{{Short description|Problem-solving technique}} __NOTOC__ '''Polytely''' (from Greek roots ''poly-'' and ''-tel-'' meaning "many goals") comprises complex problem-solving situations characterized by the presence of multiple simultaneous goals.<ref name="Funke2001-72">Funke 2001, p.72.</ref> These goals may be contradictory or otherwise conflict with one another, requiring prioritisation of desired outcomes.<ref name="Funke2001-72">Funke 2001, p.72.</ref>
Polytely is a feature of complex problem-solving that adds difficulty to finding an optimum solution. Funke describes polytely as a feature "not... inherent in a system, but [referring] to certain decisions of the experimenter", especially decisions relating to what goals are to be followed in solving the problem.<ref name="Funke2001-73">Funke 2001, p.73.</ref> In the complex problem of nuclear waste disposal, Flüeler cites both trust between states (as a factor in nuclear proliferation: "Some states disarm whilst others re-arm – both do it for the sake of our planet's peace"), and safe and sustainable disposal of nuclear waste as situations where considering in terms of polytely helps elaborate and then balance important but conflicting goals.<ref name="Flüeler2006">Flüeler 2006, p. 138—139</ref> <!--Modern societies face an increasing incidence of various complex problems. In other words, the defining characteristics of our complex problems are a large number of variables (complexity) that interact in a nonlinear fashion (connectivity), changing over time (dynamic and time-dependent), and to achieve multiple goals (polytely).-->
== See also == {{columns-list|colwidth=30em| * Cognitive science * Concurrent computing * Dietrich Dörner * Game theory * Goal-oriented * Multi-agent system * Multi-criteria decision analysis * Multiobjective optimization * Network science * Organizational studies * Outcome (game theory) * Polycentric law * Problem solving * Systems theory * Telos}}
== Notes == {{reflist}}
== References == * {{cite journal | title=Dynamic Systems as Tools for Analysing Human Judgement | author=Joachim Funke | journal=Thinking and Reasoning | volume=7 | number=1 | pages=69–89 | year=2001 |ssrn=1630893 | doi=10.1080/13546780042000046| s2cid=15088293 | url=http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/8234/1/Funke_2001_TR.pdf }} * {{cite book | page=186 | title=Complex problem solving: principles and mechanisms | author1=Robert J. Sternberg | author2=Peter A. Frensch | publisher=Routledge | year=1991 | isbn=978-0-8058-0651-9 }} * {{cite book | page=310 | title=Paradigm shift for future tennis: the art of tennis physiology, biomechanics, and psychology | volume=12 | series=Cognitive systems monographs | author1=Tijana T. Ivancevic | author2=Bojan Jovanovic | author3=Sasa Jovanovic | author4=Milka Djukic | author5=Natalia Djukic | publisher=Springer Verlag | year=2011 | isbn=978-3-642-17094-2 }} * {{cite book | page=253 | title=The routines of decision making | author1=Tilmann Betsch | author2=Susanne Haberstroh | publisher=Routledge | year=2005 | isbn=978-0-8058-4613-3 }} * {{cite book | author=Thomas Flüeler | title=Decision Making for Complex Socio-Technical Systems: Robustness from Lessons Learned in Long-Term Radioactive Waste Governance | publisher = Springer Science & Business Media | year=2006 | isbn=978-1-4020-3480-0 }}
== External links == * [https://books.google.com/books?id=8Q_7gVt5YvYC&dq=polytely&pg=PA138 Decision Making for Complex Socio-technical Systems] * [http://cogprints.org/1374/0/funke2001.pdf Dynamic systems as tools for analysing human judgement]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * [http://www.psychologie.uni-heidelberg.de/ae/allg/forschun/bmft_cps/index.html Complex problem solving as a mediator between basic cognition and real-world functioning]{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} * [https://idea.library.drexel.edu/islandora/object/idea%3A2671 Complex Problem Solving: Identity Matching Based on Social Contextual Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531141514/https://idea.library.drexel.edu/islandora/object/idea:2671 |date=2020-05-31 }} * [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/olic/1999/00000032/00000003/00235000?crawler=true A study of how individuals solve complex and ill-structured problems] * [http://www.psych.nyu.edu/carrascolab/people/Spering.Wagener.Funke.C&E.2005.pdf The role of emotions in complex problem-solving] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120219143608/http://www.prosolva.org/spip/spip.php?article64 Problem solving: its origin] * [https://books.google.com/books?id=gJumTAl78LUC&dq=polytelos&pg=PA186 Complex Problem Solving]
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Category:Systems theory