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Problems and Messes

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Systemic Decision Making

Part of the book series: Topics in Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality ((TSRQ,volume 33))

Abstract

As problems have grown more complex , the methods we use to address them must evolve as well. Machine age problems, consisting of simple systems , have traditionally been addressed using a primarily technical perspective . Despite their increased complexity , in systems age problems, a predominantly technical perspective continues to be used at the expense of other complementary perspectives . This myopic approach has often been unsuccessful in solving these problems. The development of multiple perspectives requires those faced with addressing complex problems to include additional perspectives in order to achieve increased understanding. This includes the integration of hard and soft perspectives to ensure that, in addition to a technical perspective , the equally important organizational, political , and human perspectives have been included. The application of multiple perspectives offers a more inclusive framework through which complex problems may be addressed. The integration of technical, organizational, political, and human perspectives widens the aperture through which a problem is viewed, which then increases the likelihood of correctly addressing these complex problems . Embracing these complementary perspectives, guidance is given on how to begin to structure our mess into a number of discrete problems for analysis .

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA

    Patrick T. Hester

  2. Information Technology and Computer Science, University of Maryland University College, Adelphi, MD, USA

    Kevin MacG. Adams

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  1. Patrick T. Hester
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  2. Kevin MacG. Adams
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Correspondence to Patrick T. Hester .

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Hester, P.T., Adams, K.M. (2017). Problems and Messes. In: Systemic Decision Making. Topics in Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality, vol 33. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54672-8_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54672-8_2

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