Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction: The Past as Prologue
Reason for the Retrospective,
Systems Analysis as Dominant Paradigm,
Economics and Cost/Benefit Analysis,
Optimization and the Decline of the Business World,
The Case of the Costly Mini-Dollar,
The Cost of Cost/Beneht Analysis,

I. Survey and Perspective,
Focus of Research,

2. Systems Approach in Theoretical Perspective,
Definitions of "System,"
Systems Analysis, Systems Engineering, and Systems Management,
General System Theory,
In Sociology,
In Psychology,
In Economics.
General System Theory as Synergy,

3. Systems Approach in Practical Perspective,
Tactical Development of the Techniques,
The Pentagon as Paragon,
The Techniques at Work in the Civilian Sector,
Social Indicators,
National Goals,

4. Systems Analysis as Technological Transfer,
The "Man on the Moon" Magic,
The Doleful Dialectic,
Language as Expediter,
Economic and Political Factors in the Transfer,
Validity of Reasons and Assumptions Underlying the Transfer,
The Process of Technological Transfer,

5. The Techniques at Work in Waste Management and
Supersonic Transport,
Methodology, Methods, and Models,
Objectives Defined and Redefined,
Cost-Benefit Analysis for War and Peace,
Waste Management,
Supersonic Transport,

6. The Techniques at Work in Education and Health,
The Systems Approach to Education,
Education Planning and Manpower Needs,
The Goals of Education,
Program Performance in Education,
Students' Grades as Indices,
Technological Devices and Education,
Implications of PPBS in Education,
Costs, Benefits, and Performance of Health Programs,
Doctors and Data Systems,
Analysis of Costs and Benefits of Health Care,
Health Service Efficiency in Britain,
Effectiveness of Disease Control Programs in the U.S.,
Health Programs for the Poor,

7. Management Information Systems,
Management of Information,
Information Systems as Part of the Rational Planning Process,
The Matter of Facts,
Information Systems and Public Welfare,
Information Systems and Land Use,
Information Systems and Crime,
Information Systems and the Invasion of Privacy,

8. Futurology and the Future of Systems Analysis,
Forecasting the Future through Systems Techniques,
The State-of-the-Art of Futurology,
Systems Analysis in Social Perspective,

9. Imprint and Implications of Systems Methodology,
Introduction,
Cost/Effectiveness in Education,
Technology as "Open Sesame" to Efficiency in Education,
Technology as Model-Maker,
Star Wars and Space Wars: Game and Reality,
State of the Nation's Health,
Cost/ Effectiveness in the Delivery of Health Care,
Information Technology and Health,
Public Health Policy Administration and Analysis,
Risk and Benefit in Public Health Policy,
Risk Analysis.
Assessment of Nuclear Risks,
Safe Radiation Standards,
The Safety Image,
Methodology of Risk Analysis,
Technology Assessment,
Assessment of Information Technology,
Worklife-Employment, Unemployment, and Employability,
Private Life-Information Technology as Intruder,
Quality of Life,

Index