Complex Societal Problems, Volume 12
EURO/INFORMS Conference
Istanbul, Turkey 2003
Book of Abstracts, Volume 12
Dorien J. DeTombe (Ed.)
Chair Euro Working Group
Complex Societal Problems
Operational Research Societies
2003
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CIP-DATA KONINKLIJKE BIBLIOTHEEK, DEN HAAG
DeTombe, Dorien
Complex Societal problems
EURO/INFORMS, Istanbul,Turkey 2003, Volume 12
/ Dorien DeTombe (Ed.),
Amsterdam : Greenhill & Waterfront, Europe: Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Guilford, UK , America: Montreal, Canada
Greenhill & Waterfront International Scientific Research & Development Institute Complex Societal Problems
P.O. Box 3286, 1001 AB Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Europe
E-Mail: Greenhillwaterfront@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/greenhillwaterfront
ISBN 90-771-71-05-
NUGI 661, 652, 659, 852
14 pages
Language: English
Subject headings: problem handling / complex societal problems / science / methodology.
ã 2003 Greenhill & Waterfront, Amsterdam, May, 2003
Ó Dorien J. DeTombe, All rights reserved, May 2003
Board of the Euro Working Group Complex Societal Problems
· Dr. Dorien J. DeTombe (chair), Greenhill & Waterfront, Intern. Research & Development Institute Complex Societal Problems, The Netherlands
· Prof. Dr. Tineke Bahlmann, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
· Prof. Dr. Ken Bowen, University of London, United Kingdom
· Dr. Cor van Dijkum, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
· Prof. Dr. Dick Duke, Michigan University, USA
· Prof. Dr. Franz Liebl, University Witten/Herdecke, Germany
· Mr. dr. Antoinette Muntjewerff, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
· Prof. Dr. Marjan Vezjak, University of Ljubljana, Slovenian
Corresponding address:
Dr. Dorien J. DeTombe, Chair Euro Working Group Complex Societal Problems
Email: DeTombe@lri.jur.uva.nl; www.geocities.com/doriendetombe
P.O. Box. 3286, 1001 AB Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Europe
Tel: +31 20 6927526
See for more information: www.geocities.com/doriendetombe
Euro Working Group Complex Societal Problems
Handling complex societal problems needs a special approach. Handling societal problems in an interdisciplinary way has become a must for our society and a challenge for the human sciences. The problems society is confronted with are difficult to handle. There is a growing gap between the complexity of these problems and the human capacity to deal with them. There is a need for better methods and tools, more knowledge and imagination. Scientific knowledge is needed to survive amidst these problems.
Therefore methodology for complex societal problems has become a new field of scientific attention. Some of the scientific reasons for this special approach are that the problems are seldom defined, change during their development, many actors are involved often with a different view on the problem, with different interest and with different ‘solutions’ in mind. Societal reasons for this special approach is the importance of these problems for society, the impact they have on many people, and the large amount of money involved. Combining the effort of scientists who are working in this field is an inspiring serious challenge from the perspective of a number of disciplines. Combining existing knowledge and creating new insights with methods and tools for supporting complex societal problems is a challenge for scientists from different fields.
The goal of the Euro Group on Complex Societal Problems is to increase and to combine the available scientifical knowledge regarding the handling of complex societal problems. Means to reach this goal are organizing workshops and conferences, publishing proceedings and books in which the discussion on this subject can take place.
The West Euro Group on Complex Societal Problems
In order to intensify the discussion and the scientific exchange the Dutch Nosmo group on Complex Societal Problems started in October 2000 a cooperation with the Belgium and German scientists in this field. Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Brans and his group of researchers of the Free University of Brussels, Belgium and Prof. Dr Franz Liebl of the Witten/Herdecke University, Prof. Dr. Heiner Müller-Merbach of the University of Kaiserslautern and Dr. Elmar Stuhler of Munich Technical University in Germany and some of their colleagues joined the Dutch Nosmo Group of Dr. DeTombe in an Euro Subgroup named the West Euro Working Group on Complex Societal Problems. The West-Euro Working Group met twice in Amsterdam (SISWO) in 2000 to discuss their mutual research plans. It promised to be a very vivid and fruitful research group. In 2001 four meetings of the West Euro group are planned, two in Amsterdam (SISWO), one in Maastricht (ICIS) and one in Brussels (VU).
