Operational Research and Systems

Contemporary Systems Thinking is a series of texts, each of which deals comparatively and/or critically with different aspects of holistic thinking at the frontiers of the discipline. Traditionally, writings by systems thinkers have been concerned with single theme propositions such as general systems theory, cybernetics, operations research, system dyna mics, soft systems methodology, and many others. Recently there have been attempts to fulfil a different, yet equally important, role by com parative analyses of viewpoints and approaches, each addressing dispa rate areas of study such as modeling and simulation, measurement, management, "problem-solving" methods, international relations, so cial theory, and last, but not exhaustively or least, philosophy. In a recent book these were drawn together within a multiform framework as part of an eclectic discussion-a nearly impossible task as I dis covered (see Dealing with Complexity-An Introduction to the Theory and Application of Systems Science by R. L. Flood and E. R. Carson). Neverthe less, bringing many sources together led to several achievements, among which was showing a great diversity of approaches, ideas, and application areas that systems thinking contributes to (although often with difficulties remaining unresolved). More important, however, while working on that manuscript I became aware of the need for and potential value in a series of books, each focusing in detail on the study areas mentioned above.

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An examination of the relationships between the systems movement and operational research, both in their genesis and in their real and potential interaction. Topics include operational research as it relates to problem solving, organizations, systems, technology, hard systems thinking, and systems m

Contenu

1. Operational Research and Systems: A Problematic Relationship.- I. Background of Operational Research.- 2. The Beginnings of Operational Research.- 3. The Development of Operational Research.- II. Systems in Operational Research.- 4. Operational Research as Problem Solving.- 5. Operational Research in Organizations.- 6. Systems, Science, and Technology.- III. Operational Research in Systems.- 7. Operational Research and Systems Thinking.- 8. Beyond Hard Systems Thinking.- 9. Systems Methodologies: From Theory to Practice.- 10. Operational Research and Systems: Some Observations and Issues.- References.