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Managers are not confronted with problems that are independent of each other, but with dynamic situations that consist of complex systems of changing problems that interact with each other. I call such situations messes. Problems are extracted from messes by analysis. Managers do not solve problems, they manage messes.

Russell L. Ackoff

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Russell L. Ackoff
Age: 90 †
Born: 1919
Born: February 12
Died: 2009
Died: October 29
Economist
University Teacher
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
Russel Ackoff
Russell Lincoln Ackoff
Problems
Analysis
Consist
Risk
Complex
Confronted
Situation
Mess
Interact
Call
Manage
Dynamic
Problem
Management
Situations
Changing
Managers
Solve
Systems
Extracted
Independent
Complexes
Messes

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