Soft System Dynamics Methodology (SSDM): Combining Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and System Dynamics (SD)

Soft System Dynamics Methodology (SSDM), a systemic methodology product of the combination of two widely used systems-based methodologies from two different systems thinking paradigms, Systems Dynamics (SD) and Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), is presented. The paper argues that by combining some of SD and SSM stages, within the intellectual framework proposed by SSDM, a methodology developed by one of the authors¹ much can be gained in a systemic intervention to tackle complex social problematic situations. A framework for comparing the ontological, epistemological and methodological principles of SD, SSM and SSDM is proposed and the synthesizing and dialectical role of SSDM is advanced. The 10 stages of SSDM are outlined and illustrated by an application on a small Peruvian company; and a set of conclusions and points for further research are discussed.     

Elaborating a Critical Realist Approach to Soft Systems Methodology

Systemic Practice and Action Research - This paper explores the implications of adopting a critical realist approach to soft systems methodology (SSM) both to address local problematic situations...     

Application of SSM in tackling problematical situations from academicians’ viewpoints

In recent years, a wide variety of studies have applied soft systems methodology (SSM) to address the complexities of the messy situations. This paper seeks to identify 1) application areas and 2) application levels of the use of SSM in dealing with problematical situations. To do so, 149 articles published between 2000 and 2015 were studied. The findings revealed the application of SSM in new application areas such as sustainable development, knowledge management and project management. The results of this study also indicated that researchers applied SSM at three levels: SSM as a process of inquiry, SSM as an action-oriented methodology, and the hybrid use of SSM. Based on the findings, SSM at the level of a single methodology for bringing out changes has been less welcomed by researchers, but the application levels of inquiry processes and hybrid approaches have been more utilized. This suggests that in the correspondence of SSM with the nature or situation of problems, a sort of incommensurability is witnessed. Factors arising from the nature of the problem, inadequate mastery of the researcher over SSM or the limitations of SSM can exert an influence on this incommensurability.     

Suggestions for New Application Areas for Soft Systems Methodology in the Information Age

Soft systems methodology (SSM) is now 40?years old. Another decade has passed since Checkland??s thirty year retrospective on the methodology, published in 2000. It can now be described as an old methodology. But it has adapted and changed over the years and is still very much alive, although the days are long gone when it was mainly developed and practised by its founders at the University of Lancaster. Interestingly, considering that many applications of SSM over the years have been to information systems, it was developed before the age of personal computers and the Internet. The way SSM is viewed has changed over the years as it has been applied to various types of problem situation. Every use of SSM will potentially hold methodological lessons in addition to those about the situation of concern; these may include SSMs framework of ideas, processes and way of use. How is SSM going to change in the future? This will depend in part on the types of problem situation to which it is applied. This paper examines some problem situations associated with emerging technologies in the information age to which SSM has not yet been much applied. These include computer simulation and virtual reality, ubiquitous computing and the design of cities, Information Technology Service Management and the design of enterprise information architectures. Some of the different worldviews associated with these problem situations which could be explored using SSM are noted.     

论SSM中的文化问询

SSM（软系统方法论，Soft Systems Methodology）是指英国系统管理学家切克兰德教授提出的一个旨在改善问题情境（Problem Situadon）的学习过程，此过程是反复进行的。SSM与其它分析方法最大的不同就在于此方法在进行逻辑分析的同时也引入了文化问询（Cultural Inquiry）。因此本文主要就文化问询之于问题情境、文化问询中的“文化”和文化问询的“三项分析”及其作用这三点进行分析。     

试析SSM如何使高校国际化建设真正具有可行性

高等院校的国际化建设正在受到越来越多的重视,相关研究和理论也有所积淀,但是总体而言实践效果并不让人满意。相关人士越来越感觉到国际化建设是一个复杂系统,其中利益相关者特别是拥有否决权的相关人员的观点和态度等主观因素是重要的影响因素,因此特别适合于解决复杂问题情境的软系统方法论(SSM)被借用来分析此情境,旨在寻求一个具有切实可行性的问题情境改进方案。     

