends on the scientific nature of project planning and the effectiveness of project control.

In engineering project management, project control is closely centered on the three goals of investment control, quality control, and schedule control. This target control is dynamic and runs through the project: B is always implemented. The project control flow chart combines the three steps of the above management control. The specific meaning of the above figure is:

(1) In order to achieve a certain goal, invest human, financial and material resources in the project.

(2) During the construction of the project, that is, in the process of design, construction, installation, procurement, and sales, there must be various interferences, such as bad weather, untimely design drawings, and unsuitable materials and equipment. In place and changes in market demand.

(3) Collect actual data and evaluate the progress of the project. The collection of data can be tracked and monitored in the form of inspections, ie chats, reports and meetings. While checking the progress of the project, the cost and quality of the completed project, it is also necessary to check the operation of the organization, including whether the work processes are normal, the responsibilities are clear and proper, and so on. In addition, attention should be paid to the analysis of changes in the project environment.

(4) Compare the planned values of investment objectives, progress dates, and quality objectives with actual investment occurrence values, actual progress, and quality inspection data. Among them, attention must be paid to the demonstration and analysis of planned target values. Because of the constraints of various subjective and objective factors, the planned target value in the project planning may be difficult to achieve or unreasonable. This requires reasonable adjustment, refinement, and precision in the project implementation process. Because project control can only be effective if the project goals are correct and reasonable.

(5) Check whether there is a deviation between the actual value and the planned value. If there are no deviations, the project continues. In addition to analyzing deviations from three aspects of progress, cost, and quality, attention must also be paid to whether there are contradictions in the operation of the organization, and whether the requirements of the market or consumers have changed. In a sense, the latter is more decisive for the achievement of project goals.

(6) If there are deviations, analyze the reasons and take control measures to ensure the achievement of the project goals. This is equivalent to an electrical regulator. The reasons for the deviation include unreasonable original goals, inadequate or poor project planning, unforeseen incidents, lack of internal communication within the organization, insufficient quality of personnel, and unclear responsibilities and rights. Based on the analysis of the causes, predict the development trend of these deviations, and analyze the impact of the deviations on the achievement of project goals, so as to take corresponding control measures. Control measures include organizational measures, economic measures, contract measures and technical measures. Organizational measures are to further clarify responsibilities and division of labor, implement control personnel or remove incompetent personnel, and ensure the effectiveness of control in the system to optimize work processes and information processes; economic measures are implemented through economic means; contract measures are implemented through contracts Articles implement the responsibility of target control, and strengthen the control and management of claims during the execution of the contract; technical measures use value engineering principles to control targets through the demonstration and comparison of multiple technical solutions. However, what kind of control measures to choose should be based on the specific circumstances of deviations. At the same time, it must be noted that the selection of such corrective measures may have a new impact on the target control of the project. Therefore, when selecting corrective measures, we must not only consider the effectiveness of the corrective measures, but also analyze the costs and costs of the corrective measures themselves and the possible new impact on the project objectives.