Abstract
The difficulty of handling complex problems has spawned challenges to the traditional paradigm of technical rationality in design, planning, and policy making. One of the most frequently proposed solutions is an interdisciplinary approach, though few writers have described the operational dynamics of such an approach. A global model of interdisciplinary problem-solving is presented based on the premise that the unity of the interdisciplinary approach derives from the creation of an intermediary process that relies on common language, shared information, a mutual sense of stakeholding, and the resolution of disciplinary differences. The theoretical underpinning of this approach is the conceptualization of interdisciplinary problem-solving as a communicative process that requires attention to the rhetorical and political dynamics of working with competing interests, practices, and disciplines. The practice portion is a composite picture of effective models, skills, activities, strategies, and techniques employed by actuals interdisciplinary teams. This global model offers a way of both theoretically and practically visualizing Th. K. van Lohuizen's ideal of achieving unity of town planning, an ideal that has profound implications for the organization of both professional practice and training.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander, E.R. (1984). After rationality, what? A review of responses to paradigm breakdown.Journal of the American Planning Association, 50(1), 62–69.
Ansoff, H.I. (1975). Managing strategic surprise by response to weak signals.California Management Review, 18,(1), 21–33.
Baldwin, R. (1975).Portraits of complexity: Applications of systems methodologies to societal problems. Columbia: Battelle.
Birkin, M., & Clarke, M. (1988). SYNTHESIS—A synthetic spatial information system for urban and regional analysis: Methods and examples.Environmental and Planning Administration, 20,(12), 1645–71.
Burchell, R., & Hughes, J. (1979). Planning theory in the 1980's—A search for future directions. In R. Burchell & G. Sternlieb (Eds.),Planning Theory in the 1980's (pp. xvii-liii). New Brunswick, NJ: Center for Urban Policy Research.
Cassell, E.J. (1977). How does interdisciplinary work get done. In H. T. Englehardt & D. Callahan (Eds.),Knowledge, value, and belief (pp. 355–61). New York: Hastings Center.
Checkoway, B. (1986). Building citizen support for planning at the community level. In M.J. Dluhy & K. Chen (Eds.),Interdisciplinary planning: A perspective for the future (pp. 136–151). New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Chen, K., & Mathes, J.C. (1986). Clarifying complex public policy issues: A social decision analysis contributions. In M. J. Dluhy & K. Chen (Eds.),Interdisciplinary planning: A perspective for the future (pp. 83–104). New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Cockhead, P., & Masters, R. (1984). Forecasting in Grampian: Three dimensions of integration.Town Planning Review, 55, (4), 473–488.
Delbecq, Al, & Van de Ven, A. (1971) A group process model for problem identification and program planning.The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 7 (4), 466–492.
deWachter, M. (1982). Interdisciplinary bioethics: But where do we start? A reflection on epochè as method.”Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, 7(3), 275–87.
Diesing, P. (1962).Reason in society Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press.
Dluhy, M. (1986). Introduction: Planning perspectives. In M. J. Dluhy & K. Chen (Eds.),Interdisciplinary planning: A perspective for the future (pp. xiii-xvii). New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Dluhy, M.J., & Chen, K. (Eds.). (1986)Interdisciplinary planning: A perspective for the future. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers—The State University of New York.
Forester, J. (1980). Critical theory and planning practice.Journal of the American Planning, Association, 46,(3), 275–286.
Forester, J. (1989). Critical theory, public policy, and planning practice. Unpublished manuscript.
Frey, G. (1973). Methodological problems of interdisciplinary discussions.RATIO, 15(2), 161–82.
Friedmann, J. (1973).Retracking America: A theory of transactive planning. Garden City, NY: Anchor Press/Doubleday.
Habermas, J. (1987).The theory of communicative action. V.II. Lifeworld and system: A critique of functionalist reason, (trs. by Thomas McCarthy). Boston: Beacon Press.
Hart, S. (1986). Steering the path between ambiguity and overload: Planning as strategic social process. In M. J. Dluhy & K. Chen (Eds.),INterdisciplinary planning: A perspective for the future (pp. 107–123). New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Hart, S. (1985). Managing complexity through consensus mapping: Technology for the structuring of group decisions.Academy of Management Review, 10(3) 587–600.
Hursh, B., Haas, P., & Moore, M. (1983). An interdisciplinary model to implement general education.Journal of Higher Education 54, 42–59.
Kane, J., Vertinsky, I., & Thompson, W. (1973). KSIM: A methodology for interactive resource simulation.Water Resources Research, 9, 65–80.
Klein, J.T. (1990a).Interdisciplinarity: History, theory, and practice. Detroit: Wayne State University Press.
Klein, J. T. (1990b). Interdisciplinary resources: A bibliographic reflection.Issues in Integrative Studies (in press).
Kochen, M., & Barr, C. (1986). How rational can planning be: Toward an information processing model of planning. In M.J. Dluhy & K. Chen (Eds.),Interdisciplinary planning: A perspective for the future (pp. 29–47). New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Mason, R.O., & Mitroff, I. (1981).Challenging strategic planning assumptions New York: John Wiley & Sons.
McCorcle, T. (1982). Critical issues in the functioning of interdisciplinary groups.Small Group Behavior, 13, 291–310.
Murray, T. (1983). Partial knowledge.Ethics, The Social Sciences, and Policy Sciences (pp. 305–331). New York: Plenum Press.
Newton, G. (1990). POINT: The bridge between knowledge and wisdom. Washington, DC: Institute of Applied Research and Empirical Decision Making.
Ortolano, L., & Perman, C.D. (1987). A planner's introduction to expert systems.Journal of the Planning Association, 53(1), 98–103.
Radford, K. (1977).Complex decision problems: An integrated strategy for their resolution. Reston: Reston Publishing.
Rittle, H.W.J., & Webber, M.M. (1973). Dilemmas in a general theory of planning.Policy Sciences, 4, 167–69.
Rothman, J., & Hugentobler, M. (1986). Planning theory and planning practice: Roles and attitudes of planners. In M.J. Dluhy & K. Chen (Eds.),Interdisciplinary planning: A perspective for the future (pp. 3–26). New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Sanoff, H., (1973).Integrating user needs in environmental design. (NIH Contract #71-1102). Washington DC: Center for Studies of Child and Family Mental Health.
Schön, D.A. (1987).Educating the reflective practitioner: Toward a new design for teaching and learning in the professions. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Schön, D.A. (1983).The reflective practitioners: How professionals think in action New York: Basic Books.
Schulte, R. (1979). The act of translation: From interpretation to interdisciplinary thinking.Translation Review, 3–8.
Sharp, J.M. (1983). A method for peer group appraisal and interpretation of data developed in interdisciplinary research programs. In S.R. Epton, R.L. Payne, & A.W. Pearson (Eds.),Managing Interdisciplinary Research (pp. 211–19). Chichester: John Wiley.
Stone, A.R. (1969). The interdisciplinary research team.Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 5(3), 351–65.
Van Lohuizen, C.W.W. (1984, June).The knowledge household and policy making. Framework paper for the International Workshop on Utilization-Focused Research and Planning, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Van Lohuizen, Th.K. (1948, February). The unity of town planning. Address upon taking office as Professor Extraordinary for Town Planning Research in the Delft Technological University.
Vasu, M.L. (1979).Politics and planning. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
Warfield, J.N. (1976).Societal systems: Planning, policy, and complexity. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Weiss, C. (1983). Ideology, interests, and information: The basis of policy positions. InEthics, the social sciences, and policy analysis (pp. 213–245). New York: Plenum Press.
White, I.L. (1975) Interdisciplinarity. In S.R. Arnstein & A.N. Christakis (Eds.),Perspective on technology assessment (pp. 87–96). Jerusalem: Science and Technology Publishers.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Klein, J.T. Applying interdisciplinary models to design, planning, and policy-making. Know Techn Pol 3, 29–55 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02736654
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02736654