Systems methodologies as complementary tools for managing situational complexity

Abstract

This paper identifies a certain class of systems methodologies - those which seek to be tools for managing of complexity. This class contains four distinct types of systems approach: hard; cybernetic ; soft; and critical Each of these differs from the others in the way it understands complexity and the way it attempts to alleviate the problems posed by complexity. It is argued, following from this, that different forms of complexity respond to treatment from different systems methodologies. A classification of systems approaches is then constructed on this basis. The classification should help practitioners, since, if they are able to identify the nature of the complexity they face, it will assist in the choice of an appropriate systems methodology for managing that complexity. It should also help systems theorists to recognise the complementary nature of their work and give meaning to the otherwise somewhat empty formula that systems science is a unified endeavour concerned with managing situational complexity.