Dr. Dorien J. DeTombe, Ph.D.

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

Book: Dorien J. DeTombe (Ed.) IFORS’99 Methodology for Analyzing Complex Societal Problems. Book of Abstracts. Delft: Delft University of Technology.

The interest for the Euro Working Group 21 Methodology for Complex Societal Problems is steadily growing. In August 1999 in China in Beijing on the IFORS ’99 conference our working group organized 8 sessions and a workshop, which means three days of continue discussions of the subject of our working group. The discussion were very inspiring for all of us. We were very glad that we could invite 28 paper presenters in the Beijing sessions (see enclosed booklet). We were glad that we had to chance to combine the session in China with the subgroup Decision Modelling and the Dutch Nosmo research group on Methodology for Analyzing Societal Problems.

The number of members of the Euro Working Group 21 is still growing. The members of the Euro Working Group 21 come from different fields and are work at different universities. There is a high degree of activity and interaction amongst the members of the group

Having a growing number of membership is needed, because the problems society is confronted with are difficult to handle and 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.

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.

Methodology for analyzing 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 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 21 on Methodology for Complex Societal Problems is to increase and to combine the available scientific knowledge regarding the handling of complex societal problems. Means to reach this goal are organizing workshops and conferences, and publishing proceedings and books in which discussion on this subject can take place.

Special sessions and conferences organized on this subject are:

• ISAGA conference Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, July 1994

• The First International Conference on Methods and Tools for Analyzing Complex Societal Problems, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, November 1994

• Euro XIV, 14th European Conference on Operational Research, 1995 20^thAnniversary of Euro, Jerusalem, Israel, July 1995

• Second International Conference on Methods and Tools for Analyzing 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 21 Methodology for Analyzing Societal Problems July 1998

• 14th International Sociology Conference, Montreal, Canada, July 1998

• Simulation. Simulation in Industry Conference, Nottingham, UK, October 1998.

• IFORS’99, Beijing, Euro Working Group 21 Methodology for Analyzing Societal Problems, August 1999 in cooperation with the subgroup Decision Modelling and the Dutch Nosmo research group on 21 Methodology for Analyzing Societal Problems.

• The next sessions will be organized on the Euro conference in Budapest in 2000.

• Publications of members of the Euro Working Group 21 Methodology for Complex Societal Problems in 1999:

• 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
• 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
• Dijkum van, Cor, Dorien DeTombe, & Etzel van Kuijck (Eds) (1999) Validation of simulation models. Amsterdam: Siswo

Related national session in Europe organized by the members of the Euro Working Group 21 Methodology for Analyzing Societal Problems in 1999:

• The Netherlands 6x NOSMO group Methodology for Analyzing Societal Problems by DeTombe
• Nosmo group simualtion by Van Dijkum DeTombe
• In Germany by prof. dr. F. Liebl
• In The first conference organized by this group on Decision Modelling and Management Philosophy focused on Bridging Cultures East and West for the 21st Century and was run by the Management Science Society of Ireland with the support of EURO in January, 1999 in Dublin by Brugha

Societal Phenomena

Some of the members of the Euro Working Group 21 "Methodology for Analysing Complex Societal Problems" have formed a sub-group to synthesises various strands of research into Decision Modelling.

Its purpose is to draw together the numerous approaches to modelling decision making that are used in management. Its members come from the Operational Research / Management Science / Systems community, particularly those who are interested in qualitative structures in decisions, in a holistic approach to management, and in drawing from philosophy and multi-cultural perspectives.

The first conference organized by this group on Decision Modelling and Management Philosophy focused on Bridging Cultures East and West for the 21st Century and was run by the Management Science Society of Ireland with the support of EURO in January, 1999 in Dublin.

See the conference web page for details at http://mis.ucd.ie/staff/cbrugha/decconf.html, Dr C. Brugha, University College Dublin, Ireland

See review Euro Working Group 1998 Complex Societal Problems

See for presentations Euro Working Group Complex Societal Problems

See for  more information on the NOSMO Research Group Complex Societal Problems

See for more information West_Euro Research Group Complex Societal Problems

See for more information Euro Working Group Complex Societal Problems

See for more information  Research Groups on Complex Societal Problems

How to become a member of the Euro Working Group on Complex Societal Problems

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