AN INTEGRATED SOCIAL FABRIC MATRIX SYSTEM DYNAMICS APPROACH TO POLICYANALYSIS/

All socio-economic systems are characterised by a complexity of intera cting influence patterns that would usually incorporate institutional, environmental, technological and behavioural relationships. The chall enge for management is to develop a sufficiently detailed understandin g of these influences in order to develop effective opportunities and mechanisms far interacting influence patterns that would usually incor porate institutional, control. This challenge All of heightened by the tradition of ''partial'' or non-holistic thinking that continues as t he conventional wisdom in the management field. Though the imperative for holistic thinking is intuitively supported by most managers, the d ifficulties associated with implementing these ideas into management p ractice may be perceived as being ''too hard'' or ''open ended'' for p ractical application. System dynamics modelling is an appropriate proc ess for developing an holistic understanding of any socio economic sys tem. A realistic model can be applied to the development of management strategies and decision support. To a novice modeller, however, model construction can be an intimidating process lacking in the kind of sy stematic procedural support seemingly offered by the more conventional , nonholistic management school. To a large degree, the integration of the qualitative social fabric matrix with quantitative system dynamic s presents a more systematic modelling process for practical applicati on. The proposed amalgamation also yields some added conceptual insigh ts into the nature of management processes and prospects for control.