Pitfalls of Analysis
Abstract
Systems Analysis-or Policy Analysis, as it is sometimes called when public problems are being addressed-aims to deepen our understanding of sociotechnical problems, and to bring about improved solutions to them.
However, the craft of systems analysis is a relatively new one, and its practitioners are still exploring ways to conduct such analyses properly, a task complicated by the necessary use of tools and knowledge from many disciplines and contexts. Any craft learns both by what works and by what fails to work, and systems analysis is no exception. This book contributes to the craft of systems analysis by describing many pitfalls of analysis that will lead to failure, thus helping analysts and users to recognize and avoid them.
However, the craft of systems analysis is a relatively new one, and its practitioners are still exploring ways to conduct such analyses properly, a task complicated by the necessary use of tools and knowledge from many disciplines and contexts. Any craft learns both by what works and by what fails to work, and systems analysis is no exception. This book contributes to the craft of systems analysis by describing many pitfalls of analysis that will lead to failure, thus helping analysts and users to recognize and avoid them.