NLS: A Reflection Support System for Increased Inter-Regional Security

2. Research Methodology

Our methodological approach, as successively developed and refined in a series of projects (Asproth et al. 2010) has taken its inspiration from Community Operational Research as the concept was first defined by Rosenhead (1986) and further developed by Midgley (2000). The specific challenges and problems with OR in modern community applications has been discussed by Holmberg (2001c). However, with help of Keys (1991) we have on this point already drawn the conclusion that the solution is to be found in systems thinking and systemic methodologies. Further, we have found Leleur's (2005) observation that the highly theoretical thinking of Habermas and Luhmann can be applied in a pragmatic way in working with complex international projects, very promising (Asproth et al.).

The consequencis of all this are depicted by the three dimensional coordinate system in Figure 1. First, the symbol in the origo of the figure indicates that systemic models and methods (Ackoff, 1981; Checkland, 1999) are used in order to integrate user preferences, problem restrictions, and solution resources into concrete intervention and change activities. With this approach the users or problem owners become active cooperation partners in the research and development. They are no longer mere clients. This also means that we are approaching Banathy's (1996) ideal of a third generation design methodology.

Figure 1.

Integrating three different perspectives with help of systemic intervention