Applications of Systems Thinking and Soft Operations Research in Managing Complexity

by Anthony J. Masys (Editor)
Details ‘real world’ applications of Systems Thinking and Soft OR to support various domains
Shows that many situations consist of complex systems of changing problems that interact with each other, where the traditional linear approach to problem solving tends not to work
Written by experts in this interdisciplinary field

From the Back Cover
This book captures current trends and developments in the field of systems thinking and soft operations research which can be applied to solve today's problems of dynamic complexity and interdependency. Such ‘wicked problems’ and messes are seemingly intractable problems characterized as value-laden, ambiguous, and unstable, that resist being tamed by classical problem solving. Actions and interventions associated with this complex problem space can have highly unpredictable and unintended consequences. Examples of such complex problems include health care reform, global climate change, transnational serious and organized crime, terrorism, homeland security, human security, disaster management, and humanitarian aid. Moving towards the development of solutions to these complex problem spaces depends on the lens we use to examine them and how we frame the problem. It will be shown that systems thinking and soft operations research has had great success in contributing to the management of complexity.

Number of Illustrations and Tables
16 illus., 61 in colour

Topics
Statistical Physics, Dynamical Systems and Complexity
Operation Research / Decision Theory
Methodology of the Social Sciences
Security Science and Technology
Simulation and Modeling