Bridging Worlds: Information Systems Development Through Cross-Cultural Comparison

This paper reports a case study where soft systems methodology (SSM) was used to help automate a largely manual administrative (examination) information system in a Pakistani university. Various design suggestions for information system improvements, both administrative and IT-supported were made (and implemented) through comparison with another university in Denmark which is well supported by computer systems. An action design research approach with an interpretative epistemology/ontology was adopted. Though the single comparison experience is difficult to generalise, we conclude that SSM (with some adaptations) can enable a socio-technical comparison and design effort and offer a prototype process. The comparison stimulates forward-looking design, but great care must be taken to accommodate cultural differences, and further research is necessary to integrate more sophisticated cultural analysis tools into the design process. The research extends SSM in information system development??from a single situational analysis to a comparative process and can be adapted as a pattern for practitioners with similar automation needs.     

Storying Systems: Managing Everyday Flux Using Mode 2 Soft Systems Methodology

This paper examines work with managers who used a narrative approach to systemic thinking. Storytelling is incorporated within Mode 2 SSM involving a flexible approach to the analysis of complex or "messy" situations at work. Mode 2 SSM is presented as a thinking mode by those within the problem situation, involving the use of various devices of rich pictures, relevant systems, and root definitions, whereby managers and others may make sense of their experiences from within the flux of everyday life. The focus of the approach is learning through reflection on events and activities to consider potential actions and improvements in difficult situations. The findings show the initial difficulty and disappointment of learning to deal with complexity and the unexpected but how quickly the "gain outweighs the pain," as managers learned to attune themselves to the flux of situations, to identify how to work with flows and energies more creatively, and to become conscious of what was happening on the edge of awareness.     

A Conceptual Framework Based on Maturana’s Ontology of the Observer to Explore the Checkland’s Soft Systems Methodology

This paper explores Checkland’s Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) through the lenses of a theoretical framework that incorporates key concepts from Maturana’s Ontology of the Observer (OoO) with the view of complementing Checkland’s SSM application process. We outline and examine paradigmatic compatibility between: Checkland’s ontological position (reality is problematic/chaotic) together with his interpretivist epistemology (multiple perceptions enrich the ever-changing reality); and Maturana’s OoO (we are immersed in the praxis of living in an ontological multi-universe). We argue that OoO resonates with key SSM theoretical underpinnings. After establishing compatibility between these two influential systems thinkers, we advance a conceptual framework in which Checkland’s SSM learning process is re-visited through a the framework grounded on Maturana’s OoO. The proposed framework illustrates how key ideas drawn from Maturana’s OoO can shed light into the way in which some of the main SSM devices (i.e.: Root definitions, Conceptual model) are used in the SSM process. By doing that, SSM is enriched and becomes more flexible as the stakeholders involved are placed within the domain of constitutive ontologies from which, a deeper dialogue can be promoted in a domain of coexistence in mutual acceptance. We argue that this is a suitable way to have more flexible and holistic views for a SSM intervention in particular to promote the learning process and debating proposed changes amongst the stakeholders involved. The proposed framework, when applied, may enhance the power of SSM learning process and when adopted can have substantial implications to complement the SSM process.

     

Managerial Effectiveness from a System Theoretical Point of View

This paper defines managerial effectiveness as the ability to answer three questions: (1) Given sparse knowledge of a problematic situation, how is it possible to extract information from it?; (2) If such information can indeed be extracted, how can it be structured in a way which enables rigorous problem definition?; and (3) If a problem can indeed be defined rigorously, how can this definition be used to inform a systemic approach toward resolution? Managerial effectiveness, in other words, is understood as the ability to make systemic decisions in the absence of clear facts. A configuration of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is presented, and it is argued that this configuration addresses the three questions and facilitates useful and practical systemic results in the face of partial information. Overall, the paper provides a theoretical basis for discussing managerial effectiveness, a decision making model which renders the theory operational, a teaching and training tool for disseminating SSM, and a blueprint from which to begin considering software support for the methodology.     

