Groups and facilitators within problem structuring processes

In problem structuring methods, facilitators often ask of themselves questions such as: what makes a ‘good’ problem structuring group (PSG) and indeed what does ‘good’ mean? How can group dynamics be improved and does it matter in terms of the quality of the problem structuring that that group engages in? On the surface these questions seem to be straightforward. Indeed, those who have helped facilitate many participatory workshops will think they intuitively know the answers to these questions; they can, from their professional practice, ‘feel’ which PSGs are doing well and producing novel insights and those which are functioning less well and perhaps generating something that is less imaginative and more routine as a consequence. The intuitive, practice-learned insight will depend upon a rich array of visual signals that become more obvious with experience. This paper asks whether there is value in being much more open and analytical about these questions and answers. If so, then how can we make the unwritten processes and outcomes of PSGs written? Indeed, open to whom? Finally, how much of any insights learned by facilitators should be shared with those engaged in workshops?     

A dialectical framework for problem structuring and information technology

This paper proposes that problem structuring is characterized by dialectical processes, and that different problem situations call for differing emphasis on the organizing versus disorganizing potential of information technologies. The term ‘dialectical’ emphasizes the conflicting forces of structuring and unstructuring in processes of problem solving. A case study of an enterprise software conversion project examines four processes: structuring, unstructuring, groping, and adjusting. Applying the dialectic perspective to the classic Gorry and Scott-Morton framework yields propositions as to which of these four processes should be emphasized by information systems addressing different types of problems. Implications for the design of decision support systems and for future research are discussed.     

Evaluating soft OR: some reflections on an apparently ‘unsuccessful’ implementation using a Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) based approach

This paper reflects on a case study in which a soft OR problem structuring approach, based on Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), was used to help in the design of an information system for health service users providing care in the community in a part of the South and West Health Region in the UK. The paper reflects on why an apparently ‘successful’ structuring led to an apparently ‘unsuccessful’ implementation. As part of this reflective process, the paper makes a contribution to the soft OR literature by reviewing some of the approaches taken in the literature to the evaluation of success of problem structuring using soft OR. This review reveals a lack of evaluative criteria, a lack of clarity over the identification of users, and a failure to differentiate criteria associated with ‘structuring’ and ‘implementation’ issues. An evaluative framework is proposed, which is applied retrospectively to the case study.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quid pro quo</Emphasis>: Reflections on the value of problem structuring group workshops

Attracting clients who are willing to invest in using a problem structuring method (PSM) can be particularly difficult for the emerging generation of modellers. There are many reasons for this, not least that the benefits of a problem structuring intervention are vague and evidence of benefits are often anecdotal for example, claims of constructing a deeper understanding of the problem or building the commitment of a group to implementing an outcome. This paper contributes to the evaluation of problem structuring methods by reflecting on the quid pro quo that a client and problem structuring modeller can enjoy from collaboration. The paper reflects on 21 cases, where Journey Making (a problem structuring method) was used with 16 organizations to help managers agree a suite of actions to tackle a complex strategic issue. The reflections are clustered around those benefits that pertain to: PSMs in general; PSMs that use computer-supported workshops; the Journey Making methodology.     

Logistics cost sharing in supply chains involving a third-party logistics provider

In many cases, end customers are sensitive to a product’s logistics service level which is provided by a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, therefore, the continuous improvement of the logistics service is imperative and valuable. However, the problem is that improving the logistics service benefits all of them, but is costly to only the 3PL provider. The 3PL provider is not willing to do this. Sharing the logistics cost is one solution to this problem. This study investigates cost sharing in two kinds of supply chains, i.e., one manufacturer-one 3PL provider-one retailer supply chain and two manufacturers-one 3PL provider-one retailer supply chain. Two types of cost sharing mechanisms, i.e., decentralized cost sharing mechanisms and centralized cost sharing mechanisms, are explored. Decentralized cost sharing mechanisms are proposed as contracts that chain members separately decide their cost sharing portions to optimize their own profits, ignoring the collective impacts of their decisions on the channel as a whole. Centralized cost sharing mechanisms are in the situation that chain members negotiate their cost sharing portions so that their profits are the shares of the entire supply chain’s profit, implying that the supply chain is coordinated perfectly. This study aims to analyse how cost sharing mechanisms affect supply chain performance and under what conditions chain members are willing to engage in cost sharing mechanisms. Conditions necessary for cost sharing mechanisms to achieve win-win outcomes are identified.     

