Prior to 1967, Zeleny's research involved
Critical Path Analysis. In 1972 he initiated research on
Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM). Later he devoted himself to the field of
Knowledge Management, and released the first publication in this field in 1987. Other areas of research include Games with multiple payoffs, Integrated Process Management (IPM), Knowledge-based theory of fuzzy sets, Baťa System of Management, High-technology management, Mass customization, Portfolio selection, Risk analysis, Measurement of consumer attitudes, Human intuition, Creativity and judgment, Simulation models of biological organization, Autopoiesis, Artificial life (AL), Osmotic growths and synthetic biology, Spontaneous social organizations and early computer modeling (via GPSS, APL, FORTRAN and BASIC). In later years, his research mainly focused on corporation as a living organism (
The BioCycle of Business). He also became active in consulting and later on in CEO coaching, while pursuing practical projects of Entrepreneurial University, Electro-mobility, Recycling and remanufacturing, and Integration of data, information, knowledge and wisdom into a coherent
DIKW Management support. During the years between 1971 and 1982, Zeleny worked as a lecturer at several universities: assistant professor of statistics and management science at
University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C. (1971–1972), associate professor of business administration at
Columbia University, New York, (1972–1979), professor of economics at
Copenhagen School of Economics, Copenhagen, Denmark, (1979–1980) and professor of management science at
European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management (EIASM), Brussels, Belgium, (1980–1981). From 1982, Zeleny served as professor of management systems at Fordham University at Lincoln Center, New York City. He also accepted his permanent tenured appointment from Fordham University. == Awards ==