SUMMARY. The book contains the authors’ approach towards the construction of methodology, which is defined as the theory of the organization of human activity

The book contains the authors’ approach towards the construction of methodology, which is defined as the theory of the organization of human activity. This definition determines the subject of methodology – the organization of activity. In this framework the term «organization» is considered in the following three denotations:

1) an internal order, coherency or interaction between more or less differentiated and autonomous parts of the whole;

2) an aggregate of processes or actions, which lead to the formation and perfection of interrelations between the parts of the whole;

3) a community of people, jointly implementing certain program of actions or achieving a purpose under given procedures and principles of interaction.

Under the above definition of methodology it is considered broadly – as the theory of organization of any human activity – scientific, practical, art, educational or play activity on the one hand; and both individual and collective activity on the other hand.

The book contains detailed philosophical, psychological, systems engineering, science on science, ethical and aesthetical foundations of methodology.

Methodology studies the organization of activity. To organize an activity means to regularize it into the holistic system with precise characteristics, logical structure, and process of its implementation (temporal structure).

Logical structure of activity includes the following components: object, subject, forms, means, methods and the result of the activity.

External characteristics are the peculiar properties, principles, conditions and norms of activity.

Historically, different types of the activity organization cultures’ are distinguished: traditional culture of aboriginal and agrarian society, handicraft and professional (scientific) cultures. The modern one is the project-technological type of organization culture, which is characterized by the subdivisions of a man’s (or an organization’s) activity into complete cycles, which are referred to as the projects, implemented in the certain temporal sequence by phases, stages and steps.

The completeness of the activity cycle (completeness of the project) is determined by three sequential phases:

– the designing phase, which results in the constructed model of the designed system and into the plan of its implementation;

– the technological phase, which results in the implementation of the system;

– the reflexive phase, which results in the estimation of the implemented system and decision-making on its further correction or starting the next project.

Given above understanding and construction of methodology allows considering from the unified positions and in the same logic (chapter 1):

- the methodology of scientific researches (chapter 2);

- the methodology of practical activity (chapter 3);

- the methodology of art activity (chapter 4);

- the methodology of educational activity (chapter 5);

- the methodology of play activity (chapter 6).

Comparative analysis of different types of activity’s organization is given in chapter 7. The problem of teaching the methodology in senior school, colleges, universities and post-graduate courses is considered in chapter 8.