Skip to main content

A Framework for Assessing Participation

  • Chapter
Critical Systems Thinking

Abstract

Participation has become one of the primary research issues in leading systems research. One of the main questions to be addressed is the choice between participation as a means to an end, or an end in itself. The choice criteria seem to be twofold: about efficiency and effectiveness of the decision-making process, and about the moral/ethical standing of each option. A framework that evaluates these two angles on participation has been developed, and forms the core of this chapter. The context of this methodological discus- sion is in relation to social development programs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Beer, S. (1972). The brain of the firm, New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beer, S. (1973). Designing freedom. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beer, S. (1979). The heart of the enterprise. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beer, S. (1983). The will of the people. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 34, 797–810.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beer, S. (1985). Diagnosing the system for organizations. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beer, S. (1994). Beyond dispute: The invention of team syntegrity. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers, R. (1983). Rural development: Putting the last first. London: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers, R. (1992). Rural appraisal: Rapid, relaxed and participatory. Discussion paper 311, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chambers, R. (1993). Challenging the professionals-Frontiers for rural development. London: Intermediate Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Checkland, P. B. (1981). Systems thinking, systems practice. New York: John Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Checkland, P. B., & Scholes, J. (1990). Soft systems methodology in action. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Churchman, C. W. (1971). The design of inquiring systems. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Churchman, C. W. (1979a). The systems approach. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Churchman, C. W. (1979b). The systems approach and its enemies. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Espejo, R., & Harnden, R. (1989). The viable sxstems model: Interpretations and applications of Stafford Beer’s VSM. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flood, R. L. (1995). Solving problem solving. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flood, R. L., & Jackson, M. C. (1991). Creative problem solving. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freire, P. (1973). Education: The practice of freedom. London: Writers and Readers Coop.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedmann, J. (1992). Empowerment: The politics of alternative development. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Habermas, J. (1974). Theory and practice. London: Heinemann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Habermas, J. (1987). The theory of communicative action (Vol. 2). Boston: Beacon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hegel, G. W. M. (1931). The phenomenology of the mind, English translation. Winchester, MA: Allen & Unwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, M. C., & Keys, P. (1984). Towards a system of systems methodologies. Journal of Operational Research Society, 35, 473.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kant, I. (1787). Critique of pure reason (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan & Co. (1929).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kant, I. (1788). Critique of practical reason and other writings in moral philosophy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1949).

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsden, D., & Oakley, P. (1990). Evaluating social development projects. Oxford: Oxfam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oakley, P. (1991). Projects with people: The practice of participation in rural development. Geneva: International Labour organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oakley, P., & Marsden, D. (1984). Approaches to participation in rural development. Geneva: International Labour organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahnema, M. (1992). Participation. In W. Sachs (Ed.), The development dictionary. London: Zed Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Romm, N. R. A. (1995a). Knowing as intervention: Reflections on the application of systems ideas. Systems Practice, 8, 137–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romm, N. R. A. (1995b). Some anomalies in Ulrich’s inquiry and problem solving approach. In R. K. Ellis, A. Gregory, B. Mears-Young, & G. Ragsdell (Eds.), Critical issues in systems theory and practice. New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schutz, A. (1962, 1964, 1966). Collected papers (Vols. I–III. The Hague: Nijhoff.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schutz, A. (1970). The problem of rationality in the social world (1943). In Emmet & McIntyre (Eds.), Sociological theory and philosophical analysis. London: Macmillan & Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich, W. (1983). Critical heuristics of social planning: A new approach to practical philosophy. Bern: Haupt (reprinted 1994, New York: Wiley).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich, W. (1987a). The metaphysics of social systems design. In J. Van Gigch (Ed.), Decision making about decision making. Tunbridge Wells: Abacus Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich, W. (1987b). Critical heuristics of social systems design. European Journal of Operational Research, 31, 276–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich, W. (1988a). Systems thinking, systems practice and practical philosophy: A program of research. Systems Practice, 1, 137–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich, W. (1988b). Churchman’s “Process of Unfolding”-Its significance for policy analysis and evaluation. Systems Practice, 1, 415–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vickers, G. (1965). The art of judgement: A study of policy making. London: Chapman & Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vickers, G. (1968). Value, systems, and social progress. London: Tavistock Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vickers, G. (1970). Freedom in a rocking boat. London: Allen Lane.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vickers, G. (1973). Making institutions work. London: Associated Business Program.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Brown, M. (1996). A Framework for Assessing Participation. In: Flood, R.L., Romm, N.R.A. (eds) Critical Systems Thinking. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-585-34651-9_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-585-34651-9_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-45451-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-585-34651-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics