Acta Structuralica

international journal for structuralist research

Book | Chapter

201125

Synthesising constructivism and critical realism

towards critical pluralism

John Mingers

pp. 187-204

Abstract

The discipline within which I work is generally known as management science. It aims to assist the management of organisations using a broadly-defined scientific approach. Within management science, I have worked particularly in operational research (OR) and information systems (IS). My work is generally informed by a systems approach. Historically, management science developed with a very positivistic view of science [1]. OR, for example, was concerned largely to develop mathematical and computer-based models of the quantifiable aspects of problem situations in order that these might be "optimised", while systems methodologies were based on "hard", engineering principles.

Publication details

Published in:

Aerts Diederik, Van Belle Hubert, Van Der Veken Jan (1999) World views and the problem of synthesis: the yellow book of "Einstein meets Magritte". Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 187-204

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-011-4708-8_12

Full citation:

Mingers John (1999) „Synthesising constructivism and critical realism: towards critical pluralism“, In: D. Aerts, H. Van Belle & J. Van Der Veken (eds.), World views and the problem of synthesis, Dordrecht, Springer, 187–204.