ST 2.3 應用系統思考的發展

應用系統思考的發展史可以被描述為，克服前述的硬系統思考弱點的各種努力。我們可以使用一個由傑克遜和基斯在1984年建立的系統方法論分類框架--"系統方法論體系" (System of Systems Methodologies, SOSM)-- 來瞭解這一發展。

SATM 5.3 The Development of Applied Systems Thinking

Jackson and Keys (1984, Towards a system of systems methodologies, J. Opl. Res. Soc. 35:473.) sought to provide a "system of systems methodologies" - an alternative framework that would serve a similar purpose to Burrell and Morgan's grid in organizational analysis (1979, Sociological Paradigms and Organizational Analysis. Heinemann, London.) but would be more suited to the language, concerns and internal development of the management and systems science. It was designed to related different systems methodologies to each other on the basis of the assumptions they made about the nature of problem situations or "problem-contexts." In fulfilling this role the system of systems methodologies (SOSM) had an important impact on the establishment of pluralism as an element in critical systems thinking. In order to understand this we need to consider the two axes upon which the SOSM is constructed (see Figure 5.2)