The number of members of the Euro Working Group is steadily growing , about 180 scientist from all over the world and many fields. The members of the Euro Working Group come from different fields and are work at universities all over the world. There is a high degree of activity and interaction amongst the members of the group. By the reaction of the audience there is a feeling that this relatively new subject of the Operational Research field is winning more and more interest. There is also a growing interest from the side of policy makers who recognize that the problems they are confronted with are complex problems, which are not easy to solve, and which need an complex integral approach. The growing interest is needed, because the problems society is confronted with should be efficient and sustainable handled. Complex societal problems like in Europe the recent troubles in the agro-industry as the Mad-Cow disease and the Mouth and Foot disease, and the continue problems with in the area of transportation. The worldwide problems in the area of healthcare like malaria and AIDS, and the water problems (too less, too much and not clean).
The year 2002
In the year 2002 the Euro Working Group on Complex Societal Problems organized six international meetings. All meetings were organized together with the Dutch NOSMO research group on Complex Societal Problems and the West-Euro group on Complex Societal Problems. These meetings took place in Amsterdam (3x) Maastricht (The Netherlands), Brussels (Belgium) and Edinbrugh, UK. At the meetings individual research was discussed by presenting papers, and cooperation of the members of the research group was discussed, which resulted in an international and methodological comparison on the subject of ‘The Complexity of Large Cities’. The Brussels meeting was organized in cooperation with the MINI-Euro conference of Prof. dr. Jean Pierre Brans, the meeting in Edinbrugh was organized with the Ifors conference. A special booklet was published with the abstracts of the lectures on the topic of Complex Societal Problems in Edinbrugh (see below).
The main theme of research is 2002 is a continuation of the research started in 2001. The theme is ‘How to handle the complex problems in large cities’. In this research the focus is on the interaction of different aspects, such as economic, urban planning, education, healthcare to one large problem. Three subgroups of the West-Euro research group are focussing with different methods on three different cities: Brussels, Adaptive Control Methodology (Brans), Maastricht Integrative City Planning (ICIS), Amsterdam Compram method (DeTombe) in a comparison of methods. Lectures are given on the topic of
In Amsterdam The Netherlands Februari 2003 Prof. dr. Henk Becker : Social Impact Assessment, Drs. Lex Brans Municipal of Amsterdam, director large cities Policy Amsterdam and Discussion research topic Complexity of problems large cities: Amsterdam
In April in Brussels Belgium on the 12th MINI Euro Brussels together with the Group Ethics (Brans & Pruyt), Presentation of the interview results of the problems of the large city Amsterdam and Discussion on the data analyzing and next step in the research program by dr. Dorien DeTombe, Lecture of drs. Erik Pruyt on Ethics in decision making
In Edinbrugh, UK, IFORS2002, July, 14 presentations ( see booklet below). In Maastricht ICIS, drs. J. Grosskurth on simulation models and a discussion on the use of simulation models for complex societal problems
Methodology day on the SISWO Amsterdam The Netherlands, Models of predicting the future: considering the predictions of the Dutch Central Plan Bureau by Dr. Henk Don, director Central Plan Bureau ‘Prediction for policy making’ and Prof. dr. Elmer Sterken, University of Groningen, The Netherlands . In December in Amsterdam The Netherlands SISWO dr.Henri Etkovitz, New York State University, Sociology ‘Triple Helix, : interaction between University, Business and Society’ and dr. L Leydesdorff, University of Amsterdam ‘ Chaos theory and Self-organization’.
Special sessions and conferences organized by the Euro Working Group on Complex Societal Problems:
· ISAGA conference Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, July 1994
· The First International Conference on Methods and Tools for Handling Complex Societal Problems, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, November 1994
· EURO XIV, 14th European Conference on Operational Research, 1995- 20thAnniversary of Euro, Jerusalem, Israel, July 1995
· Second International Conference on Methods and Tools for Handling Complex Societal Problems, Munich University of Technology, Germany, organized in conjunction with WACRA-Europe Society on Case Method Research, June 1996
· IFORS ’96 conference, Vancouver, Canada, July 1996
· ISAGA conference University of Tilburg, The Netherlands, July 1997
· EURO/INFORMS conference Barcelona, Spain, July 1997
· WACRA- Europe conference, Madrid, Spain, September 1997
· EURO XVI Operational Research. Brussels, Euro Working Group Handling Societal Problems, July 1998
· 14th International Sociology Conference, Montreal, Canada, July 1998
· Simulation in Industry Conference, Nottingham, UK, October 1998.
