Werner Ulrich
Encyclopedia
Werner Ulrich is a Swiss
social scientist
and practical philosopher
, and a former professor of the theory and practice of social planning at the University of Fribourg
. He is known as one of the originators of "critical systems thinking
" (CST).
and Social Sciences
from the University of Fribourg
in 1975, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy
of Social Systems Design from the University of California at Berkeley
in 1980, where he studied and worked with C. West Churchman
.
Back in Switzerland, in 1981, Ulrich started a double career as policy analyst in government at the Canton of Bern, and academic teacher at the University of Fribourg. Here he was appointed Titular Professor of Social Planning in the Faculty of Arts. He has also been Visiting Professor at the University of Hull
, the University of Lincoln
, the University of Canterbury
in Christchurch
, New Zealand, and the Open University
in Milton Keynes, UK. Ulrich is now retired from his professorship at the University of Fribourg but remains Honorary Visiting Professor at the Open University
.
In 2001, he initiated the Lugano Summer School of Systems Design at the University of Lugano
, which he has been directing since.
Ulrich is co-founder and associate editor of the "Journal of Research Practice
".
Articles, a selection:
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
social scientist
Social Scientist
Social Scientist is a New Delhi based journal in social sciences and humanities published since 1972....
and practical philosopher
Practical philosophy
The division of philosophy into a practical and a theoretical discipline has its origin in Aristotle's moral philosophy and natural philosophy categories. In Sweden and Finland courses in theoretical and practical philosophy are taught separately, and are separate degrees...
, and a former professor of the theory and practice of social planning at the University of Fribourg
University of Fribourg
The University of Fribourg is a university in the city of Fribourg, Switzerland.The roots of the University can be traced back to 1582, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg. In 1763, an Academy of law was founded by the state of Frobourg...
. He is known as one of the originators of "critical systems thinking
Critical systems thinking
Critical systems thinking is a recent systems thinking framework, that wants to bring unity to the diversity of different systems approaches and advises managers how best to use them....
" (CST).
Biography
Ulrich received doctoral degrees in EconomicsEconomics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
and Social Sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
from the University of Fribourg
University of Fribourg
The University of Fribourg is a university in the city of Fribourg, Switzerland.The roots of the University can be traced back to 1582, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg. In 1763, an Academy of law was founded by the state of Frobourg...
in 1975, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
of Social Systems Design from the University of California at Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1980, where he studied and worked with C. West Churchman
C. West Churchman
Charles West Churchman was an American philosopher and systems scientist, who was Professor at the School of Business Administration and Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of California, Berkeley...
.
Back in Switzerland, in 1981, Ulrich started a double career as policy analyst in government at the Canton of Bern, and academic teacher at the University of Fribourg. Here he was appointed Titular Professor of Social Planning in the Faculty of Arts. He has also been Visiting Professor at the University of Hull
University of Hull
The University of Hull, known informally as Hull University, is an English university, founded in 1927, located in Hull, a city in the East Riding of Yorkshire...
, the University of Lincoln
University of Lincoln
The University of Lincoln is an English university founded in 1992, with origins tracing back to the foundation and association with the Hull School of Art 1861....
, the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand, and the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
in Milton Keynes, UK. Ulrich is now retired from his professorship at the University of Fribourg but remains Honorary Visiting Professor at the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
.
In 2001, he initiated the Lugano Summer School of Systems Design at the University of Lugano
Università della Svizzera italiana
Università della Svizzera italiana is a public university located in Lugano, Switzerland, founded in 1996...
, which he has been directing since.
Ulrich is co-founder and associate editor of the "Journal of Research Practice
Journal of Research Practice
Journal of Research Practice is a peer-reviewed electronic journal with a transdisciplinary focus, published as an open access journal, i.e., full-text access is free to all readers. It uses Open Journal Systems to manage the online publication process...
".
Publications
Ulrich wrote a few books and some 175 articles. A selection:- 1975. Kreativitätsförderung in der Unternehmung : Ansatzpunkte eines Gesamtkonzepts.
- 1983. Critical heuristics of social planning : a new approach to practical philosophy. Habilitation thesis. Bern : Haupt.
- 1994. Critical heuristics of social planning : a new approach to practical philosophy. New York : Wiley.
Articles, a selection:
- 1998. "Systems Thinking as if People Mattered: Critical Systems Thinking for Citizens and Managers". Working Paper No. 23 1998
- 2000. Reflective Practice in the Civil Society: The Contribution of Critically Systemic Thinking"
- 2004. "In memory of C. West Churchman (1913–2004): Reminiscences, retrospectives, and reflections". In: Journal of Organisational Transformation and Social Change Vol 1 Numbers 2–3.
- 2005. "A Brief Introduction to Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH)".