NCJ Number
48189
Journal
POLICY SCIENCES Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1978) Pages: 1-8
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES, THEIR RELATION TO PROFESSIONAL FIELDS WHICH APPLY THEM, THEIR RELATION TO THE MANAGEMENT SCIENCES, AND THE SCOPE OF A GENERAL SYSTEMS THEORY ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE SOCIAL SCIENCES GENERALLY STAND DISTINCT FROM EACH OTHER IN THE UNIVERSITY SETTINGS. ATTEMPTS TO FORM INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS HAVE BEEN SHORT-LIVED. THE ONLY LASTING UNIONS HAVE BEEN THOSE FORMED WHEN A NEW DISCIPLINE WAS EMERGING, AS IN THE UNION OF PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, AND BIOLOGY IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. THE SOCIAL SCIENCES ARE EVEN MORE RELUCTANT THAN THE NATURAL SCIENCES TO JOIN IN SUCH UNIONS BECAUSE THEIR BOUNDARIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ILL-DEFINED. PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS WHICH USE THE SOCIAL SCIENCES, SUCH AS THOSE RELATED TO PLANNING AND GOVERNMENT, HAVE DRAWN FROM THOSE DISCIPLINES WHICH APPEAR MOST USEFUL. IN THE MANAGEMENT SCHOOLS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH SOCIAL SCIENCES HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY TENUOUS. MOST MANAGEMENT SCHOOLS ARE STAFFED WITH SYSTEMS ANALYSTS, COMMUNICATION ENGINEERS, COMPUTER SCIENTISTS, AND OTHERS MORE CLOSELY ALLIED WITH THE NATURAL SCIENCES. MATHEMATICAL MODELING IS THE FAVORITE TOOL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES, EVEN THOUGH SUCH MODELS DO NOT REFLECT THE HUMAN FACTOR. SUCH ANALYSES OFTEN FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THAT POLITICAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES ARE AS IMPORTANT AS ECONOMIC ONES. THE AUTHOR URGES THAT THOSE DEALING WITH POLITICAL OR PLANNING MATTERS MAKE USE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE DISCIPLINES. IT IS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT A GENERAL SYSTEMS THEORY DESCRIBING THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF A CULTURE WOULD CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO MANAGEMENT PRACTICE. CULTURES NEED TO BE STUDIED AS SELF-MAINTAINING SYSTEMS JUST AS ECOSYTEMS ARE STUDIED BY BIOLOGISTS. THE NATURAL SCIENCES ARE NOT AFRAID TO INTERACT WHEN A DISCOVERY CROSSES THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN DISCIPLINES. THE SOCIAL SCIENTISTS NEED AN EQUALLY BROAD APROACH. (GLR)