Abstract
The object of this study is problem solving. The authors believe that considerable advantage can be gained from designers talking about clients’ concerns, rather than their problems. Using Mitroff and Linstone’s (1993) division of the knowing world into objective, subject and personal, the authors are suggesting need for a more personal perspective. Further, their and Checkland’s [1999] call for perspectives thinking can be used to very usefully separate the problem into object-like and subjective-like elements. The thing being studied is separated from the client’s concerns about that thing (treated as an object). The evidence to support this conclusion includes the multiple perspectives literature, and the first author’s many years of experiences in problem solving both is IS and in research design. A simple graphical tool is presented that the author has found useful to assist group discussion about separating the object under consideration from the client’s concerns.
Recommended Citation
Metcalfe, Mike and Hobson, Elizabeth, "Concern Solving Not Problem Solving" (2001). ACIS 2001 Proceedings. 39.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/acis2001/39