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Werner Ulrich's Home Page: Bio |
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Professional Biography |
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Mini profile | self-portrait in a drawing and four sentences Academia.edu | short profile Systems Thinkers | short profile |
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Biography After studying economics and social sciences at the Universities of Fribourg and Zurich, Ulrich moved to the University of California at Berkeley in order to study and work with C. West Churchman, then Professor of Business Administration in the Graduate School of Business Administration and Director of the Social Sciences Project at UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory. Churchman had made himself an international name as a research philosopher and pioneer of Operations Research / Management Science and of the "Systems Approach." |
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Five fascinating years followed, of learning and struggling to understand the implications of a systems approach for a critically tenable practice of research and professionalism in the applied and design-oriented disciplines, for example, in public-sector and corporate planning and management, policy analysis, and evaluation research. One of the adventures of these years was the opportunity of meeting at UC Berkeley exceptional minds such as Paul Feyerabend, Jurgen Habermas, Erich Jantsch, Reinhard Bendix, Aaron Wildavsky and many others; another adventure was an extensive two-year study of the Critical philosophy of Immanuel Kant. The result of this work was Ulrich's habilitation thesis Critical Heuristics of Social Planning: A New Approach to Practical Philosophy, published in 1983 by Paul Haupt in Bern and republished in 1994 by John Wiley in Chichester and New York (still in print). It presented a new understanding of systems thinking, an approach that is now widely known as critical systems heuristics (CSH). The methodological core principle of CSH is boundary critique, a new approach to reflective professional practice. The book was to become the seminal work of a development in systems thinking that is now often referred to as critical systems thinking (CST) and which continues today to influence a growing number of applied disciplines, among them the fields of operations research / management science, public policy and planning theory, evaluation research, management philosophy, professional ethics, information systems design, social planning, environmental planning and management, development studies, adult education, and others. |
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Upon his return to Switzerland, in 1981, Ulrich decided to submit his work on critical systems heuristics to the double test of professional practice and of academic teaching and research. Thus he embarked on a double career as evaluation researcher and policy analyst in government and as an academic teacher of future professionals. He has many years of experience as chief evaluator of public health and social welfare in the Canton of Bern. He built up and directed Switzerland’s first office of evaluation research within a state administration, and also became a pioneer of poverty research in Switzerland. |
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During the same years, he was a professor of social planning, evaluation research, poverty research, and critical systems thinking at the University of Fribourg, where he was appointed Titular Professor of the Theory and Practice of Social Planning in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (Philosophische Fakultät / Faculté des Lettres). In addition he engaged himself in adult education, by teaching, during several years, critical systems thinking in the joint "Continued Education in Ecology" program of the Universities of Bern, Fribourg, and Neuchâtel. |
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University of Italian Switzerland |
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More recently, he was appointed Visiting Professor of Critical Systems Thinking at the University of Hull, UK (Centre for Systems Studies, 1995-96); at the University of Lincolnshire & Humberside (now University of Lincoln), Lincoln, UK (Centre for Systems Research of the Lincoln School of Management, 1997-2000); at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand (Erskine Science Fellowship, Department of Management, 1999); and at The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK (Honorary Visiting Professorship, Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology, 2005-2010). In 2001, he initiated the Lugano Summer School of Systems Design at the University of Lugano, which he has since been directing until its recent closure. |
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Ulrich is now retired Ancien professeur titulaire of the University of Fribourg (Faculty of Arts and Humanities). He has recently also retired as a Coeditor (as well as Focus Editor for Research Philosophy) of the Journal of Research Practice, an open-access journal published by Athabasca University Press (AU Press, since 2005); Athabasca University is Canada's Open University in Edmonton, Canada. He remains on the editorial boards of the journals Systemic Practice and Action Research (Springer, Berlin, since 1988); Journal of Enterprising Culture (World Scientific Publishing, Singapore, since 1993); Systems Research and Behavioral Science (Wiley, New York and Chichester, UK, since 1995); and The International Journal of Systems and Society (Official Journal of the United Kingdom Systems Society, UKSS, published by IGI Global Publishers, Hershey, PA, since 2014). |
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Ulrich has written some 250 academic and professional publications. Their central concern is in the philosophical and methodological issues of applied science and expertise, with special regard for reflective practice. A specific contribution is his work on "critical systems heuristics" (CSH) and its methodological core principle, "boundary critique," which is increasingly being recognized as basic to professional competence in many fields of applied research. Ulrich's long-term research program CST for Professionals and Citizens explored the ways in which critical systems thinking, and particularly boundary critique, can contribute not only to competent and responsible professional practice but can also help prepare citizens for their role in a living civil society. With a view to the same end, his more recent research program on Critical Pragmatism aims to help develop a "philosophy for professionals" on the basis of a critically revised pragmatist philosophy, that is, an understanding of pragmatism that would include boundary critique among its central methodological principles. Ulrich's biography has been listed in Who's Who in the World (Marquis Who's Who, New Providence, NJ); in Leading Educators of the World (International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, UK); and in Systems Thinkers, a biographical history of the field of systems thinking in terms of 30 of its major authors (M. Ramage and K. Shipp, eds., Springer, London, in association with The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK). |
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Selected Recent Publications Systems thinking as if people mattered: toward a knowledge democracy.
An
interview with myself. In: The idea of boundary critique.
Farewell to Ulrich's Bimonthly. Ulrich's
Bimonthly, March-May 2018. Reference
systems for boundary critique. A postscript to «Systems thinking as if people mattered».
Ulrich's
Bimonthly, January-February 2018. Systems thinking as
if people mattered. Part 1, A plea for boundary critique (a
new civil competence), and Part 2, Practicing boundary critique. Ulrich's
Bimonthly, September-October and November-December 2017.
If
systems thinking is the answer, what is the question? Discussions
on research competence. Ulrich's Bimonthly, May-June
and July-August 2017. [HTML] https://wulrich.com/bimonthly_may2017.html
(Part 1/2) The rational, the moral, and the general: an exploration.
A series
of essays
on the nature and role of general ideas in reflective professional
practice. Includes a major excursion into the world of ideas of
ancient India, as represented by the Upanishads. Part 1:
Introduction; discourse ethics. Part 2: Kant's ideas of reason.
Part 3: Approximating ideas – towards critical contextualism.
Part 4: Ideas
in ancient Indian thought / Introduction. Part 5: Ideas
in ancient Indian thought / Analysis. Part 4 (revised):
Ideas
in ancient Indian thought / Introduction. Part 5 (revised):
Ideas
in ancient Indian thought / Analysis. Part 6: Ideas
in ancient Indian thought / Discussion. Part 7: Critical
contextualization. Part 8: The logic of "as if" (Conclusion,
in
prep.). [HTML] https://wulrich.com/bimonthly_september2013.html
A trilogy of review essays on Kant's practical philosophy, plus a concluding, integrative essay: Kant's
rational ethics. A
review
of Immanuel Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals, transl. by H.J. Paton, New York: Harper & Row, 1964. [PDF] https://wulrich.com/downloads/ulrich_2015d.pdf
Kant's
public construction of reason. A review of Onora O’Neill’s Constructions of
Reason: Explorations of Kant’s Practical Philosophy, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
University Press, 1989. Kant's
way to peace. A
review of Hans Saner’s Kant’s Political
Thought: Its Origin and Development, transl. by E.B. Ashton, Chicago:
University of Chicago Press, 1973. A
note on the convergence of Kant's
concepts of rationality, morality, and politics. Ulrich's
Bimonthly, September-October 2011
(1 September 2011). Critical
systems thinking. In S. Gass and M. Fu (eds.), Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Management Science,
3rd edn., 2 vols. New York: Springer, 2013, Vol. 1, pp. 314-326.
An invited encyclopedic article on the nature and aims of critical
systems thinking (CST), with a systematic comparative account of
the methodological core ideas and principles of the two main strands
of CST (30 November 2013). [DOI]
https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1153-7_1149
(restricted access) Earlier but similar open-access version:
CST's
two ways: a concise account of critical systems thinking. Ulrich's
Bimonthly, November-December 2012. [HTML] https://wulrich.com/bimonthly_november2012.html
Operational
research and ethics: a literature review
(invited review, authors: R. Ormerod and W. Ulrich). European
Journal of Operational Research, 228, No. 2 (16
Juli 2013), pp. 291-307. A
review of the discussion of ethical questions – questions of values and responsibility
– in eight major operational research journals (Management Science; Operations Research; European Journal of Operational Research; Journal of the Operational Research Society;
Interfaces; Omega; International Transactions in Operational Research; Journal of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis). [DOI] https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2012.11.048
(restricted access) Research skills for the future: summary and critique of a comparative study in eight countries
(authors: W. Ulrich and D.P. Dash). Journal of Research Practice,
9, No. 1, Article V1 (8 July 2013). The institutional and social context of research is changing.
Research has
become an essential element in business models and national economic
planning. Accordingly, the competencies expected from researchers and professionals
have to meet new demands. This article reviews the findings and
conclusions of an empiricial study undertaken by two major
international consultancy firms in eight particularly research-intensive
countries, about the emerging new key skills expected from researchers
and professionals. With this article, the journal launches its new
Viewpoints & Discussion section, inviting comments on a
topic that matters to all research practitioners. [HTML]
https://jrp.icaap.org/index.php/jrp/article/view/377
(open access) Operational
research and critical systems thinking – an integrated perspective. Journal of the Operational
Research Society, 63, No. 9 (September), 2012; previously
published as advance online publication, 14 Dec 2011. An
inquiry into the meaning of good practice in the field of operational
research (OR), and a consequent proposal for reconsidering OR in
terms of applied systems thinking and argumentative practice. Part 1: OR as applied systems thinking. (pp. 1228-1247) Part 2: OR as argumentative practice. (pp.
1307-1322) What
is good professional practice? A short series of four
essays on an essential but neglected issue of our epoch, the philosophical
and methodological foundations of the concept of professionalism.
A particular focus is on the concepts of rationality and competence,
and on the role of the practical-normative dimension of reason in
it. Part 1: Introduction. – Part 2: The quest for practical
reason. – Part 3: The quest for rational
action. (Series to be continued) [HTML]
https://wulrich/bimonthly_march2011.html
Critical
systems heuristics (authors: W. Ulrich and M. Reynolds). In M. Reynolds
and S. Holwell (eds.), Systems Approaches to Managing Change:
A Practical Guide, London: Springer, in association with The
Open University, Milton Keynes, UK, 2010, pp. 243-292. An
introduction to the theory and practice of CSH, with two integrated
case studies. [ISBN 978-1-84882-808-7,
e-ISBN 978-1-84882-809-4] [PDF] https://oro.open.ac.uk/21299/
Reflections on reflective practice. A series
of essays
on the relevance and limitations of the idea
of "reflective practice" as it has developed
in the professional education literature, and how we
might develop it into an adequate framework for applied science
and expertise. Part 1: The mainstream concept of reflective
practice and its blind spot. – Part 2: Applied science and expertise,
or the art of testing and contesting practical claims. – Part 3: In search of practical reason.
– Part 4: Philosophy of
practice and Aristotelian virtue ethics. – Part 5: Practical reason
and rational ethics: Kant. – Part 6a: Communicative
rationality and formal pragmatics: Habermas 1. –
Part 6b: Argumentation theory and practical
discourse: Habermas 2. –
Part 6c: Discourse ethics and deliberative
democracy, or the difficult path
to communicative practice: Habermas 3
(1st half). [HTML] https://wulrich.com/bimonthly_march2008.html
Exploring
discourse ethics. Two essays written to support the "Reflections
on reflective practice" series but which are organized as an
independent excursion. Ulrich's
Bimonthly, March-April and May-June 2010. [HTML] https://wulrich.com/bimonthly_may2010.html
The greening of pragmatism. Three reflections on the past, present, and future of critical pragmatism within the series of "Reflections on critical pragmatism" (Parts 4-6). Part (i): The emergence of critical pragmatism. Part (ii): Current issues in developing critical pragmatism – a methodological trilemma. Part (iii): The way ahead. Ulrich's Bimonthly, March-April, May-June, and September-October 2007. [HTML] https://wulrich.com/bimonthly_march2007.html
Theory and practice. Two
essays on the role of theory within a pragmatist framework, written
as Parts 2 and 3 of the "Reflections on critical pragmatism"
series. Part I: Beyond theory.
Part II: The rise and fall of the "primacy of theory."
Ulrich's
Bimonthly, November-December 2006 and January-February 2007. [HTML]
https://wulrich.com/bimonthly_november2006.html
Philosophy
for professionals: towards critical pragmatism. Viewpoint, Journal of the Operational Research Society,
58, No. 8 (August), 2007, pp. 1109-1113. [ISSN 0160-5682]
[HTML] https://www.palgrave-journals.com/jors/journal/v58/n8/
(restricted access) Revised
version of 2016: Philosophy for professionals: towards critical pragmatism.
