| Article ID: | iaor19881025 |
| Country: | United States |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| Start Page Number: | 31 |
| End Page Number: | 46 |
| Publication Date: | Mar 1988 |
| Journal: | Systems Practice |
| Authors: | Gigch John P. van |
| Keywords: | metamodels |
Systems failures are mapped in three dimensions depending on whether system structure, technology, or behavior is involved. Possible dysfunctions of these components are identified in order to provide a descriptive theory of systems failures that may eventually lead to (a) the diagnosis of emerging malfunctions and (b) the prevention of systems breakdowns. Lessons for metamodeling are drawn.