Some Problems Associated with Systems Analysis.
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Addressed to an audience acquainted with the concept of systems analysis, the paper explains the systems analyst's function, briefly suggesting the purpose of his investigation and his methods of analysis. Two types of pitfalls are explained: those externally generated by the problemsolving situation, such as the selection of measures of effectiveness, the treatment of uncertainties, the handling of "nonquantifiables"; and those peculiar to the analyst, such as bias, attention to problem formulation, his "role." The statement of each problem is reinforced by real or hypothetical examples. The systems analyst does more than simply apply his own judgment and intuition: he structures discussions and prepares models that simulate the real situation in a simplified, stylized representation. The process of systems analysis, although not without its limitations, offers more to the decisionmaker than older, more conventional methods of analysis. 24 pp.
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