Operational Research and the Social SciencesMichael C. Jackson, Paul Keys, S.A. Cropper, International Federation of Operational Research Societies Twenty five years ago, in 1964, The Operational Research Society's first International Conference (held at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge) took as its theme "Operational Research and the Social Sciences". The Conference sessions were organised around topics such as: Organisations and Control; Social Effects of Policies; Conflict Resolution; The Systems Concept; Models, Decisions and Operational Research. An examination of the published proceedings (J.R.Lawrence ed., 1966, Operational Research and the Social Sciences, Tavistock, London) reveals a distinct contrast between the types of contribution made by the representatives of the two academic communities involved. Nevertheless, the Conference served to break down some barriers, largely of ignorance about the objects, methods and findings of each concern. In the ensuing twenty five years, although debate has continued about the relationship between OR and the social sciences, mutual understanding has proved more difficult to achieve than many must have hoped for in 1964. |
Contents
A Behavioural Science Perspective on Operational Research | 3 |
An Operational Researcher Looks at the Social Sciences | 13 |
On Flexibility and Freedom | 19 |
Copyright | |
92 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Operational Research and the Social Sciences S.A. Cropper,Michael C. Jackson,Paul Keys Limited preview - 2012 |
Operational Research and the Social Sciences S.A. Cropper,Michael Jackson,Paul Keys No preview available - 2013 |
Operational Research and the Social Sciences S.A. Cropper,Michael Jackson,Paul Keys No preview available - 2011 |
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Ackoff action activities actors analysis application approach argued Artificial Intelligence Autopoiesis behaviour behavioural science boundary judgments Busan Capacitated Facility Location Checkland communication complex concept concerned conflict context cost criteria critical Critical Theory decision decision-making defined digraph discussion dominant economic effective environment evaluation example experience expert systems facility formal framework function goals Goldratt Habermas hard systems human implementation individual information systems interaction intervention involved issues Jackson knowledge London Management Science managerial methods negotiation normative objective Operational Research optimal organisation organization paper paradigm participants planning political possible practice procedures production programming rational relationship relevant response role scientific scientists simulation social science society soft systems Soft Systems Methodology solution strategy structure systems methodology systems thinking techniques theory understanding users utility function values variables