This book was written for students of policy science and analysts with policymaking responsibilities who want to understand how to solve social and ecological problems with an integrated systems approach. It describes a method that gives analysts the ability to combine knowledge of social, technological, and ecological systems in order to model real-world complexities that will lead to desirable outcomes.
The author has designed a unique methodology – the social fabric matrix (SFM) – that encourages relevant questions; defines and models a whole that transcends system components and describes their relationships; includes cultural values, social beliefs, and institutional rules; identifies system feedback loops; guides the development of social indicators and builds a database for statistical analysis; coordinates temporal sequences; compares the consequences of alternative policies; and includes the ability to relate research to the broader reality of political action such as lobbying, budgetary processes, and administrative implementation.
F. Gregory Hayden teaches economics at the University of Nebraska.
