TOWARDS A THEORY OF SYSTEMIC PROBLEM SOLVING: PROSPECTS AND PARADOXES

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Abstract
This paper represents an exercise in Conceptual Modeling. It attempts to construct a series of plausible performance measures for a systemic model of problem solving. The paper clarifies the differences between systemic and nonsystemic problems. A set of problems is systemic if and only if the solution to every problem is dependent on the solution to all of the other problems in the set. In the same vein, a systemic measure of problem solving performance is a multiplicative function of performance on each of the “separate” phases of the total problem solving process. As a result, good performance on any one phase is not enough to make up for poor performance on other phases. One of the main purposes of the paper is to set the stage for future quantitative inquiries into the dynamics of problem solving. A primary intent is to illustrate the difficulties inherent in (a) the nature of problem solving and scientific method themselves and (b) the mathematical or quantitative representation of them.