Complex problem solving

The reviewed and edited papers discussed in Munich 1996 at the jointly-organized 2nd International Conference on Methodology for Complex Societal Problems and 13th WACRA-EUROPE International Conference on Case Method Research and Case Method Application, held in Munich in 1996, are published in volumes 5 and 6 of Research on Cases and Theories. Volume 6 combines theoretical reflections on methodology for complex societal problems and empirical studies focussing on climate change. The empirical studies also address a number of educational and environmental issues. The authors are researchers at European Universities working in a variety of disciplines. Methodology for societal problems can be considered a new topic of scientific interest. That is the primary concern of a new scientific group, the Euro Working Group 21 on Methodology for Complex Societal Problems (Operations Research) and the International Society on Methodology for Complex Societal Problems co-organizer of the Munich event. The interest in this topic has let to the formation of a new international network of scientists, which holds meetings every year at a number of conferences.