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The Metaphysics of Design: A Simon-Churchman “Debate”

1980; Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences; Volume: 10; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1287/inte.10.2.35

1526-551X

Werner Ulrich,

Innovation and Knowledge Management

Management of complexity is the hallmark of good Management Science, if Management Science is understood in the wider sense intended by its founding fathers. In Herbert A. Simon, Management Science has recently acquired Nobel-prize status for its contribution to the understanding of complexity in decision-making and problem-solving processes. On this occasion we should reflect upon just how much our understanding of complexity is still limited by our own preconceptions about the nature of complexity. In what ways is the model of complexity we now use, and to which Herbert Simon has given its most elegant formulation in his paper, “The Architecture of Complexity” [Herbert A. Simon. 1962. The architecture of complexity. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 106 (6) 467–482.], likely to appear naive to the next generation of Management Scientists and planners? What does it mean to deal rationally with complexity in defining real-world problems? A fictitious debate between Herbert Simon and another outstanding philosopher of Management Science, C. West Churchman, may provide the material and the necessary critical distance for overseeing the root of the issue.