Towards a Framework for Multiparadigm Multimethodologies

The multimethodological practice of systemic intervention has been described as ‘theoretically contradictory eclecticism’ because it lacks a grounding theory that can accept Burrell and Morgan's principle of incommensurable paradigms and avoids ‘anything goes’ relativism between them. As a way forward, a new ontology of process–structure is proposed. It is designed as a metaphysical interface to the onto‐epistemological paradigms of critical systems thinking and practice (which are, in this paper, functionalist–structuralist, interpretivist, critical–emancipatory and postmodern–poststructuralist). Next, the ontology is realized by an epistemology that respects paradigm incommensurability and yet exploits the unique perspective they each afford. Then, a methodology wherein each of the paradigmatic approaches is critically deployed operationalizes and completes the foundation of this new framework. It directs a critically reflexive, axiologically transparent appreciation by the systemist in a multiparadigmatic, multimethodological engagement with the ‘problem’ situation in flux. The philosophy lays out foundational motives, rationale, intents and purposes and acts as a guide for its use in practice.