The Emergent Properties of SSM in Use: A Symposium by Reflective Practitioners

Two careers, in industry and in university teaching at postgraduate level, have led to the development of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) in a 30-year program of action research. The most cogent comments on SSM come from reflective practitioners, and in this symposium I have asked eight such users of SSM to reflect on their experience and to address the question of what it is that happens when the approach is used in real-world problem situations. Their responses reflect their different backgrounds, experience, and ways of working, but a broad general picture emerges. This suggests that SSM (whose process does not necessarily have to be made explicit to participants in a study) can engender a process of on-going (cyclic) coherent structured learning which feels natural, and which can surface previously unexamined assumptions, thus creating an arena in which accommodations can emerge which enable and motivate "action to improve" to be taken.     

The Systemic Approach of SSM: The Case of a Brazilian Company

This paper aims to describe the application of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) to the reality of a Brazilian enterprise. Systemic practices are ways of putting to use systemic thought in the real world, using the precepts of the systemic approach, which is very important for knowledge management and globalization. The systemic practice SSM is used in the resolution of ill-defined problems, which often involve behavioral variables and, thus, cannot be addressed by the so-called hard methodologies. In this paper, SSM is applied to the problematic of a middle-market business, an auto supply distributor, whose managers consulted the authors of this paper as regards proposing improvements of its performance. As a result of this work, the authors were able to propose core changes in attitudes, leading to changes in structure and process.     

Using Soft Systems Methodology to Fight Against Info-Exclusion: The Experience of a Brazilian University

The aim of this paper is to apply a systemic methodology to analyse the concept of info-inclusion which can guide strategic actions of institutions within civil society and within several levels of government. The paper provides a plan of action that, integrated with other tools, aims at fighting the technological and social gap. We apply Soft System Methodology (SSM), because it provides a holistic approach to info-exclusion. SSM is often used to analyse and resolve problems in complex social studies such as info-exclusion. An info-exclusion reduction project, developed by a university in the country region of Sao Paulo will be provided as a case study. This project is one of the several Brazilian initiatives to solve the problem of limited access to information technology tools. We start by contextualising info-exclusion in Brazil and follow with a review of SSM. We then introduce the concept of info-inclusion and apply SSM to it. We end with a discussion of the results obtained and with some suggestions for action and possible improvements.     

Developing an Information System for Sustainable Natural Resource Management in Alborz Watershed, Northern Iran

This article explores the potentials of systems analysis and design of information system for sustainable natural resource management. Soft and hard system analyses were performed to better understand the information needs and design of an information system for improving decision making for achieving sustainable natural resource management. In order to analyze the complex and soft systems situations for developing an effective information system, which meets related actors’ changing needs, a conceptual model inspired by soft systems methodology (SSM) was developed. This model is based on information derived from twelve farmers who were purposely selected to represent diverse conditions and 23 agricultural extension experts across the Alborz Watershed in Mazandaran Province, located in northern Iran. Since a conceptual model resulting from SSM is not in itself sufficient as the basis for the implementation of information systems, a hard system methodology was used to structure the data handling by using unified modeling language. This research has shown the promising potentiality of using soft system analysis methodology as a preliminary step to the actual design of an information system in the natural resource management situation in the watershed system level when combined with hard system analysis methods.     

