<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The design of strategies for social systems requires the use of qualitative information owing to the fact that quantitative information can be insufficient to solve the problems involved. The information that the specialists and the decision makers obtain is often incomplete and unreliable. Nevertheless, leaders have to make strategic decisions despite these deficiencies which should be based on the formal models (Kljajić et al. 2000; Škraba et al, 2003; Škraba et al 2007).</p><p>This paper describes a methodology elaborated to design the strategy of the city of Santa Cruz (on the Canary Islands). It has two main sections: the elaboration of a qualitative model and the use of System Dynamics. We combine them in a way that allows mixing qualitative and quantitative information to achieve a better understanding of the structure of the region, to know the tendencies of the present scenario and to estimate of the effects of alternative strategic decisions. We have obtained these results working with scarce quantitative information. This methodology may be applied to any social systems with similar characteristics.</p></abstract>

The design of strategies for social systems requires the use of qualitative information owing to the fact that quantitative information can be insufficient to solve the problems involved. The information that the specialists and the decision makers obtain is often incomplete and unreliable. Nevertheless, leaders have to make strategic decisions despite these deficiencies which should be based on the formal models (Kljajić et al. 2000; Škraba et al, 2003; Škraba et al 2007).This paper describes a methodology elaborated to design the strategy of the city of Santa Cruz (on the Canary Islands). It has two main sections: the elaboration of a qualitative model and the use of System Dynamics. We combine them in a way that allows mixing qualitative and quantitative information to achieve a better understanding of the structure of the region, to know the tendencies of the present scenario and to estimate of the effects of alternative strategic decisions. We have obtained these results working with scarce quantitative information. This methodology may be applied to any social systems with similar characteristics.

A Methodology for Improving Strategic Decisions in Social Systems with a Lack of Information

Department of Institutional Economics, Economics Statistics and Econometrics, University of La Laguna, 38071 La Laguna, Spain

Faculty of Organizational Sciences, Laboratory of Cybernetics and Decision Support Systems, University of Maribor, Kidričeva cesta 55a, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia

Organizacija

The design of strategies for social systems requires the use of qualitative information owing to the fact that quantitative information can be insufficient to...

A Methodology for Improving Strategic Decisions in Social Systems with a Lack of Information

Published Online: Jun 09, 2010

Page range: 102 - 112

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10051-010-0011-4

Keywords
Qualitative models, System Dynamics, Social Strategies

This content is open access.

A Methodology for Improving Strategic Decisions in Social Systems with a Lack of Information

Published Online: Jun 09, 2010

Page range: 102 - 112

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10051-010-0011-4

KeywordsQualitative models, System Dynamics, Social Strategies

This content is open access.

Keywords
Qualitative models, System Dynamics, Social Strategies