Cybernetics is the study of feedback and derived concepts such as communication and control in living organisms, machines and organisations. For example, in sociotechnical systems, it includes the study of computer controlled machines such as automata and robots.

The term cybernetics stems from the Greek Κυβερνήτης (kybernetes, steersman, governor, pilot, or rudder — the same root as government). It is an earlier but still-used generic term for many of the subject matters that are increasingly subject to specialization under the headings of adaptive systems, artificial intelligence, complex systems, complexity theory, control systems, decision support systems, dynamical systems, information theory, learning organizations, mathematical systems theory, operations research, simulation, and systems engineering.

CYBERNETICS AND PHILOSOPHY
A more philosophical definition, suggested in 1956 by Louis Couffignal, one of the pioneers of cybernetics, characterizes cybernetics as "the art of ensuring the efficacy of action".

Sociocybernetics is an independent chapter of science in sociology based upon the General Systems Theory and Cybernetics. It also has a basis in Organizational Development (OD) consultancy practice and in Theories of Communication, theories of psychotherapies and computer sciences. The International Sociological Association has a specialist research committee in the area – RC51 – which publishes the (electronic) Journal of Sociocybernetics www.unizar.es/sociocybernetics.

The term "socio" in the name of sociocybernetics refers to any system that consists of subsystems of interacting partners. Therefore atoms, or subatomic particles are sociocybernetic entities as well as galaxes, ecological systems (e.g. forest) or human groups and societies, industrial products, and stock market indexes. The basic goal, why sociocybernetics was created, is to produce a theoretical framework as well as information technology tools for responding to the basic challenges individuals, couples, families, groups, companies, organizations, countries, international affairs are facing today: giving software and database solutions of problems mostly coming from the competitive nature of human relationships.