Social Systems Engineering

Preface

We, the editors of this volume, are trained as both engineers and social scientists, and have contrasted the two different mindsets during our careers. Since the time when we were PhD students in the social sciences, we have felt that ‘praxis’ does not have the same status as theorizing in generating knowledge, as opposed to what happens in engineering. Even the recognition of engineering knowledge as a distinctive kind of knowledge, different from scientific knowledge, seems to remain elusive for both academics and practitioners. In fact, ‘praxis’ embodies a set of differential elements from pure science. This volume is an effort to bring together elements of engineering thinking and social science into the study of social systems, and more importantly, aims to be a vehicle that emphasizes the necessity of developing practical knowledge – through its proper ways and under its own ‘validation’ criteria – to provide feasible, yet informed, paths for intervening and improving social systems; that is, systems created and driven by human beings.

Also, through this volume we would like to make explicit the inherent link between systemic thinking and engineering knowledge through the consideration of multiple perspectives and methods. We believe that the merger of both the qualitative and quantitative worlds is essential in order to cope with the complexity of contemporary social systems. Moreover, we believe that engineering thinking, along with its tools and methods, is ...