Combining problem structuring methods to conduct applied research: a mixed methods approach to studying fitness-to-drive in the UK

This paper describes a mixed methods approach using problem structuring methods to conduct applied research into fitness-to-drive arrangements within the UK Department for Transport. Computer-supported group causal mapping was used to collect and structure qualitative data from stakeholder groups concerning the delivery of medical standards on fitness-to-drive. The data were subsequently coded and analysed using the modelling language of soft systems methodology. This enabled data to be linked to the concept of a ‘fitness-to-drive system’ and developed further in the form of systems models based on alternative worldviews. The paper reports on the process of developing and implementing the approach and discusses issues concerning the conduct of mixed methods research using problem structuring methods.     

‘Doing the right problem’ <Emphasis Type="Italic">versus</Emphasis> ‘doing the problem right’: problem structuring within a Land Force environment

The essential first step of any OR investigation is to ensure that the ‘right problem’ is studied. Our approach is to propose a set of six ‘rights’ or questions whereby achievement against particular aspects of a problem space is made and these provide the basis for scoping the context, understanding the system, and proposing sound options to the decision-maker. This style of problem structuring is an essential element of the Defence problem domain, and especially so for the Land Force, where there exist multiple degrees of freedom for poorly defined problems in an environment of uncertainty and ambiguity. Central to this is performing conceptual rather than analytical modelling, as perturbations then provide a basis for exploring a space, rather than solving a problem.     

考虑平台影响因素的虚拟社区知识共享演化博弈研究

知识共享是虚拟社区用户学习和传播知识的重要途径。本文考虑到虚拟社区平台对参与用户知识共享行为的激励作用,引入平台的奖励和不分享知识所产生的机会成本,以及知识共享收益因素,构建考虑虚拟社区平台影响因素的虚拟社区知识共享演化博弈支付矩阵,并求得演化均衡解。通过小米社区的案例引入,仿真模拟平台对用户知识共享的奖励、机会成本、收益分配系数以及参与用户共享程度等因素对参与用户知识共享行为意愿的影响。研究发现:虚拟社区参与用户的知识共享意愿对因为知识共享所产生新知识的收益系数变化较为敏感;平台的奖励以及不分享知识所产生的机会成本对用户知识共享意愿影响巨大;同时,不同参与用户因为知识水平层次不同,参与知识共享的目的也不相同,这会影响到他们的知识共享策略选择。     

Group inquiry to aid organisational learning in enterprises

This paper describes a method for surfacing and exploring ‘situated knowledge’ in medium-sized organisations, with employee groups utilising a ‘low impact’ form of group support system (GSS), based on wireless handsets. Some results of piloting this method are summarised and one intervention is presented in detail. The method encouraged organisational members to give voice to the emotions and politics of leadership and learning in organisations, and helped to articulate how situated knowledge was ignored, as well as utilised. The method is practical, and may be used by organisations for themselves to aid the development of group as well as individual reflection, to stimulate the consideration of change.     

Domain structuring for knowledge-based multiattribute classification (a verbal decision analysis approach)

Classification problems in decision making are, at least, ill-structured or even unstructured ones, since, among other things, human judgments (i.e., Decision Maker preferences and/or expert knowledge) are the primary sources of information for their solving. Thus, not only the classification rules eliciting, but the application domain structuring as well, is a complex problem itself. The paper focuses on knowledge-based classification problem structuring in the context of complete (up to the expert knowledge) and consistent knowledge base construction for a Diagnostic Decision Support System. Two structuring techniques are proposed as expert aids, as well as an approach to large-size problem decomposition. It is asserted that application domain structuring and classification rules eliciting have to be arranged as interconnected procedures.     

