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A classification of the philosophical assumptions of management science methods

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  • J Mingers

    (University of Warwick)

Abstract

This paper presents a framework within which to examine and compare the main philosophical assumptions underpinning management science methods. It takes the position that they all have in common the basic mechanism of modelling, but that they differ in terms of what they model (ontology), how they model (epistemology), and why they model (axiology). A wide range of both hard and soft methods and methodologies ace categorised within the paper. One of the purposes of the framework is to assist in the process of multimethodology—that is, combining together several methods in an intervention. In particular, it will assist users in understanding both the implicit or explicit assumptions underlying methods, and their principle aims and purposes, in order to be able to make more informed and critically aware choices when designing particular combinations in practice.

Suggested Citation

  • J Mingers, 2003. "A classification of the philosophical assumptions of management science methods," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 54(6), pages 559-570, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:jorsoc:v:54:y:2003:i:6:d:10.1057_palgrave.jors.2601436
    DOI: 10.1057/palgrave.jors.2601436
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. I Munro & J Mingers, 2002. "The use of multimethodology in practice—results of a survey of practitioners," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 53(4), pages 369-378, April.
    7. S Robinson, 2001. "Soft with a hard centre: discrete-event simulation in facilitation," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 52(8), pages 905-915, August.
    8. John Mingers, 2001. "Combining IS Research Methods: Towards a Pluralist Methodology," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 12(3), pages 240-259, September.
    9. Mingers, John & Brocklesby, John, 1997. "Multimethodology: Towards a framework for mixing methodologies," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 25(5), pages 489-509, October.
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