Title: An organisational approach to industrial ecology using the soft systems methodology

Authors: Lars Brede Johansen, Annik Magerholm Fet

Addresses: Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway. ' Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway

Abstract: This paper represents a search for a framework for research on organisation and management for industrial ecology (IE). A three-step structure is followed. First, soft systems methodology (SSM) is presented. Leading up to the concluding methodology, a brief theoretical argument is given. An explicit account is made on where and on what form input from the chosen perspectives IE and extended enterprise (EE), is needed. In the second part, theoretical descriptions of IE and EE are presented. Important issues for research and action following this perspective are abstracted based on the information need of SSM. Finally, the features from IE and EE are related to the frame of SSM.

Keywords: industrial ecology; soft systems methodology; SSM; extended enterprise.

DOI: 10.1504/IER.1999.053845

Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 1999 Vol.1 No.2, pp.67 - 82

Published online: 13 May 2013 *

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