Multimethodology Towards Theory and Practice

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.

John Mingers is Professor of OR and Information Systems and Director of Research at Kent Business School, University of Kent, UK. His research interests include the use of systems methodologies in problem situations, particularly the mixing of different methodologies within an intervention; the development of critical realism as a philosophy for information systems; the development of theory concerning the nature of information and meaning; and autopoiesis and its applications. He has published several books, including Self-Producing Systems: Implications and Applications of Autopoiesis and Information Systems: An Emerging Discipline?.

List of Contributors

vii

(6)

Foreword

xiii

(2)

Professor Jonathan Rosenhead

Preface

xv

1 Multi-paradigm Multimethodology

1

(22)

John Mingers

Part 1--Practice of Multimethodology

23

(164)

Commentary

23

(6)

2 Mixing Methods in Practice: a Transformation-Competence Perspective

29

(30)

Richard Ormerod

3 Analysing Litigation and Negotiation: Using a Combined Methodology

59

(30)

Peter Bennett

Fran Ackermann

Colin Eden

Terry Williams

4 One Size Doesn't Fit All: Reflections on Using Systems Techniques in an Operational Setting

89

(16)

Jeremy Bentham

5 Using Models in Sequence: a Case Study of a Post-acquisition Intervention

105

(22)

Allenna Leonard

6 Status and Tendencies of Management Research: a Systems Oriented Perspective

127

(26)

Markus Schwaninger

7 Managing a Virtual Organization

153

(34)

Anthony Gill

Part 2--Cognitive Aspects of Multimethodology

187

(56)

Commentary

187

(2)

8 Becoming Multimethodology Literate: an Assessment of the Cognitive Difficulties of Working Across Paradigms

189

(28)

John Brocklesby

9 Multimethodologies--the Knowledge Perspective

217

(26)

David J. Skyrme

Part 3--Theory of Multimethodology

243

(198)

Commentary

243

(6)

10 Mixing Methods: Developing Systemic Intervention

249

(42)

Gerald Midgley

11 From Metatheory to "Multimethodology"

291

(32)

Robert Flood

Norma Romm

12 Multimethodology and Critical Theory: an Intersection of Interests?

323

(24)

Martin Spaul

13 Pluralism in Systems Thinking and Practice

347

(32)

Mike C. Jackson

14 Critiquing Multimethodology as Metamethodology: Working Towards Pragmatic Pluralism

379

(28)

Leroy White

Ann Taket

15 Towards Critical Pluralism

407

(34)

John Mingers

Index

441

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Multimethodology Towards Theory and Practice and Mixing and Matching Methodologies

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials