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The Metaphysics of Design: A Simon-Churchman “Debate”

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  • Werner Ulrich

    (2630 Monta Vista Avenue, El Cerrito, California 94530)

Abstract

Management of complexity is the hallmark of good Management Science, if Management Science is understood in the wider sense intended by its founding fathers. In Herbert A. Simon, Management Science has recently acquired Nobel-prize status for its contribution to the understanding of complexity in decision-making and problem-solving processes. On this occasion we should reflect upon just how much our understanding of complexity is still limited by our own preconceptions about the nature of complexity. In what ways is the model of complexity we now use, and to which Herbert Simon has given its most elegant formulation in his paper, “The Architecture of Complexity” [Herbert A. Simon. 1962. The architecture of complexity. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 106 (6) 467--482.], likely to appear naive to the next generation of Management Scientists and planners? What does it mean to deal rationally with complexity in defining real-world problems? A fictitious debate between Herbert Simon and another outstanding philosopher of Management Science, C. West Churchman, may provide the material and the necessary critical distance for overseeing the root of the issue.

Suggested Citation

  • Werner Ulrich, 1980. "The Metaphysics of Design: A Simon-Churchman “Debate”," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 10(2), pages 35-40, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:10:y:1980:i:2:p:35-40
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.10.2.35
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    Cited by:

    1. J Mingers, 2005. "‘More dangerous than an unanswered question is an unquestioned answer’: a contribution to the Ulrich debate," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 56(4), pages 468-474, April.
    2. Richard J. Ormerod, 2016. "Critical Rationalism for Practice and its Relationship to Critical Systems Thinking," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(1), pages 4-23, January.
    3. W Ulrich, 2003. "Beyond methodology choice: critical systems thinking as critically systemic discourse," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 54(4), pages 325-342, April.

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    Keywords

    philosophy;

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