A Soft Systems Methodology Approach to Occupational Cancer Control Problem: a Case Study of the Ministry of Petroleum of Iran

Petroleum industries of Iran offer some of the best job opportunities within Iranian labor market. However, due to the attributes of the chemicals used in these industries, their staffs are exposed to various risk factors of several chronic diseases. Such exposures might lead to cancer incidence after a decade or two. The Ministry of Petroleum (MoP) runs an organization, namely Petroleum Industry Health Organization (PIHO), which is responsible for the health insurance of the personnel working in Petroleum industries. PIHO and Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) units play fundamental roles in providing the employees with health services during their professional life and retirement period. Yet, these organizations still do not have a system to specify occupational cancer control mechanisms at the MoP. The negative influences of cancer on patients suffering from it as well as its heavy costs of treatment have forced MoP to put measures of coping with this chronic disease in the first priority. This paper aims to define the structure and design a framework for MoP’s occupational cancer control problem as the first step for improving the described situation. Given the presence of various stakeholders and actors, and the wide range of complexities of this problematic situation, we have adopted Soft System Methodology (SSM). We have reached an agreement with the problem owners on a rich picture, CATWOE analysis, root definition and a conceptual model for the way this situation could improve within real world circumstances. The results were obtained through various sessions with practitioner from different departments of MoP, while the conflict of interests was common.     

一般系统方法论研究

在分析Ｃｈｅｃｋｌａｎｄ软系统方法论的局限性的基础上，本文提出了一般系统方法论（ＧＳＭ）．ＧＳＭ包括了软系统方法论与Ｈａｌｌ硬系统方法论的全部内容，井扩展到问题的发现与形成阶段，揭示出这三部分之间的逻辑联系，从而完善了系统问题从感知到解决的全部可能的逻辑思维过程．     

Insights into Operationalizing Communities of Practice from SSM-Based Inquiry Processes

Two systemic inquiries, based on soft systems methodology (SSM), into the potential for using community of practice (CoP) theory by an Australian-government created research and development corporation to change its knowledge management (KM) strategy, are reported. Key staff were engaged in the inquiry into how to build a third-order KM strategy based on CoPs; an exploration of key published work on CoPs yielded four SSM activity models—‘being a community practice system’; ‘doing the work of imagination sub-system’; ‘doing the work of alignment sub-system’ and ‘doing the work of engagement sub-system’. These models can be used as heuristics to aid the purposeful design of CoPs in other settings. SSM, enacted as a systemic inquiry, can be understood as a form of systemic action research, which was well equipped to deal with CoP theory and, when enacted participatively, can generate important systemic insights. The inquiry began the process of fostering an appreciation of third order KM but, on the evidence available, did not lead to on-going commitment to a CoPs-based KM strategy. Future research should acknowledge how the framing of research situations influences the research process, the importance of the design of practice change settings and the limited evidence for purposeful interventions leading to successful CoPs.     

Qualifying Function in SSM Modeling—A Case Study

In a previous paper the author introduced a concept called qualifying function as a conceptual tool for modeling and design. The concept was incorporated into the modeling phase of soft systems methodology (SSM), with the purpose of addressing some of the criticism directed toward the methodology, such as its tendency to result in regulatory, rather than radical, agendas for change. It was argued that the concept had the potential to help people in a particular problem situation to view the situation from new and different perspectives and that it could enrich the conceptual models by giving the transformation process a direction. The aim of this paper is to apply the concept, embedded in SSM, to a case study involving two projects, focused on creating new work opportunities, to explore the practical applicability and usefulness of the concept, both in general and as a part of the modeling phase of SSM.     

The problem-solving system: Another problem-content system

The aim of this article is to obtain specific and general learning lessons pertaining to Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and related human activities. Some of these activities, which are of particular concern in this paper, occur within a problem-solving system (PSS), i.e., when an analyst playing the role of problem solver tackles a problem-situation (P-S)-here known as the problem-content system (PCS). It is postulated that on many occasions, depending on the way the P-S is faced, the PSS may become another PCS depending on the behavior of the solvers when facing that P-S. Such behavior is subject not only to intellectuality but also to ethics and beliefs. Initially I draw up distinctions between a PSS and a PCS and, at once, define several important terms used in SSM. An overview of three case studies carried out in Peru is presented next. Some specific and general learning lessons obtained from the analysis are then presented. Although the studies relate to concepts of SSM, the conclusions that emerge are equally applicable to many P-S's and problem-solving approaches.