soft systems methodology

formulated by Peter Checkland in the 1970s as a method of coming to terms with 'soft’ or ill-defined organizational problem contexts. The approach differs from traditonal management-oriented methods by virtue of its emphasis on learning, appreciative understanding and the recognition of different and competing ‘world views’. Originally the method was promoted as a 7-stage iterative model that could be used to explore problem contexts encouraging iteration of polemical debate until a universal world view or ‘accommodation of interests’ could be achieved. SYSTEMS THEORY was used extensively in the original formulation; concentrating on emergent properties and holism rather than the reductionist techniques found in other approaches. In 1992 the methodology was reformulated in the face of its critics (Flood, Jackson & Keys 1990 et al) in order to focus more on learning and process, rather than formal systems theory

Collins Dictionary of Sociology, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2000

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Requirements Acquisition and Controlled Evolution

References in periodicals archive

[10] Checkland, P B (1999): Soft Systems Methodology: a thirty year retrospective, Chichester, John Wiley and Sons Limited,

An exposition of research methodology in management and social sciences

Towards an appropriate social theory for applied systems thinking: critical theory and soft systems methodology. Journal of Applied Systems Analysis, 7, 41-49.

Critical, emancipatory, and pluralistic research for education: a review of critical systems theory

The most well-known PSMs include: Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA); Soft Systems Methodology (SSM); Strategic Choice Approach (SCA); Robustness Analysis; Drama Theory (Rosenhead and Mingers 2001).

Using SSM for structuring decision support in urban energy planning/Operacines sistemos metodologijos taikymas planuojant miesto energetika

(1990), Soft Systems Methodology in Action, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester.

Using soft systems methodology to identify competence requirements in HRM

Soft Systems Methodology is the approach to tackling problem situations which is based upon and embodies that new thinking.

Researching real-life: reflections on 30 years of action research

Este artigo tem como objetivo descrever a experiencia do metodo Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), desenvolvido por Checkland (1981) como um instrumento util na identificacao e elaboracao de propostas para reconhecimento do curso de Pos-Graduacao em Administracao (PPGA-FEA) em fase de reconhecimento na Faculdade de Economia, Administracao e Contabilidade no Campus da USP em Ribeirao Preto (FEA-RP).

SSM as a mobilization instrument in a graduate program in the field of administration/A SSM como instrumento de mobilizacao em um curso de pos-graduacao em formacao

As such, there is no strict mapping between these three categories and other well-known design and development methodologies (socio-technical design, soft systems methodology, critical systems thinking, and separately, prototyping).

PD and joint application design: a transatlantic comparison

Peter Checkland's 'soft systems methodology' was maturing into the form it took in his 1981 classic Systems Thinking, Systems Practice (Checkland, 1981).

Reflections on the development and contribution of critical systems thinking and practice

One well documented exception to this rule relates to action research (i.e., the application of so-called "soft systems methodology" [2]).

Choosing appropriate information systems research methodologies

In his second book, Soft Systems Methodology in Action, he summarized his system thinking as seven points as below.

A revolution in the field of systems thinking--a review of Checkland's system thinking

In his academic work Soft Systems Methodology: A 30-year Retrospective written about 10 yeas ago, Checkland (1999, p.

Soft systems methodology and 'soft' philosophy of science