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'Morphological analysis' (or General Morphological Analysis) is a method developed by Fritz Zwicky (1967, 1969) for exploring all the possible solutions to a multi-dimensional, non-quantified problem complex. Ritchey, T. (1998). General Morphological Analysis: A general method for non-quantified modeling.
As a problem-structuring and problem-solving technique, morphological analysis was designed for multi-dimensional, non-quantifiable problems where causal modeling and simulation do not function well or at all. Zwicky developed this approach to address seemingly non-reducible complexity. Using the technique of cross consistency assessment (CCA) (Ritchey, 1998), the system however does allow for reduction, not by reducing the number of variables involved, but by reducing the number of possible solutions through the elimination of the illogical solution combinations in a grid box. A detailed introduction to morphological modeling is given in Ritchey (2002, 2006).

Contents

Overview

Swedish Morphological Society

References

Further reading

See also

Overview

Morphology comes from the classical Greek concept ''morphé'', meaning shape or form. MA concerns the arrangement of objects and how they conform to create a whole or Gestalt. The objects in question can be a physical system (e.g. anatomy), a social system (e.g. an organisation) or a logical system (e.g. word forms or a system of ideas).
General morphology was developed by Fritz Zwicky, the Swiss astrophysicist based at the California Institute of Technology. Zwicky applied MA inter alia to astronomical studies and the development of jet and rocket propulsion systems.

Swedish Morphological Society

The Swedish Morphological Society is a non-profit scientific organization, whose purpose is the development and dissemination of knowledge concerning the scientific use of general morphological analysis, its theory and practice. The site contains articles and links on morphological analysis, a history of its development, case studies and a tutorial.

References

Further reading

★ Ritchey, T. (1998). General Morphological Analysis: A general method for non-quantified modeling.

★ Ritchey, T. (2002). Modeling Complex Socio-Technical Systems using Morphological Analysis Adapted from an address to the Swedish Parliamentary IT Commission, Stockholm.

★ Ritchey, T. (2006). "Problem Structuring using Computer-Aided Morphological Analysis". Journal of the Operational Research Society (JORS), Vol. 57, No. 7.

★ Zwicky, F. (1969). Discovery, Invention, Research - Through the Morphological Approach. Toronto: The Macmillian Company.

★ Zwicky, F. & Wilson A. (eds.) (1967). New Methods of Thought and Procedure: Contributions to the Symposium on Methodologies. Berlin: Springer. Reprint available at www.swemorph.com/ma.html

See also

★ Corporate strategy

★ Fritz Zwicky

★ Futures studies

★ Influence diagrams

★ Market research

★ Morphological box

★

★ Strategic planning

★ Scenario analysis

★ Scenario planning

★ Stakeholder analysis

★ Socio-technical systems

★ TRIZ