· E U R O XVII, E U R O 2000, 17th European Conference on Operational Research Budapest, Hungary, July 16-19, 2000
· 5th International Conference on Social Science Methodology. RC33 , Cologne, Germany, October 2000
· EUROSIM2001, Shaping Future With Simulation, 4th International EUROSIM, Delft, , The Netherlands, June 2001
· E U R O XVIII, E U R O 2001, 18th European Conference on Operational Research Rotterdam, The Netherlands, July 2001
· IFORS 2002: Edinburgh, UK, www.ifors2002.org
· Luxembourg 2003 : HCP2003 ( Human Centered Processes)
· EURO/INFORMS Istanbul, Turkey 2003, www.istanbul2003.org
Published on the topic of Complex Societal Problems
Books
· DeTombe, D.J. (1994) Defining complex interdisciplinary societal problems. A theoretical study for constructing a co-operative problem handling method: the method COMPRAM. Amsterdam: Thesis publishers Amsterdam (thesis), 439 pp. ISBN: 90-5170-302-3
· DeTombe, Dorien J. & Cor van Dijkum (Eds.) (1996) Analyzing Societal Problems. A Methodological Approach. Mering: Rainer Hampp Verlag, 300 pp. ISBN: 3-87988-189-8
· Stuhler, E. & D.J. DeTombe (Eds.) (1999) Volume 5, Cognitive Psychological Issues and Environment Policy Application, Research on Cases and Theories. Munchen/Mering: Hampp Verlag, ISBN: 3-87988-355-6
· DeTombe, D.J. & Stuhler, E. (Eds.) (1999) Volume 6, Complex Problem Solving; Methodological Support for Societal Policy Making, Research on Cases and Theories. Munchen/Mering: Hampp Verlag, ISBN:3-87988-356-4
· Dijkum van, Cor, Dorien DeTombe, & Etzel van Kuijck (Eds.) (1999) Validation of simulation models. Amsterdam: Siswo, ISBN: 90-676-152-2
· DeTombe, Dorien J. (Guest Editor) (2001) Handling Complex Societal Problems, European Journal of Operation Research; Vol. 128-2, pp.227-458, 16 January 2001, Elsevier, North-Holland, Amsterdam
Books of abstracts
· Van Dijkum, C. & D.J. DeTombe (Eds.) (1994) The First International Conference on Complex Societal Problems. Technical University Delft / Utrecht University
· Stuhler E. & D.J. DeTombe (Eds.) (1996) Complex Problems & Climat Change. Munich: Munich University of Technology
· DeTombe, D.J. (Ed.) (1996) Ifors ‘96, The International Federation of Operational Research Societies, July 1996 Vancouver, Canada. Special Session Methods and Tools for Analyzing Complex Societal Policy Problems. Delft: Delft University of Technology
· DeTombe, D.J. 1997 (Ed.) Methodology for Analyzing Societal Problems. Euro XV & Informs XXXIV, Barcelona, July 1997. Delft: Delft University of Technology, 20 pp.
· DeTombe, D.J. 1998 (Ed.) Methodology for Analyzing Societal Problems. Euro XVI Brussels. Delft: Delft University of Technology, 20 pp.