Stability of jurisdiction structures in economies with local public goods

Individuals of different types can form groups, i.e. jurisdictions, for the purposes of collective consumption and production of local public goods by the members of the jurisdictions. Also, the utility of an individual may be affected by the composition and size of the jurisdiction of which he is a member. Jurisdiction formation is endogenous. Trade of private goods can occur within jurisdictions and within collections of jurisdictions. A stable partition of individuals is shown to exist for all sufficiently large economies. This stability depends, partially, upon the extent of ‘satisficing’ behavior or alternatively, jurisdiction formation costs, both of which can be made arbitrarily small. The major noteworthy assumption is that positive outputs cannot become virtually free in per-capita terms as the economy is replicated; this ensures that the public goods are ‘local’ rather than ‘pure’; otherwise assumptions on production sets are minimal and, in particular, convexity is not required. To obtain stability with coalition formation costs, additional assumptions are made ensuring that there is a ‘minimum efficient scale’ for coalitions.     

Changed views on mathematical knowledge in the course of didactical theory development—independent corpus of scientific knowledge or result of social constructions?

The study tries to show one line of how the German didactical tradition has evolved in response to new theoretical ideas and new—empirical—research approaches in mathematics education. First, the classical mathematical didactics, notably ‘stoffdidaktik’ as one (besides other) specific German tradition are described. The critiques raised against ‘stoffdidaktik’ concepts [for example, forms of ‘progressive mathematisation’, ‘actively discovering learning processes’ and ‘guided reinvention’ (cf. Freudenthal, Wittmann)] changed the basic views on the roles that ‘mathematical knowledge’, ‘teacher’ and ‘student’ have to play in teaching–learning processes; this conceptual change was supported by empirical studies on the professional knowledge and activities of mathematics teachers [for example, empirical studies of teacher thinking (cf. Bromme)] and of students’ conceptions and misconceptions (for example, psychological research on students’ mathematical thinking). With the interpretative empirical research on everyday mathematical teaching–learning situations (for example, the work of the research group around Bauersfeld) a new research paradigm for mathematics education was constituted: the cultural system of mathematical interaction (for instance, in the classroom) between teacher and students.     

Global existence for degenerate parabolic equations with a non-local forcing

We establish local existence and comparison for a model problem which incorporates the effects of non-linear diffusion, convection and reaction. The reaction term to be considered contains a non-local dependence, and we show that local solutions can be obtained via monotone limits of solutions to appropriately regularized problems. Utilizing this construction, it is further shown that, under conditions of either ‘weak reaction’ or ‘sufficiently small’ initial mass, solutions exist for all time. Finally, we provide an alternative analysis of global existence and investigate blow up in finite time for the case of power law diffusion and convection. These results show the extent to which the assumption of weak reaction may be relaxed and still obtain global existence. © 1997 by B. G. Teubner Stuttgart–John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Developing mathematical modelling skills: The role of CAS

Mathematical modelling as one component of problem solving is an important part of the mathematics curriculum and problem solving skills are often the most quoted generic skills that should be developed as an outcome of a programme of mathematics in school, college and university. Often there is a tension between mathematics seen at all levels as ‘a body of knowledge’ to be delivered at all costs and mathematics seen as a set of critical thinking and questioning skills. In this era of powerful software on hand-held and computer technologies there is an opportunity to review the procedures and rules that form the ‘body of knowledge’ that have been the central focus of the mathematics curriculum for over one hundred years. With technology we can spend less time on the traditional skills and create time for problem solving skills. We propose that mathematics software in general and CAS in particular provides opportunities for students to focus on the formulation and interpretation phases of the mathematical modelling process. Exploring the effect of parameters in a mathematical model is an important skill in mathematics and students often have difficulties in identifying the different role of variables and parameters This is an important part of validating a mathematical model formulated to describe, a real world situation. We illustrate how learning these skills can be enhanced by presenting and analysing the solution of two optimisation problems.     

