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  • Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) stages 1 – 4

    Methodology supporting Soft Systems analysis developed by Checkland. Seven stages: The Problem Situation The Problem Situation expressed Root Definitions of relevant systems Building Conceptual Models Comparison of the expressed Problem Situation and the Conceptual Models Feasible and desired changes Action to improve the situation Stages 1 & 2 – obtaining rich expression of problem situation,…

  • Mess and Difficulty – Difficulty

    Ackoff defines difficulty as: Situation is bounded – possible to identify system(s) involved. Problem(s) easily identified. Possible solutions can be identified. Timescales are limited or predictable. Limited/known number of stakeholders and groups involved. Both Hard and Soft systems have a cycle/iterative approach. Hard systems go into maintenance and back to requirements. Soft systems continually analyse…

  • Mess and Difficulty – Mess

    Ackoffs mess & difficulty useful for deciding to take hard or soft approach. Mess: Unbounded -difficult to identify boundaries, concept of boundary important in defining system. Problem(s) are unclear. No visible solutions – relates to not knowing what problem is. Many stakeholders and groups therefore many perspectives. Timescales long term.

  • Soft systems arrive

    Concept – 1970s, driven by Peter Checkland. Checkland and Russell Ackoff acknowledged Hard Systems was mature but still problems where implemented and approach not always suitable. Ackoff (1974) – messes – often not possible to soleve – and difficulties – something solvable. Checkland – complexity, where involved, not always possible to identify. Involvement of humans…

  • The Wicked Problems

    Situations containing complex systems – “wicked problem”, Horst Rittel in 1970s. – Easy problems have been solved, only difficult ones left as they cannot be defined let alone resolved. Ten significant characteristics (Webber and Rittel, 1973): No definitive formulation e.g. problem of poverty in Texas is very similar but subtly different from poverty in Nairobi…

  • Design and Complexity

    Four areas where design and complexity interact – Johnson (2006). Many designed systems are complex e.g. aeroplanes, cities, information systems, organisations. Designers need to understand complex dynamic processes used to fabricate & manufacture products & systems – design, product & processes c0-evolve. Social & economic context of design is complex. Involves market economics, regulations, trends,…

  • Soft Systems Introduction

    Define and discuss Soft Systems approaches. Hard systems also known as mechanical systems – behaviours & boundaries can be successfully described in mechanical terms. Soft systems: fuzzy boundaries. Parts/elements difficult to identify. Hard systems thinking: maximise efficiency of system. Soft systems thinking: inclusive of different perspectives. Systems thinking assumes system has emergent properties & is…

  • A Business example approach

    Hard Systems Model of Change (HSMC) – based on methods from systems engineering (SE), operational research (OR) and project management (PM). With HSMC, easier to determine objectives, find options for action and test them against criteria. HSMC has three phases: 1) Description Description of current system. Explain why change is required. Described in words, diagrams…

  • Role of Hard Systems

    Hard Systems prevalent way of viewing world. Operational Research (OR) developed in 1940s, during World War 2 by Allied forces. Quantitative techniques and incorporation of logistics. Used to plan and deploy resources in Normandy beach landing. Also used in Enigma project – German submarine code cracking. Hard systems approach systematically worked through options. Rapid expansion…

  • Introduction

    Looking at two case studies focussing on agricultural industries and world of information systems. Illustrating complexity of modern world and interdependence of disparate players. Environment consists of many complex systems – biological systems to ecosystems to economic systems. Complex systems have many common structural and functional features – can be effectively simulated with software.  

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