· DeTombe, Dorien J. & C. van Dijkum (1998) (Eds.) Sociocybernetics - Methodology for complex societal problem and sociocybernetic concepts 14th International Sociology Conference in Special Session Using Sociocybernetics Concepts for Analyzing Complex Societal Problems Montreal, Canada, Delft: Delft University of Technology
· DeTombe, Dorien J. (1999) IFORS’99. Methodology For Analyzing Complex Societal Problems, Euro Working Group , Operational Research Societies, Book of Abstracts, Volume 6. Pp.18. Delft: Delft University of Technology. ISBN90-5638-039-7
- DeTombe, Dorien J. (2000) (Ed.) E U R O XVII, E U R O 2000 Methodology for Handling Complex Societal Problems. Book of Abstracts, Volume 7. Euro Working Group . Pp.31, Delft: Delft University of Technology. ISBN 90-5638-0524
· DeTombe, Dorien J. (2000) (Ed.) 5th International Conference on Social Science Methodology. RC33 Methodology for Handling Complex Societal Problems. Book of Abstracts, Volume 8. Pp.18. Delft: Delft University of Technology. ISBN 90-5638-0516
· DeTombe, Dorien J. (2001) (Ed.). Complexity as a Challenge Book of Abstracts, Volume 9. EURO 2001. Pp.38. Delft: Delft University of Technology. ISBN 90-5638-080-X
· DeTombe, Dorien J. (2001) (Ed.) Handling Complex Societal Problems. Book of Abstracts, EUROSIM2001, Volume 10. Pp.18. Delft: Delft University of Technology. ISBN 90-5638-081-8
- DeTombe, Dorien J. (2002) (Ed.) Complexity as a Challenge, Book of Abstracts, IFORS 2002 , Edinburgh, UK. Pp.21. Amsterdam : Greenhill & Waterfront. ISBN 90-77171-03-7
Session 1
Complex Societal Problems, cluster code: 110/1
Cluster organizer: Dr. Dorien DeTombe
Chair session : Dr. D. Petkov
Invited papers
1 /1
Community Informatics and Community OR – some comparisons
Dr. O. Petkova, CCSU, Prof. Dr. D Petkov, ECSU and Prof. dr. M D’Onofrio, CCSU
petkovao@ccsu.edu; petkovd@ecsu.edu; donofrio@ccsu.edu
Dr D. Petkov
Associate Professor MIS, Dept of Business Administration,
Eastern Connecticut State University, 83 Windham Street
Willimantic,CT 06226,USA
tel 1 860 465 0264; fax 1 860 465 4469
email petkovd@easternct.eduThe theoretical foundations of Community OR have been well established over the last 15 years. On the other hand very little work has been done with respect to the interdisciplinary newcomer Community Informatics. The paper provides some comparisons, conclusions for CI and illustrates those on an application.
1 /2
The Viable System Approach To Designing Organizations
Slavica P. Petrovic, Prof. Dr.
Faculty of Economics – University of Kragujevac
D. Pucara 3
34 000 Kragujevac
Serbia and Montenegro
E-mail: pslavica@ptt.yu
Tel: +381 34 303 519
Fax: +381 34 303 516
The Viable System Approach (VSA), based on the Viable System Model (VSM), is the cybernetic approach to diagnosing and (re)designing organizations.
The VSA-framework is founded on notions of viable system, variety balance, recursion. Bringing together implementation, co-ordination, control, development and policy, the VSM can be used as part of a methodology for uncovering whether an organization obeys cybernetic laws or not. The procedure for using the VSM to diagnose a social system design is divided into system identification and system diagnosis.
The VSA has employed to make valid recommendations for increasing viability of organizations.
1 /3
Evaluating projects in large cities
Dorien J. DeTombe, Ph.D.
http://www.geocities.com/doriendetombe
Changing complex issues in Dutch large cities on the subject of safety leaves the decision makers a problem of evaluating their projects. Has the situation in the cities improved, on which aspects and how can we evaluate this.
The projects for change in the large cities focus only on a few issues, leaving out many other problems. Focusing on only a few issues misses the opportunity of really finding the causes of the issues. In the complexity of a city the causes are more intertwined and include more aspects than is taken into account in the projects of the Dutch local government.
Before really handling a complex problem, one has to make a thorough, integrated analysis incorporating all aspects of the problem. This can be realized by an integrated approach based on the Compram method. In order to determine the value of a city we use Bourdieu’s distinction in capitals. The Compram approach tells us how to analyze the issues, how the different elements are related, what kind of influence they have on each other, how to find the desired situation, how to get there, how to implement the interventions and how to evaluate the transitions. The extended theory of Bourdieu makes it possible to value and evaluate the different elements in relation to each other and to see what is successful in the projects and what not. Based on that analysis one can see what really worked, what did not have much effect, what worked on the causes of the problem and what only on the effects of it.
Keywords: complex societal problems, methodology, large cities, Compram, Bourdieu
Session 2
Complex Societal Problems, cluster code: 110/1
Cluster organizer: Dr. Dorien DeTombe
Chair session : Slavica P. Petrovic, Prof. Dr.
