Soft Systems Methodology in Action

Soft Systems Methodology in Action PDF Author: Peter Checkland
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0471986054
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 438

Book Description
Soft Systems Methodology in Action "Whether by design, accident or merely synchronicity, Checkland appears to have developed a habit of writing seminal publications near the start of each decade which establish the basis and framework for systems methodology research for that decade." Hamish Rennie, Journal of the Operational Research Society, 1992 Thirty years ago Peter Checkland set out to test whether the Systems Engineering (SE) approach, highly successful in technical problems, could be used by managers coping with the unfolding complexities of organizational life. The straightforward transfer of SE to the broader situations of management was not possible, but by insisting on a combination of systems thinking strongly linked to real-world practice Checkland and his collaborators developed an alternative approach - Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) - which enables managers of all kinds and at any level to deal with the subtleties and confusions of the situations they face. This work established the now accepted distinction between 'hard' systems thinking, in which parts of the world are taken to be 'systems' which can be 'engineered', and 'soft' systems thinking in which the focus is on making sure the process of inquiry into real-world complexity is itself a system for learning. Systems Thinking, Systems Practice (1981) and Soft Systems Methodology in Action (1990) together with an earlier paper Towards a Systems-based Methodology for Real-World Problem Solving (1972) have long been recognized as classics in the field. Now-Peter Checkland has looked back over the three decades of SSM development, brought the account of it up to date, and reflected on the whole evolutionary process which has produced a mature SSM. SSM: A 30-Year Retrospective, here included with Soft Systems Methodology in Action closes a chapter on what is undoubtedly the most significant single research programme on the use of systems ideas in problem solving. Now retired from full-time university work, Peter Checkland continues his research as a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow.

Soft Systems Methodology

Soft Systems Methodology PDF Author: Peter Checkland
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : System analysis
Languages : en
Pages : 432

Book Description
In this book the author reviews three decades of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) development and analyzes the evolutionary process which has resulted in what he characterizes as a more mature SSM.

Systems Thinking, Systems Practice

Systems Thinking, Systems Practice PDF Author: Peter Checkland
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 356

Book Description
Systems Thinking, Systems Practice "Whether by design, accident or merely synchronicity, Checkland appears to have developed a habit of writing seminal publications near the start of each decade which establish the basis and framework for systems methodology research for that decade." Hamish Rennie, Journal of the Operational Research Society, 1992 Thirty years ago Peter Checkland set out to test whether the Systems Engineering (SE) approach, highly successful in technical problems, could be used by managers coping with the unfolding complexities of organizational life. The straightforward transfer of SE to the broader situations of management was not possible, but by insisting on a combination of systems thinking strongly linked to real-world practice Checkland and his collaborators developed an alternative approach - Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) - which enables managers of all kinds and at any level to deal with the subtleties and confusions of the situations they face. This work established the now accepted distinction between 'hard' systems thinking, in which parts of the world are taken to be 'systems' which can be 'engineered', and 'soft' systems thinking in which the focus is on making sure the process of inquiry into real-world complexity is itself a system for learning. Systems Thinking, Systems Practice (1981) and Soft Systems Methodology in Action (1990) together with an earlier paper Towards a Systems-based Methodology for Real-World Problem Solving (1972) have long been recognized as classics in the field. Now Peter Checkland has looked back over the three decades of SSM development, brought the account of it up to date, and reflected on the whole evolutionary process which has produced a mature SSM. SSM: A 30-Year Retrospective, here included with Systems Thinking, Systems Practice closes a chapter on what is undoubtedly the most significant single research programme on the use of systems ideas in problem solving. Now retired from full-time university work, Peter Checkland continues his research as a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow.

Learning For Action

Learning For Action PDF Author: Peter Checkland
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470025549
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 230

Book Description
From the father of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), Peter Checkland, comes a new, accessible text which clearly and concisely looks at SSM. The book leaves out all of the development detail and historical/intellectual material which can be found in Checkland’s other classic works, but contains the practical essentials that will allow teachers to teach SSM accurately and students to learn it with real understanding. Features: · Short and definitive account of SSM containing the practical essentials. · Written with great clarity and presented in a reader-friendly way. · Contains examples of SSM in action. · Includes cases.

Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Management Science

Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Management Science PDF Author: Saul I. Gass
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461304598
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 774

Book Description
Operations Research: 1934-1941," 35, 1, 143-152; "British The goal of the Encyclopedia of Operations Research and Operational Research in World War II," 35, 3, 453-470; Management Science is to provide to decision makers and "U. S. Operations Research in World War II," 35, 6, 910-925; problem solvers in business, industry, government and and the 1984 article by Harold Lardner that appeared in academia a comprehensive overview of the wide range of Operations Research: "The Origin of Operational Research," ideas, methodologies, and synergistic forces that combine to 32, 2, 465-475. form the preeminent decision-aiding fields of operations re search and management science (OR/MS). To this end, we The Encyclopedia contains no entries that define the fields enlisted a distinguished international group of academics of operations research and management science. OR and MS and practitioners to contribute articles on subjects for are often equated to one another. If one defines them by the which they are renowned. methodologies they employ, the equation would probably The editors, working with the Encyclopedia's Editorial stand inspection. If one defines them by their historical Advisory Board, surveyed and divided OR/MS into specific developments and the classes of problems they encompass, topics that collectively encompass the foundations, applica the equation becomes fuzzy. The formalism OR grew out of tions, and emerging elements of this ever-changing field. We the operational problems of the British and U. s. military also wanted to establish the close associations that OR/MS efforts in World War II.

Soft Systems Methodology

Soft Systems Methodology PDF Author: Brian Wilson
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 288

Book Description
Conceptual model building is accepted as a key phase in Soft Systems Methodology. Despite the recognition of the importance of the SSM, students are still experiencing difficulty with the basic process of conceptual model building. This book addresses that issue.

Making Essential Choices with Scant Information

Making Essential Choices with Scant Information PDF Author: T. Williams
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 0230236839
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 428

Book Description
An in-depth look at how to improve decisions on major projects at the concept stage, when there is scant information available. This book describes how to evaluate judgemental information. It looks at how scant information can actually be a strength, and can help establish a broad overall perspective.

Soft Systems Methodology

Soft Systems Methodology PDF Author: Arnold Reisman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) has been used in the practice of Operations Research/ Management Science (OR/MS) since the early 70s. In the 90s it emerged as a viable academic discipline. Unfortunately, its proponents have articulated a dichotomy or mutual exclusivity between their approach and that of traditional systems thinking. This paper provides a concise statement of the claimed differences between the two; discusses the complimentarity of one to the other; provides an extensive sampling over the lifetime of OR/MS; demonstrating the rich non-SSM literature addressing the same issues as does SSM; and documents real-world studies that have simultaneously and productively used both approaches throughout time.
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