Similarities, Connections, and Systems
The Search for a New Rationality for Planning and Management
Published on 19. March 2004
Book
Hardback
192 pages
978-0-7391-0000-4 (ISBN)
Description
Since the early 1970s, the formal model of rational inquiry has come under increasing attack by scholars as well as practitioners in the business management, planning, and policy professions. Critics tell us that it ignores sentiments and emotions that are key to understanding professional practice. Yet, despite the attacks, there are few competitors for rationality and no usable alternative has emerged to take its place in the profession. Clearly a new practical paradigm is called for, and in this groundbreaking work, Niraj Verma goes beyond the criticism of rationality to present a bold alternative model of inquiry-a new rationality for the professions. Inspired by the work of pragmatist William James, Verma proposes a methodology that fuses the rational and the irrational to offer professionals an approach to inquiry that more completely examines all of the factors that impact the planning process in a practical, systematic way. An illuminating blend of philosophy, critique, and down-to-earth examples, Similarities, Connections, and Systems introduces a new, methodologically sound model of inquiry that aptly addresses the shortcomings of other models while remaining sensitive to the goals of professional practice.
Reviews / Votes
The power of Niraj Verma's account of planning and management rests on a remarkably simple but compelling observation: as social scientists eager to explain the world, we probe for differences; as planners and managers, our mind's eye searches for similarities. In the weeks since I have read the book, I have found myself repeatedly talking about and with it-using Verma's language to construct similarities and to ponder them. A treasure!> -- Seymour J. Mandelbaum, Professor of City and Regional Planning, University of Pennsylvania [A] provocative new book... Complex philosophical issues are explained in a readable and understandable way. It will help us address the new kinds of problems and orgainizations we face in the emerging global society. -- Richard O. Mason, Southern Methodist University * Academy of Management Review * A thoughtful contribution to the policy sciences literature, and it provides a number of useful conceptual vehicles for navigating the challenges and complexities that confront policy, management, and planning professionals. -- L. James Valverde Jr., London School of Economics * Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design * Certain books are so basic, so important, that they should be read by all serious scholars. This book belongs to that class. -- Ian I. Mitroff, Harold Quinton Distinguished Professor of Business Policy, University of Southern California Certain books are so basic, so important, that they should be read by all serious scholars. This book belongs to that class. -- Ian I. Mitroff, Harold Quinton Distinguished Professor of Business Policy, University of Southern California The power of Niraj Verma's account of planning and management rests on a remarkably simple but compelling observation: as social scientists eager to explain the world, we probe for differences; as planners and managers, our mind's eye searches for similarities. In the weeks since I have read the book, I have found myself repeatedly talking about and with it-using Verma's language to construct similarities and to ponder them. A treasure! -- Seymour J. Mandelbaum, Professor of City and Regional Planning, University of PennsylvaniaMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 160 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
458 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7391-0000-4 (9780739100004)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Niraj Verma is Associate Professor in the School of Policy, Planning, and Development at the University of Southern California. He has published a number of scholarly articles in such journals as Systems Practice and the Journal of Planning Education and Research.