Facts, methods, programmes and paradigms

Abstract

The concept of OR has widened at the Swedish Defence Research Institute (FOA) as at many other places during the last ten years. It has grown from academically faithful frameworks of science and mathematics into many other subjects and also into practical, purposeful activities with a weaker academic affiliation. Holism has been promoted “the hardway” and not only by inspiration from the Ackoff alarms. The awareness of work processes and working paradigms has likewise grown by the simulataneous stimulation from modern OR-literature and as uneasy bureaucratic context. The following taxonomy has a solid foundation in how OR is actually performed at the Institute: System/facts: subject object method: creativity analysis purpose/process: interactive advisory paradigm: intuitive rational This taxonomy was originally a way to present an educational programme. Making it explicit has also had other effects: Inside the Institute: • - to provide a language for an exchange of experiences. • - to promote neutral descriptions or work where emotional values earlier distorted them, • - to facilitate constructive criticism, • - to promote an increased methodological flexibility, • - to facilitate the planning of projects and setting priorities to phases of work within these. Outside the Institute: • - to support discussions and even teaching to analysts of foreign sectors and countries, • - to clarify some arguments about responsibilities for different kinds of analysis.