Systems research for socio-technical problems

There is intense disagreement among researchers regarding the role of systems science in the solution of sociotechnical problems. On one extreme, we see allegations that systems science is vacuous and completely inappropriate for handing the varied issues which arise in socio-technical problems. On the other extreme, we are led to believe that the existing systems methodology based on aerospace applications extends directly to socio-technical systems. I will not debate these issues; but instead focus on some critical problems I see confronting researchers, and point out the interest of NSF in this area.