Interactive High-low Search: The Case of Lost Sales

We consider the problem of supplying perishable goods to disloyal customers. As in traditional stock-control literature, a penalty is incurred whenever there is a stockout. However, in contrast to mainstream models, loss of goodwill is explicitly treated by incorporating the behavioural assumption that a fixed proportion of unsatisfied demand is lost forever after each stockout. The problem consists of finding supply levels which minimize costs of over- and underproduction, given unknown but deterministic demand. We derive optimal adaptive search procedures under varying assumptions of a priori knowledge about demand. Optimal strategies are compared to myopic strategies. Our methodology extends the mathematical theory of ‘high-low search’ for a hidden point to incorporate the ‘Heisenberg principle’: the position of the hidden point (demand) is directly influenced by the actions (supply levels) of the searcher.     

地位差异视角下知识分享策略对组织学习的影响研究

组织学习是提高企业竞争能力的重要途径,人际学习是组织学习的重要组成部分。组织成员间普遍存在的地位差异,会直接影响个体的知识分享策略,继而影响组织学习。然而,以往的组织学习模型通常忽略了个体的地位差异,默认假设每个组织成员的地位是相同的。鉴于此,本文在组织学习经典仿真模型的基础上,引入地位这一特征,综合探讨正向差异化(高地位成员更愿意分享知识)、负向差异化(低地位成员更愿意分享知识)、以及同质化(不同地位的成员有相同的知识分享意愿)这三种知识分享策略对组织学习的影响机理。研究结果表明,三种知识分享策略下,知识分享水平和地位认可度对组织学习的作用关系和作用大小存在显著差异。但总体来说,仅当组织成员的地位认可度较高且知识分享水平较低时,同质化策略才最有利于组织学习;其他情境下,负向差异化策略更有利于提高组织学习绩效。     

Developing unbounded systems thinking: using causal mapping with multiple stakeholders within a Vietnamese company

Researchers propose that systems-oriented, multiple perspective approaches are better suited to deal with ‘messy’ or ‘wicked’ problems. In this study, we apply Mitroff and Linstone's Unbounded Systems Thinking (UST) framework to a Vietnamese company case. Causal mapping and group model building were used. As the case shows, each perspective provides a limited model of the problem situation. Our study shows that a model built on multiple perspectives offers a more complete picture of the problem and therefore helps the organization better understand the problem situation, creating a ground for better problem resolution. Lessons learned from the case are discussed.     

Problem structuring using computer-aided morphological analysis

General morphological analysis (GMA) is a method for structuring and investigating the total set of relationships contained in multidimensional, usually non-quantifiable, problem complexes. Pioneered by Fritz Zwicky at the California Institute of Technology in the 1930s and 1940s, it relies on a constructed parameter space, linked by way of logical relationships, rather than on causal relationships and a hierarchal structure. During the past 10 years, GMA has been computerized and extended for structuring and analysing complex policy spaces, developing futures scenarios and modelling strategy alternatives. This article gives a historical and theoretical background to GMA as a problem structuring method, compares it with a number of other ‘soft-OR’ methods, and presents a recent application in structuring a complex policy issue. The issue involves the development of an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system in Sweden.     

延迟效应影响下的产学研协同创新知识共享研究

在高校和企业组成的产学研协同创新知识共享体系中,考虑成员的知识共享策略均存在延迟效应时的影响,构建了基于双延迟效应的动态微分模型。运用极大值原理,得到了协同创新主体在集中和分散两种决策下的最优知识共享策略、最优收益和体系的知识水平。研究发现:延迟时间的存在对高校和企业的知识共享策略具有负面效应,且均低于发生即时效应的情形;集中式决策并不总是优于分散式决策,两个延迟时间在满足一定的条件时,选择集中式决策为最优,否则双方企业将追求自身利益最大化而选择分散式决策;分散决策下,利润分配比例达到一定条件时,企业才愿意为高校提供补贴。且高校的知识共享延迟时间增加时,企业将提高该补贴比例。补贴比例越大,高校的知识共享水平越高,但对企业的知识共享策略没有影响。