Systems theory and policy practice: An exploration

Systems approaches in policy analysis have had a chequered history. Expecta tions that 'hard' (quantitative) systems analysis would lead to better answ ers to policy problems have largely been disappointed. Yet systems theory h as itself moved on, to embrace the concept of autopoiesis and a variety of soft systems methodologies. Collectively, these theories offer a way of ana lysing policy quite distinct from the institutionalist approaches which ten d to dominate the theory and practice of policy-making. Rather than selecti ng instruments to fit a particular kind of policy problem (the conventional approach to policy design) systems analysis suggests that the nature of th e problem cannot be understood separately from its solution. For policy pro blems characterised by complexity (such as those concerned with environment al management and regulation, and urban re-development) using systems conce pts offers a way of rationalising aspects of existing practice and of sugge sting directions for improvement.