Hard systems

Hard systems is a problem-solving approach in systems science. It can be contrasted with soft systems, for which systems thinking must handle many ill-defined, or not easily quantified elements.

Hard systems approaches such as systems analysis (structured methods), operations research and so on, assume that the problems associated with such systems are well-defined and likely to have a single, optimum solution, so a problem-solving approach will work well as technical factors tend to predominate.Michael C. Jackson (1991). Systems methodology for the management sciences. New York, NY: Plenum Press.Michael C. Jackson (2003). Systems thinking: Creative holism for managers. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.