Multimethodology: Towards Theory and Practice and Mixing and Matching Methodologies

ISBN-13: 9780471974901 / Angielski / Twarda / 1997 / 458 str.

Mingers; John Mingers; Anthony James Gill

Opis

This book proposes that using two or more management science methodologies in the same intervention is likely to produce a richer picture for "seeing and understanding the complex web of relationships and interconnectivities" which is likely to lead to better decision taking by managers and workers. This is what is meant by "multimethodology." In conclusion, the book explores several theoretical and philosophical perspectives on combining methodologies from different paradigms, as well as presenting many actual examples from practice.

Spis treści

Partial table of contents:

Multi–paradigm Multimethodology (J. Mingers).

PRACTICE OF MULTIMETHODOLOGY.

Mixing Methods in Practice: A Transformation–Competence Perspective (R. Ormerod).

One Size Doesn′t Fit All: Reflections on Using Systems Techniques in an Operational Setting (J. Bentham).

Status and Tendencies of Management Research: A Systems Oriented Perspective (M. Schwaninger).

COGNITIVE ASPECTS OF MULTIMETHODOLOGY.

Multimethodologies––The Knowledge Perspective (D. Skyrme).

THEORY OF MULTIMETHODOLOGY.

Mixing Methods: Developing Systemic Intervention (G. Midgley).

Pluralism in Systems Thinking and Practice (M. Jackson).

Towards Critical Pluralism (J. Mingers).

Index.

O autorze

John Mingers is Professor of Operational Research and Information Systems at Canterbury Business School, University of Kent. He is Deputy Director of the business school and Director of Research. He is a past Chair of the UK Systems Society and has been a member of the Council of the OR Society. John Mingers studied Management Sciences for his first degree at Warwick and later completed a Masters in Systems in Management at Lancaster University and a PhD at Warwick. He also worked in industry as a systems analyst and then as an OR analyst.His research interests include the use of systems methodologies in problem situations - particularly the mixing of different methodologies within an intervention (multimethodology); the application of multimethodology to research methods within information systems; the development of the critical systems approach; autopoiesis (self-producing systems) and its applications; and the nature of knowledge, information and meaning as relevant to information systems.

Blurb

Business ideas such as continuous improvement, innovative use of IT, competitive advantage, supply chain management, bench–marking and team–based working are forcing managers and workers to be more reflective about the business processes that they are engaged in. This reflection includes the need for enhanced communications between organizational members – sharing mental models that are inherently more complex than two–by–two matrices. However, we all have different mental models of the world around us. This adds to the ′mess′ that organizations have to manage. No method or methodology in any discipline is able to offer a complete view of the complexities facing organizations. Each may offer a snapshot that provides insights that are useful for reflection and action. This book proposes that using two or more management science methodologies in the same intervention is likely to produce a richer picture for ′seeing and understanding the complex web of relationships and interconnectivities′ which is likely to lead to better decision taking by managers and workers. This is what is meant by ′multimethodology′. In conclusion, the book explores several theoretical and philosophical perspectives on combining methodologies from different paradigms, as well as presenting many actual examples from practice. It will appeal to managers, consultants and researchers – anyone who cares to think about increasing efficiency and effectiveness in organizations.