Managers are not confronted with problems that are independent of each other, but with dynamic situations that consist of complex systems of changing problems that interact with each other. I call such situations messes. Problems are extracted from messes by analysis. Managers do not solve problems, they manage messes.


Cited in Donella Meadows (2008) Thinking in Systems: a Primer. p. 1. - The future of operational research is past, 1979

Russell L. Ackoff Quotes

Managers are not confronted with problems that are independent of each other, but with dynamic situations that consist of complex systems of changing ...

Managers are not confronted with problems that are independent of each other, but with dynamic situations that consist of complex systems of changing ...

Managers are not confronted with problems that are independent of each other, but with dynamic situations that consist of complex systems of changing ...

Managers are not confronted with problems that are independent of each other, but with dynamic situations that consist of complex systems of changing ...