We present, first of all, a broader perspective on the essence of problem solving and decision-making in complex real-world environments. Then, we address a special role of decision support, and decision support systems, as those solutions are generally considered the most promising for solving all kinds of nontrivial problems in our context. Finally, we analyze a vital need for tools and techniques that could involve elements of creativity in problem solving and decision-making, and systems for the support of them. We advocate a need for grasping creativity from many points of view, starting from its role to solve problems in the even more complex present world, and its role as the only means that can yield an added value and hence help attain innovativeness and competitiveness. After those general remarks we present a critical overview of the papers in this volume, peer reviewed and carefully selected, subdivided into six topical parts, and remarks on the scope and an outline of the 8th International Conference on Knowledge, Information and Creativity Support Systems (KICSS’2013) held in Krakόw and Wieliczka, Poland, in November 2013, in the context of the historical development of this conference series and an increased interest of a large community of researchers and scholars, but also practitioners that have been decisive for the development of this conference series. The contents and main contributions of accepted papers are briefly outlined in the order as they appear in this volume. Some general remarks and acknowledgements are also included.

Sincere thanks are due to the members of the KICSS’2013 local Organizing Committee, the editorial staff, in particular to Ms. Alicja Madura, Dr. Witold Majdak, Ms. Inez Badecka, to the Program Committee members and external reviewers, and to all those who helped with editing this volume. Special thanks and appreciation are also due to Prof. Susumu Kunifuji, the Vice President of JAIST, and the initiator of the KICSS Conference Series. The financial support of the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, under Grant no. 594/P-DUNdem/2013, as well as the contribution from the Mayor of the Wieliczka Municipality are greatly appreciated. Finally, we would like to express our thanks to all the invited speakers, contributing authors and participants of KICSS’2013 who have played a key role to attain the success and the scientific quality of this Conference.

Authors and Affiliations

1. Decision Sciences Laboratory, Department of Automatic Control and Biomedical Engineering - AGH University of Science and Technology, Krakόw, Poland

   Andrzej M. J. Skulimowski

2. International Centre for Decision Sciences and Forecasting—Progress and Business Foundation, Krakόw, Poland

   Andrzej M. J. Skulimowski

3. Systems Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

   Janusz Kacprzyk

4. Department of Physics and Applied Computer Science AGH University of Science and Technology, Krakόw, Poland

   Janusz Kacprzyk

Corresponding author

Correspondence toAndrzej M. J. Skulimowski.

Editors and Affiliations

1. Department of Automatic Control and Biomedical Engineering, AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland, and International Centre for Decision Sciences and Forecasting, Kraków, Poland

   Andrzej M.J. Skulimowski

2. Polish Academy of Sciences, Systems Research Institute, Warszawa, Poland, and AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland

   Janusz Kacprzyk

Reprints and permissions

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

Policies and ethics