Flexible systems management: an evolving paradigm

The shift of paradigms has taken place in various disciplines in their historical development. In science, the paradigm has shifted from "classical mechanics' to "quantum-relativistic' paradigm over different stages and it is further evolving. Similarly in management, the paradigms have shifted on multiple planes, and the later paradigms have emerged as an "antithesis' of the traditional paradigm. A third wave of development is now becoming eminent with the generation of continua from thesis to antithesis, and that is of synthesis of the thesis and antithesis. It has been emphasized that such a synthesis, by exercising freedom of choice, exhibits "systemic flexibility', which is the basis of an evolving paradigm, namely flexible systems management. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.