Complex societal problem solving: A possible set of methodological criteria

The five commitments of critical systems thinking can be treated as criteria to be fulfilled by any methodology for societal problem solving. However, since present-day societal problems are complex, in establishing a set of criteria to be satisfied by any methodology proposed for complex societal problem solving reference needs to be made to the theory of complex systems. Together with the five commitments of critical systems thinking, this will form the criteria set to be satisfied by any methodology or inquiry system designed for complex societal problem solving. The definition of such a set of criteria is attempted in this paper using the extensive literature on the science of complexity. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.