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Structuring III‐structured policy issues: Further explorations in a methodology for messy problems
Author(s) -
Mitroff Ian I.,
Mason Richard O.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
strategic management journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 11.035
H-Index - 286
eISSN - 1097-0266
pISSN - 0143-2095
DOI - 10.1002/smj.4250010404
Subject(s) - argumentation theory , structuring , management science , computer science , outcome (game theory) , process (computing) , divergence (linguistics) , perception , epistemology , process management , risk analysis (engineering) , sociology , political science , mathematics , economics , business , mathematical economics , law , programming language , philosophy , linguistics
This paper extends previous work in the development of a methodology for ill‐structured policy problems. It argues that recent advances in the structure and logic of argumentation allow one to develop a new basis for treating policy issues. In brief, policies may be viewed as the outcome of a process of reasoning (argumentation) whose purpose is to establish the basis (rationale) for the policy. This paper shows how the tools of symbolic logic may be applied to handle arguments containing strong inconsistencies. The tools presented allow treatment of one of the most fundamental issues concerned with ill‐structured problems, the divergence between opposing formulations or perceptions of a problem.