Reflections on Critical Pragmatism, Part 7. Ulrich's Bimonthly,
March-April 2016. [HTML]
https://wulrich.com/bimonthly_march2016.html
Rethinking
critically reflective research practice: beyond Popper's critical
rationalism. Journal of Research
Practice, 2, No. 2 (October), 2006, article P1.
[ISSN 1712-851X]. [HTML] https://jrp.icaap.org/index.php/jrp/article/view/64/63
A plea for critical pragmatism. Ulrich's
Bimonthly, September-October 2006. The first of thus far seven Bimonthly reflections
on critical pragmatism. [HTML] https://wulrich.com/bimonthly_september2006.html
Critical pragmatism: a new approach to professional and business ethics. In L. Zsolnai (ed.), Interdisciplinary Yearbook of Business Ethics, Vol. I, Oxford, UK, and Bern, Switzerland: Peter Lang Academic Publishers, 2006, pp. 53-85. [ISSN 1661-5999] [ISBN 3-03910-750-X] [US-ISBN 0-8204-8010-X] A
brief introduction to critical systems heuristics (CSH). ECOSENSUS Publications, Knowledge Media Institute
(KMI), The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK, 14
October 2005. [HTML] https://projects.kmi.open.ac.uk/ecosensus/publications/index.html
(for download)
Obituary:
C. West Churchman, 1913-2004. Journal of the Operational Research
Society, 55, No. 11 (Nov.), 2004, pp. 1123-1129. [ISSN
0160-5682] [HTML] https://www.palgrave-journals.com/jors/journal/v55/n11/
(restricted access) In
memory of C. West Churchman (1913-2004): reminiscences, retrospectives,
and reflections. Organisational Transformation and Social Change,
1, No. 2/3, 2004, pp. 199-219. [ISSN 1477-9633] [HTML] https://www.atypon-link.com/INT/doi/abs/10.1386/jots.1.2.199/0
(restr.
access) Sozialplanung
[social planning].
In E. Carigiet, U. Mäder, and J.-M. Bonvin (eds), Wörterbuch der
Sozialpolitik [Dictionary of Social Policy], Zurich, Switzerland: Rotpunktverlag, 2003, pp. 300-301.[ISBN 3-85869-253-0]
On-line version
of the Dictionary: [HTML]
https://www.erwincarigiet.ch/woerterbuch.html
Beyond
methodology choice: critical systems thinking as critically systemic
discourse. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 54,
No. 4 (April), 2003, pp. 325-342. [ISSN 0160-5682]
[HTML] https://palgrave-journals.com/jors/journal/v54/n4/
(restricted
access)
Public
policy analysis. In H.G. Daellenbach and R.L. Flood
(eds),
The
Informed Student Guide to Management Science, London:
Thomson, 2002, pp. 213-215. [ISBN 1-86152-542-7]
[PDF] https://wulrich.com/downloads/ulrich_2002c.pdf (also accessible via https://wulrich.com/downloads.html )
Critical
systems heuristics. In H.G. Daellenbach and R.L. Flood
(eds),
The
Informed Student Guide to Management Science, London:
Thomson, 2002, pp. 72-73. [ISBN 1-86152-542-7]
Boundary
critique. In H.G. Daellenbach and R.L. Flood (eds),
The
Informed Student Guide to Management Science, London:
Thomson, 2002, pp. 41-42. [ISBN 1-86152-542-7]
[HTML] https://wulrich.com/boundary_critique.html
A discursive approach to reflective
practice in ISD. Part 1: A philosophical staircase for information systems definition,
design, and development.
Part 2: Critically systemic discourse. JITTA,
Journal of Information Technology Theory and Application, 3, No. 3,
2001 (Special issue: the role of dialogue in information systems development, ed. by M. Metcalfe), pp. 55-84
and pp. 85-106.
[ISSN 1532-4516]
[HTML] https://jitta.org/
(restricted
access)
The
quest for competence in systemic research and practice.
Systems Research and Behavioral Science,
18,
No. 1,
2001, pp. 3-28. [ISSN 1092-7026 print, ISSN 1099-1743 on-line]
[HTML] https://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jissue/76509522
(restricted access)
Reflective practice in the civil society:
the contribution of critically systemic thinking. Reflective Practice,
1, No. 2, 2000, pp. 247-268. [ISSN 1462-3943 print, ISSN 1470-1103
on-line] [HTML] https://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/14623943.asp
(restricted
access) |
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Last
updated 23 Apr 2023 (first published 09 Nov
2002) |
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