Introduction to the book:

Analyzing Complex Societal Problems

A METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH

Dorien J. DeTombe

Cor van Dijkum

Editors

 

This book is the result of the First International Conference on Methods and Tools for Analyzing Societal Problems that took place in November 1994 at Delft University of Technology and Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

 

CIP-DATA KONINKLIJKE BIBLIOTHEEK, DEN HAAG

DeTombe, Dorien J. & C. van Dijkum

Analyzing Complex Societal Problems: a methodological approach / Dorien J. DeTombe & C. van Dijkum (Editors)

Munich; Mering; Hampp, 1996 With ref. - With authors description

 

ISBN 3-87988-189-8 NE: DeTombe, Dorien J.[Hrsg.]

Subject headings: methodology/ tools/ simulation/ complex societal problems

ă 1996 Dorien J. DeTombe

 

Dr. Dorien J. DeTombe

Chair International - , Euro - , West-Euro- & Dutch Operational Research Research Group Complex Societal Problems & Issues

P.O. Box. 3286, 1001 AB Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Europe

Tel: +31 20 6927526 E-Mail: DeTombe@lri.jur.uva.nl

http: //www.geocities.com/doriendetombe

 

Publisher: Rainer Hampp Verlag Munchen und Mering Meringzeller Str. 16 D-86415 Mering Germany Fax + 49 8233 307 55

 

See for other parts of the book: 

Abstracts 

Biostatements Authors

 

Introduction

Analyzing societal problems in an interdisciplinary way has become a must for our society and a challenge for the human sciences, especially because of the complex character of these problems. It is clear that the problems society is confronted with are difficult to handle and that there is a growing gap between the complexity of these problems and the human capacity to deal with them. In this situation there is a need for better methods and tools, more knowledge and imagination then there seems to be available in our standard domains of knowledge, even in the realms of scientific knowledge. Analyzing societal problems in an interdisciplinary way has become an urgent need for our society and a challenge for the (human) sciences. In this book the challenge is taken seriously from the perspective of a number of disciplines.

 

The book is the result of the First International Conference on Methods and Tools for Analyzing Societal Problems.

 

In the book the theoretical and methodological aspects of analyzing complex societal problems are highlighted, together with the practical impacts. These issues are discussed in fields as ecology, computer simulation, management, social medicine, methodology, and social engineering.

In the articles a number of elementary questions are examined about the way complexity is showing up in societal problems and the way the natural and social science can work together to analyze and handle these problems.

This book is the result of the First International Conference on Methods and Tools for Analyzing Societal Problems that took place in November 1994 at Delft University of Technology and Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

 

Analyzing societal problems in an interdisciplinary way has become a must for our society and a challenge for the human sciences, especially because of the complex character of these problems. It is clear that the problems society is confronted with are difficult to handle and that there is a growing gap between the complexity of these problems and the human capacity to deal with them. In this situation there is a need for better methods and tools, more knowledge and imagination then there seems to be available in our standard domains of knowledge, even in the realms of scientific knowledge. Analyzing societal problems in an interdisciplinary way has become an urgent need for our society and a challenge for the (human) sciences. In this book the challenge is taken seriously from the perspective of a number of disciplines.

 

The book is the result of the First International Conference on Methods and Tools for Analyzing Societal Problems.

 

In the book the theoretical and methodological aspects of analyzing complex societal problems are highlighted, together with the practical impacts. These issues are discussed in fields as ecology, computer simulation, management, social medicine, methodology, and social engineering.

In the articles a number of elementary questions are examined about the way complexity is showing up in societal problems and the way the natural and social science can work together to analyze and handle these problems.

 

Read the abstracts

CONTENTS

 

The long road to a science of complexity 1

 

Compram, a method for analyzing complex interdisciplinary societal

problems

Dorien J. DeTombe 7

 

The methodology of interdisciplinary handling of problems

Cor van Dijkum 29

Problem drift. Eliciting the hidden role of models and other scientific

tools in the construction of societal reality

 

Frans A.J. Birrer 43

Using system dynamic modeling techniques for constructing

scenarios of societal problems

 

Dorien J. DeTombe & Harm ‘t Hart 57

Static versus dynamic modeling in policy analysis: the social

amplification of risk

 

Giampiero E.G. Beroggi & Markus Aebi 75

Some aspects of management of organizations in turbulent and

complex environments

 

Tineke P. Bahlmann 95

Simulation as an approach to support institutional design

 

Ruurd R. Meinsma 117

Analyzing and managing traffic, a model based on intelligent

objects and self organization

 

Danko Roozemond 135

Design of a dialectic policy analysis method for the management of

production and consumption chains

 

Remke M. Bras-Klapwijk 149

North America’s management and marketing games as environments

for the study of business related social issues: an inventory with

suggestions for correcting deficiencies

 

Joseph Wolfe 16

Computer support for organizational diagnosis; the design of a

diagnosis instrument for the analysis of teacher absenteeism

 

Eugene G.M. Westerhof, Chris J. Frowein & Theo B.M. Postma 179

New vistas on the development of a theory on complex problem

solving

 

Elmar A. Stuhler & Marjan Vezjak 191

Consensus engineering: a technique for supporting complex

decision-making in organizations

 

Wim L. M. van Luijn 205

Transfer, simulation and the limits to education

 

Jan Gerrit Schuurman 223

System approach to some environmental problem solving in sustainable

tourism

 

Marjan Vezjak & Elmar A. Stuhler 241

A model simulation to evaluate vaccination strategies against

influenza

 

Arnold Reinders & Johannes C. Jager 255

Gaming/simulation as a tool for analyzing policy problems: the

Diagnost game and the regional network of elderly care

 

Cisca Joldersma, Gerton Heyne & Jac L. Geurts 267

A master equation model to analyze the dynamics at Austrian national

elections from 1970 to 1990

 

Kathrin Gruetzmann & Christoph Hofinger 279

 

Biostatements authors 295

 

See for other parts of the book: 

Abstracts 

Biostatements Authors

 

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