Methodology and Principle of Planning of Social Systems Engineering

Abstract

Social Systems Engineering (SSE) is a new discipline with coverage of natural science, social science and engineering. Its main area of application is social groups. The social group can be roughly classified into three groups hierarchy, country (nation), various organizations under a nation to perform proper functional role, and the family unit. Qualitative and quantitative approach are two major methodologies to be included in the topic of study of SSE. This chapter will focus on two major themes, methodology of qualitative approach and several basic framework of national planning and three models for studying social systems. 5.2 Definition of Methodology and Meaning of Its Study 5.2.1 Definition of Methodology In its simple definition, methodology means a set of methods. Different disciplines may define the word " methodology " differently. For example, it is described by Box-Steffensmeier and Jones (2008) that " Political methodology provides the practicing political scientist with tools for attaching all these questions, although it leaves to normative political theory the question of what is ultimately good or bad. Methodology provides technique for clarifying the theoretical meaning of con-cepts…and for developing definitions…. It offers descriptive indicators for com-paring…, and sample surveys for gauging… And it offers and arrays of methods for making causal inferences…. " It can be seen from above quotation that the methodology for a single discipline has a broad coverage of scope. (p. 3).