PROBLEM (How do we define a) 2)
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In his paper "Perception of the future and the future of perception", H.von FOERSTER thus quotes H. BRUN: "The definition of a problem and the action taken to solve it depend on the view which the individuals or groups that discovered the problem have of the system to which it refers. A problem may thus find itself defined as a badly interpreted output, or as a faulty output of a faulty output device, or as a faulty output due to a malfunction in an otherwise faultless system, or as a correct but undesired output from a faultless and thus undesirable system. All definitions but the last suggest corrective action, only the last definition suggest change, and so presents an unsolvable problem to anyone opposed to change" (1971, p 1-10).
The basic point is that "correction" does not imply "change", while "change" is sometimes absolutely necessary to insure that "corrections" should not merely be superficial, deceptive and, in last resort, useless patching.
Even so, a good knowlege of the system is needed if the thus considered "change" is not to play havoc with the whole system. Many changes are always possible, but each proposed one should be in accordance with the global organization of the system.
And finally, one should never forget that any change may merely displace the problem. As observed once by B. BANATHY: "You cannot solve a problem, you only can manage it".
J. WARFIELD proposes to clarify the definition of any problem by covering the following points:
"1. A well-conceived title for the problem or issue.
"2. A descriptive scenario, explaining the nature of the problem, and how it came to be a problem, presenting as much history and data as can be prepared with available resources.
"3. An understanding of what disciplines or professions are relevant to an attack on the problem.
"4. An assessment of scope.
"5. A determination of the societal sectors involved.
"6. An identification of the actors to be involved in the problem-solving situation.
"7. An identification of need.
"8. An identification of alterables (those elements of the system that are subject to change)
"9. An identification of major constraints.
"10. Some partitioning of the problem into relevant elements.
"11. Some isolation of the subjective elements of the problem
"12. Description of interactions among relevant elements of the problem" (1989, p.150).
Categories
- 1) General information
- 2) Methodology or model
- 3) Epistemology, ontology and semantics
- 4) Human sciences
- 5) Discipline oriented
Publisher
Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science(2020).
To cite this page, please use the following information:
Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science (2020). Title of the entry. In Charles François (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics (2). Retrieved from www.systemspedia.org/[full/url]
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