Towards a Heuristic Theory of Problem Structuring

Management science is concerned with understanding and improving action-oriented managerial thought. While it has addressed this concern through decision making research, there is an alternative conceptualization—the problem solving paradigm—that appears to offer a valuable complementary perspective. This paper develops the foundations of a theory of managerial problem solving. It analyzes the concept of “problem structure” and proposes a conceptualization satisfying relevant criteria. The concept is used in the development of an informal theory of problem structuring. Several structuring methodologies are assessed and an approach pertinent to real world, managerial problems is proposed.