1 /2
Understanding Methodologies and Systems in Management
Brugha, Cathal M. Dr. * and Bowen, Ken Prof. Dr. **
*Department of Management Information Systems,
University College Dublin,
Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
**Department of Mathematics,
Royal Holloway, University of London,
Egham Hill, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, England.
This paper puts the case that management practice can be understood by reference to the structure underlying the decisions regularly undertaken by managers. Where such decisions are made over a long period they lead to the development of a language that encapsulates a set of constructs that embodies the relevant underlying structure. Because management decisions have much in common it follows that similar settled practices in many different contexts and situations can be related to others by reference to their common underlying structures. Examples are given and rules are presented for the evaluation and improvement of such systems. We show that, given that the structure is the most fundamental part of a system, using the structure to identify weaknesses in the system is a key to ensuring its proper usage for advising managers.
2 /2
Social Impact Assessment of Coastal Zone Regulation: A Case Study in Kerala (India)
Dr. B. Enserink
Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management
Delft University of Technology, P.O.Box 5015
2600GA Delft The Netherlands
E-mail: b.enserink@tbm.tudelft.nl
Co-authors:
Dr. A. Ramachandran
Centre for Integrated Management of Coastal Zones,
School of Industrial Fisheries, Cochin University of Science & Technology,
Fine Arts Avenue, Cochin-682 016, India, Phone: *91 484-354711
Fax: *91 484-365952, E-mail: ram-alappat@eth.net
Dr. A. N. Balchand
Centre for Integrated Management of Coastal Zones,
Department of Physical Oceanography, Cochin University of Science &
Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Cochin-682 016, India
Phone: *91 484-363950
Fax: *91 484 274164
E-mail: balchand@rediffmail.com
Integrated management of coastal areas is necessary and difficult as there are many conflicting interest in coastal zones. Coastal areas belong to the most densely populated areas in the world where numerous economic activities take place, but they also belong to the environmentally most valuable and most vulnerable areas of our planet. Coastal Zone Regulation in India prohibits any economic activity within 250 meters form the shore in areas with tidal influence. Large parts of Kerala state in the southwest of India are affected by this new regulation. Millions of people are living in this coastal zone and are directly or indirectly affected by the consequences of the government’s restrictive environmental policy. Welfare and the well being of the population seem to clash with the protection of the remaining natural resources. High population densities, high land-pressure, and over-exploitation of natural resources impede on the environmental quality. Strict regulations to protect the environment and to stop degradation impinge on the social and economical development of the local people. Is there a way out of this dilemma? In this paper the problem is sketched and the socio-economic impacts of the new coastal policy on every day life in Kerala will be assessed.
3 /2
A Multicultural Comparison of Ethical Perceptions of Students
Dr. Serap Ekin(1), dr. Sebnem Burnaz(2), dr. Y. Ilker Topcu(2)Istanbul Bilgi University, Business Administration, (2) Istanbul Technical University, Management Faculty
ekin@bilgi.edu.tr; burnaz@itu.edu.tr; topcuil@itu.edu.tr; www.ilkertopcu.net
Business ethics is a major controversial issue worldwide. The question of ethics in business conduct has also become one of the most challenging issues confronting Turkish business environment. As today’s business students as well as managerial and industrial engineering students are potential business managers, they should realize the importance of business ethics. The aim of this study is to analyze the ethical perceptions of Turkish students in both graduate and undergraduate levels with respect to business related situations. Finally, the findings of this study will be compared with those conducted in different cultural settings in order to reach a comparative analysis..
Session 3
Complex Societal Problems, cluster code: 110/1
Cluster organizer: Dr. Dorien DeTombe
Chair session : Dr. Dorien DeTombe
Workshop
Complex Societal problems: Theory & Practice
Dr. Dorien DeTombe
Traditional the content of the sessions of the conference on the topic of complex societal problems are discussed with all the participants of the conference stream of complex societal problems. Which new things are developed in the field. What did we learn. Which progress is made on theory, and in practice. What are the interesting current questions in the field? How will we continue in the future? Which new urgent complex societal problem can be signaled. The questions will reflect theory and every day life practice.
All people interested in this subject are invited to join the workshop.
Corresp. address:
Chair Operational Research Euro Working Group Complex Societal Problems
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
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Ó Dorien J. DeTombe, All rights reserved, update September 2003