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UFCE8V-20-3 Information Systems Development 3 (Shape HK)

This document provides an overview of soft systems thinking and Checkland's Soft Systems Methodology (SSM). It discusses key concepts in soft systems such as human activity systems, problem definitions, and teleological thinking. It then outlines the seven stages of SSM, including developing rich pictures, root definitions, and conceptual models of relevant human activity systems. Stage 1 involves expressing the problem situation, while stages 2-4 involve defining and modeling the human activity systems. Stages 5-7 then compare conceptual models to reality, implement recommendations, and recognize that implementing changes begins a new problem-solving cycle. An example rich picture and root definition are also provided.

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60 views18 pages

UFCE8V-20-3 Information Systems Development 3 (Shape HK)

This document provides an overview of soft systems thinking and Checkland's Soft Systems Methodology (SSM). It discusses key concepts in soft systems such as human activity systems, problem definitions, and teleological thinking. It then outlines the seven stages of SSM, including developing rich pictures, root definitions, and conceptual models of relevant human activity systems. Stage 1 involves expressing the problem situation, while stages 2-4 involve defining and modeling the human activity systems. Stages 5-7 then compare conceptual models to reality, implement recommendations, and recognize that implementing changes begins a new problem-solving cycle. An example rich picture and root definition are also provided.

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m_michael_c
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UFCE8V-20-3

Information Systems Development 3


(SHAPE HK)
Lecture 17
Soft Systems Thinking

Human Activity Systems (HAS)


o All human activity systems (HAS) are social
systems.
o All social systems are open systems.
o They consist of people and their activities.
o Activities involve intentional and meaningful
actions carried out by individuals and groups
who ascribe purposes to their own actions
and to the actions of others.
o Hence human activity systems are inherently
complex and open to different interpretations
or readings.
o And why the means-end (hard systems) ideas
& techniques derived from a positivist
tradition are (by themselves) inadequate for

A systems Typology

Five classes of system which make up a systems map of the


universe.
We may
investigate, describe, learn from, natural systems
create and use designed systems
seek to engineer human activity systems (P Checkland)

Mechanism v Teleology
o Teleology the study of goal-seeking or
goal-directed behaviour.
o In mechanistic thinking behaviour is
explained by what caused it and its effects.
Causal chains as in
A->B->C->D...
o In teleological thinking behaviour is explained
by what produced it or by what it is intended
to produce.
o Study of the functions, goals and purposes
of individual and groups yields a greater
chance to understand and improve
performance within human activity systems

A human activity system view of


problem, methodology, method &
success
A
o
o
o
o
o
o

PROBLEM is:
a situation in need of improvement
a condition in need of change
an unrealized goal, aim, intention or desire
a project or task
a unsatisfied need
a barrier, a limitation; an obstacle to be
overcome
o a constructive purpose
o an imbalance; disharmony; disorder; disunity

A human activity system view of


problem, methodology, method &
success (2)
METHODOLOGY is:
o A systematic sequence of steps, stages, or
events
o An outline plan for managing problems and
goals
o An "excursion" (Gordon)
o A tried and tested pattern of activities
o The path of problem-solving journey
o A means of organizing effort and expense
o A clarification of purpose and activity

A human activity system view of


problem, methodology, method &
success (3)
METHODS are:
o Ways and means; techniques; "howtos"
o Problem-solving tools
o Strategies; tricks; 'trade secrets'
o Sub-procedures; mini-processes

A human activity system view of


problem, methodology, method &
success (4)
SUCCESS is:
o Satisfying one's needs
o Solving a problem; completing a project
o Positive feedback or evaluation
o Realization of achievement
o Reaching one's goals

Soft systems methodologies


Specifically developed to be used in messy or
ill-structured situations. That is, situations
where there may not be a clear view of what
constitutes the problem, or for that matter,
what action should be taken to overcome the
difficulties being expressed.
Examples of soft systems methodologies
include o Checklands Soft Systems Methodology
(SSM)
o Mumfords
Effective Technical & Human Implementa
tion of Computer-Based Systems
(ETHICS)
o Mason and Mitroffs Strategic Assumption

Checklands Soft Systems


Methodology (SSM)
Four underlying principles. Learning, culture,
participation and the two modes of thought.
o Learning SSM articulates a process of
enquiry, it is a learning system that leads to
purposeful action in a continuous cycle.
o Culture systemic feasibility, desirability and
relevance.
o Participation given the variety of
perceptions, it is not only desirable but
necessary.
o Two modes of thought abstract and ideal
systems thinking.

SSMs two streams of enquiry

SSM the seven stages

SSM Stages 1-2


The problem situation can be expressed as a rich picture. The idea
is to represent pictorially all the relevant information and
relationships. This is simply to aid the modeller or consultant to gain
an understanding of the situation. The rich picture will reveal one or
more Human Activity Systems (HAS).

SSM stage 3
Root definitions are constructed for the relevant HAS
identified in stages one and two. The root definition
should encompass the emergent properties of the
system in question. To define the emergent
properties one needs to consider the mnemonic
CATWOE:
o C: customer (people affected by the system,
beneficiaries or victims);
o A: actor (people participating in the system);
o T: transformation (the core of the root definition
the transformation carried out by the system);
o W: Weltanschauung (world view);
o O: ownership (the person(s) with the authority to
decide on the future of the system);
o E: environment (the wider system).
o The CATWOE mnemonic can be used as a checklist to
ensure that the root definition is complete.
Alternatively, the root definition can be formulated
from the components of the CATWOE mnemonic.
Either way, the root definition will be a short
paragraph which will contain all the necessary
information to describe the system. Several root

SSM stage 4
Each root definition will result in a conceptual
model.
The conceptual model identifies the minimum
necessary activities for that Human Activity
System(HAS).
In addition, it represents the relationships
between the activities.
The conceptual model must be derived from the
root definition alone. It is an intellectual model
and must not be clouded by knowledge of the
real world.
All of the elements of the CATWOE mnemonic
must be included somewhere in the conceptual
model, otherwise the conceptual model is
incomplete. It should not be possible to take out
words from the root definition without affecting
the conceptual model.

SSM stages 5-7


Stages five and six

The conceptual model identifies which activities need


to be included in that particular HAS. It is not
concerned with how these activities will be carried
out. The conceptual model will be compared with
the real world to highlight possible changes in
the real world. It may be that activities in the
conceptual model do not exist in the real world. This
would then be a recommendation for change.
Differences between the two must never result in a
change to the conceptual model. The conceptual
model, if constructed correctly, encompasses all the
activities necessary for the emergent properties of the
system. Removal of activities from the conceptual
model would result in those emergent properties
being lost. Conversely, it may be the case that
activities appear in the real world that do not fit into
the conceptual model. These activities are either
unnecessary, or are included in the conceptual model
in a different form.
Stage seven
Recommendations for change will be implemented. It
is important to appreciate that once these changes
have been implemented, the problem situation will be

Example Rich Picture

Example Root Definition


A householder-owned and manned system to
paint a garden fence, by conventional hand
painting, in keeping with the overall
decoration scheme of the property, in order
to enhance the visual appearance of the
property & the lifetime of the fence
Customer = householder & family
Actor = householder
Transformation = unpainted fence
painted
fence meeting criterion in the definition
Weltanschauung = painting can enhance the
appearance & longevity of fence
Owner = householder
Environment = rest of house & garden,
neighbours

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