Organismic approach to developing a theory of adaptation of socio-economic systems
Authors: Alekseev M. A. , Zaykov K. A. , Freydina E. V. 
Published: April 2022

Aim.The presented study aims to lay the theoretical foundations of adaptation of socio-economic systems, taking as initial knowledge the principles and laws of evolution of living systems and the identified elements of isomorphism between the classes of systems under consideration.

Tasks.The authors identify the signs of isomorphism of adaptive properties of biological and socio-economic systems; describe the evolution of methodologies used for their studies using an organismic approach within the framework of development of scientific rationality; substantiate and formulate the bionic principles of adaptation of systems based on a synthesis of the concept of cybernetics and the laws of evolution of biological systems; develop a typology of adaptation of socio-economic systems; propose a model of a robust management mechanism, which includes a certain set of adaptive regulators (homeostasis and homeostatic space) for all types of systemic adaptation.

Methods.The development of insights into the adaptation of socio-economic systems on the basis of an organismic approach to its cognition as an analog of an organism with immanently inherent abilities to adapt makes it possible to define the concept of adaptation as "compensatory adaptation". Adaptation is considered as a property of systems that allows them to enter a certain stable state that ensures growth (quantitative changes), development (qualitative changes), and "mutation" (information changes and selection of reactions to exposure) at various stages of their life cycle. Bionic principles serve as initial knowledge for managing the adaptation process. According to the established scientific ideas about the adaptation of biological systems, the types of adaptation of socio-economic systems attributed to systemic adaptation are identified. The implementation of its processes is entrusted to a robust control mechanism equipped with an evolutionary computing system.

Results.Additional signs of isomorphism between socio-economic and biological systems are identified. Within the framework of the evolution of scientific rationality, a transition towards an organizational approach to the study of the essence of organizations is proposed. The definition of adaptation of socio-economic systems as a special form of compensatory adaptation is proposed. The bionic principles of adaptation of socio-economic systems that define the elements and connections of the information structure of the robust control mechanism are formulated and verified. A typology of adaptation of socio-economic systems is proposed. The capabilities of the control mechanism for the implementation of all types of adaptation with a special focus on genetic adaptation are substantiated.

Conclusion.Introduction of the concept of "adaptation" as a compensatory adjustment of socioeconomic systems to changes sets up system management to search for means of compensation at the expense of the result of adaptation costs. Verification of bionic principles and discovery of a new type for organizational systems — genetic adaptation — is a challenge to the application of robust management, the mechanism of which is equipped with genetic algorithms and other tools of evolutionary computing.