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.^[1][2]

Developments in hard systems thinking

Hard systems began to emerge as a distinct philosophy in the 1950s.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Systems engineering
• Systems analysis
• Systems dynamics