Abstract
Some of the problems in developing a holistic systems approach to the question of planning in organizations and the part that the in-house analyst should play in the planning process are discussed in this article. The question of how to match the organizational system to the particular human characteristics of those who will operate it is asked. It is illustrated that the analyst, in order to be successful, needs to take an overall holistic view of the problem of his or her organization. The author then presents a discussion of a research project currently being initiated at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.