Methodological Complementarism or Separate Paradigm Development—Examining the Options for Enhanced Operational Research

Although operational research traditionally has concerned itself with quantitative and technical aspects of managerial problem solving, it has gradually built up a capacity to deal with “softer” issues, and broader societal problems. This paper considers the notion of “enhanced” operational research within the context of the practical and philosophical difficulties brought about through combining problem solving methodologies from different theoretical traditions. The paper argues that separate paradigm development for EOR may be justified on theoretical grounds and on the basis of its cultural feasibility.

[1]  Tony Hindle,et al.  Rational Analysis for a Problematic World , 1990 .

[2]  Jim Bryant,et al.  Frameworks of Inquiry: OR Practice Across the Hard—Soft Divide , 1988 .

[3]  M. Jackson,et al.  New Directions in Management Science , 1987 .

[4]  J. Habermas,et al.  Knowledge and Human Interests. , 1973 .

[5]  Charles G. Schoderbek,et al.  Management systems: Conceptual considerations , 1985 .

[6]  Stephen Wood,et al.  TOWARDS A CRITICAL MANAGEMENT SCIENCE , 1978 .

[7]  P. Keys.  A methodology for methodology choice , 1988 .

[8]  A. Sayer.  Method in Social Science , 1992 .

[9]  Michael Norris,et al.  The Institute for Operational Research: An Initiative to Extend the Scope of OR , 1988 .

[10]  S. Beer.  The Brain of the Firm , 1972 .

[11]  Jonathan Rosenhead,et al.  A Materialist Analysis of Operational Research , 1982 .

[12]  Ann Taket,et al.  Creative Problem Solving: Total Systems Intervention. , 1991 .

[13]  J. Oliga.  Methodological foundations of systems methodologies , 1988 .

[14]  Norman Jackson,et al.  In Defence of Paradigm Incommensurability , 1991 .

[15]  P. Bennett,et al.  A Kuhnian Crisis in Management Science? , 1981 .

[16]  John Mingers,et al.  Recent Developments in Critical Management Science , 1992 .

[17]  Michael Jackson,et al.  Towards a System of Systems Methodologies , 1984 .

[18]  R. Ackoff.  The Future of Operational Research is Past , 1979 .

[19]  Michael Jackson,et al.  Some Methodologies for Community Operational Research , 1988 .

[20]  Michael Jackson,et al.  Beyond a System of Systems Methodologies , 1990 .

[21]  Michael Jackson,et al.  The critical kernel in modern systems thinking , 1990 .

[22]  M. Neimark,et al.  The king is dead. Long live the king , 1990 .

[23]  Michael Jackson,et al.  Systems methodology for the management sciences , 1992 .

[24]  Peter Checkland,et al.  Systems Thinking, Systems Practice , 1981 .

[25]  D. Morgan,et al.  Sociological Paradigms and Organizational Analysis. , 1983 .

[26]  Jonathan Rosenhead,et al.  Soft Systems Methodology in Action , 1991 .

[27]  Haridimos Tsoukas,et al.  The road to emancipation is through organizational development: A critical evaluation of total systems intervention , 1993 .

[28]  John Mingers,et al.  Critical Heuristics of Social Planning: A New Approach to Practical Philosophy , 1983 .