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Soft Systems Methodology systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking

1 Soft Systems Methodology systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking

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Page 1: 1 Soft Systems Methodology systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking

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Soft Systems Methodology

systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking

Page 2: 1 Soft Systems Methodology systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking

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systems theory

a well-developed body of theoretical ideas - with many applications:

A system:

has a boundary

has an environment

has components or subsytems

is part of a wider system

has a purpose?

has inputs and outputs

as a whole is more than the sum of its parts

has measures of performance

can adapt to external shocks

has continuity

- systems analysis

- management

-engineering

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hard systems thinking

hard systems approaches (systems analysis (structured methods), systems engineering, (operations research) assume:– objective reality of systems in the world– well-defined problem to be solved– technical factors foremost– scientific approach to problem-solving– one correct solution

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soft systems thinkingsoft systems approaches (Soft Systems Methodology) assume:– organisational problems are ‘messy’ (Ackoff),

poorly defined– stakeholders interpret problems differently (no

objective reality)– human factors important– creative, intuitive approach to problem-solving– outcomes are learning, better understanding,

rather than a ‘solution’

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methodology in SSADM - rigid techniques and

procedures to provide unambiguous solutions to well-defined data and processing problems, focused on computer implementations

in SSM - a loose framework of tools to be used at the discretion of the analyst, focused on improvements to organisational problems

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SSM - the current picture:- logic stream- cultural stream

source: Checkland, SSM in Action

Page 7: 1 Soft Systems Methodology systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking

7SSM – overview (seven stage model)

situationconsideredproblematic

problemsituation

expressed

real world

systems thinkingabout real world

conceptual modelsof systems describedin root definitions 4

comparison ofmodels andreal world 5

6 changes:systemically desirable,

culturally feasible

7 action toimprove the

problem situation

3root definition

of relevant systems

2

1

source: Checkland: Systems Thinking, Systems Practice

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soft problemssituation

consideredproblematic

problemsituation

expressed

real world

systems thinkingabout real world

conceptual modelsof systems describedin root definitions 4

comparison ofmodels andreal world 5

6 changes:systemically desirable,

culturally feasible

7 action toimprove the

problem situation

3root definition

of relevant systems

2

1

perceived discomfort poorly defined ‘mess’ (Ackoff) human complications unsuited to hard systems

techniques

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rich pictures

coffeetime yet?

iconic representations - drawn together into a picture which sums up the important elements of the problem situation

observation

idea!crossed swords

=friction

boundary

Page 10: 1 Soft Systems Methodology systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking

10rich picture - example

situationconsideredproblematic

problemsituation

expressed

real world

systems thinkingabout real world

conceptual modelsof systems describedin root definitions 4

comparison ofmodels andreal world 5

6 changes:systemically desirable,

culturally feasible

7 action toimprove the

problem situation

3root definition

of relevant systems

2

1

Page 11: 1 Soft Systems Methodology systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking

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deriving relevant systems

relevant systems are conceptual (in-the-mind) models of parts of the problem that are of interest

they are models which follow systems’ principles to help structure the analyst’s impression of the problem - not definitive descriptions of systems in the real world

problems can be represented as they are perceived by different stakeholders

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root definitions

a system to do X by (means of) Y in order to Z

situationconsideredproblematic

problemsituation

expressed

real world

systems thinkingabout real world

conceptual modelsof systems describedin root definitions 4

comparison ofmodels andreal world 5

6 changes:systemically desirable,

culturally feasible

7 action toimprove the

problem situation

3root definition

of relevant systems

2

1

they follow the form:

short textual statements which define the important elements of the relevant system being modelled - rather like mission statements

what the system does - Xhow it does it - Y

why it’s being done - Z

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root definition examples

A university owned and operated system to implement a quality service (X), by devising and

operating procedures to delight its customers and control its suppliers (Y), in order to improve its

educational products (Z).

issue based (relating to temporary or qualitative concerns, or concerns of judgment)

A university owned and operated system to award degrees and diplomas to suitably qualified

candidates (X), by means of suitable assessment (Y), (in conformance with national standards), in

order to demonstrate the capabilities of candidates to potential employers (Z).

primary task (relating to basic tasks and structures)

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CATWOE analysisa check to ensure that root definitions contain most of what is important

Customers the victims or beneficiaries of TActors those who do TTransformation input outputWeltanschauung the worldview that makes the T

meaningful in contextOwners those with the power to stop TEnvironmental elements outside the system which

constraints are taken as given, but nevertheless affect its behaviour

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C candidate studentsA university staffT candidate students

degree holders and diplomatesW the belief that awarding degrees and

diplomas is a good way of demonstrating the qualities of candidates to potential employers

O the University governing body

E national educational and assessment standards

example CATWOE

Page 16: 1 Soft Systems Methodology systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking

16 activity (conceptual) models representation of the minimum set

of activities necessary to ‘do’ the root definition

activities modelled by verbs

situationconsideredproblematic

problemsituation

expressed

real world

systems thinkingabout real world

conceptual modelsof systems describedin root definitions 4

comparison ofmodels andreal world 5

6 changes:systemically desirable,

culturally feasible

7 action toimprove the

problem situation

3root definition

of relevant systems

2

1

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activity models - symbols

study BIT

take BITexamination

cook dinner

eatdinner

verb + noun phrase

A

B

activity - ‘do something’

logical dependency arrow - activity A must come before B, or if activity A is done badly - so will B

example use

boundary

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activity model - exampleenrol students

designeducation

programmes

appreciatenational

standards

educatestudents

allotresources

designand carry outassessment

awarddegrees + diplomasto students reaching

acceptable levels

A university owned and operated system to award degrees and diplomas to suitably qualified candidates (X), by means of

suitable assessment (Y), (in conformance with national standards), in order to demonstrate the capabilities of

candidates to potential employers (Z).

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measures of performance

E1 - efficacy (does the system work, is the transformation effected)?

E2 - efficiency (the relationship between the output achieved and the resources consumed to achieve it)

E3 - effectiveness (is the longer term goal (Z) achieved)

Page 20: 1 Soft Systems Methodology systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking

20measures of performance - example

E1 (efficacy) - are degrees and diplomas awarded?

E2 (efficiency) - how many degrees and diplomas, of what standard, are awarded for the resource consumed?

E3 (effectiveness) - do employers find the degrees and diplomas a useful way of assessing the qualities of potential employees?

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21 the complete conceptual model root definition CATWOE activity model measures of

performance

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22 the complete model - example

enroll studentsdesign

educationprogrammes

appreciatenational

standards

educatestudents

allotresources

designand carry outassessment

awarddegrees + diplomasto students reaching

acceptable levels

monitor forE1, E2, E3

take controlaction

E1 (efficacy) - are degrees and diplomas awarded? E2 (efficiency) - how many degrees and diplomas, of what standard, are

awarded for the resource consumed? E3 (effectiveness) - do employers find the degrees and diplomas a useful

way of assessing the qualities of potential employees?

C candidate studentsA university staffT candidate students

degree holders and diplomatesW the belief that awarding degrees and

diplomas is a good way of demonstratingthe qualities of candidates to potential employers

O the University governing body

E national educational and assessment standards

A university owned and operated system to awarddegrees and diplomas to suitably qualified candidates (X),by means of suitable assessment (Y), (in conformance with

national standards), in order to demonstrate thecapabilities of candidates to potential employers (Z).

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levels of resolution each activity may be modelled at a higher

level of resolution - in other words a new root definition is prepared specific to that activity and a conceptual model built which further defines the set of (more detailed) activities necessary to accomplish it.

in this way complex situations with many activities can be modelled without losing a sense of the overall shape of the problem

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Once the SSM practitioner has several root definitions, with accompanying conceptual model, CATWOE, and measures of performance (which together constitute rigorous and defensible conceptual systems) (s)he is ready to look at the problem situation again.

comparison with the real world

situationconsideredproblematic

problemsituation

expressed

real world

systems thinkingabout real world

conceptual modelsof systems describedin root definitions 4

comparison ofmodels andreal world 5

6 changes:systemically desirable,

culturally feasible

7 action toimprove the

problem situation

3root definition

of relevant systems

2

1

Page 25: 1 Soft Systems Methodology systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking

25 comparison with the real world The aim is to compare the defensible

conceptual version of what might happen, with what really does happen in the situation. At this stage it is often easy to spot activities which are poorly done, or not done at all, and make recommendations for improvements. Comparisons may be simply set out in tabular form:

situationconsideredproblematic

problemsituation

expressed

real world

systems thinkingabout real world

conceptual modelsof systems describedin root definitions 4

comparison ofmodels andreal world 5

6 changes:systemically desirable,

culturally feasible

7 action toimprove the

problem situation

3root definition

of relevant systems

2

1

Page 26: 1 Soft Systems Methodology systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking systems thinking

26 situationconsideredproblematic

problemsituation

expressed

real world

systems thinkingabout real world

conceptual modelsof systems describedin root definitions 4

comparison ofmodels andreal world 5

6 changes:systemically desirable,

culturally feasible

7 action toimprove the

problem situation

3root definition

of relevant systems

2

1

comparison with the real world

activity is it done in the real situation?how is it done?

comments,recommendations

1

2

3

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The activities in the conceptual model are set out in the left hand column, with proposed changes in the right hand column. More complex tables may be developed to suit the situation. This comparison will normally lead to suggestions for real-world improvements based on the logic of the conceptual model.

changes: systemically desirable