DOCSLIB.ORG

Soft Systems Methodology: a Thirty Year Retrospectivea

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Soft Systems Methodology: a Thirty Year Retrospectivea Systems Research and Behavioral Science Syst. Res. 17, S11–S58 (2000) Ž Research Paper Soft Systems Methodology: A Thirty Year Retrospectivea Peter Checkland* 25 Pinewood Avenue, Bolton-le-Sands, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 8AR, UK INTRODUCTION But the fact that general systems theory (GST) has failed in its application does not mean that Although the history of thought reveals a number systems thinking itself has failed. It has in fact of holistic thinkers — Aristotle, Marx, Husserl flourished in several different ways which were among them — it was only in the 1950s that any not anticipated in 1954. There has been devel- version of holistic thinking became insti- opment of systems ideas as such, development of tutionalized. The kind of holistic thinking which the use of systems ideas in particular subject then came to the fore, and was the concern of a areas, and combinations of the two. The devel- newly created organization, was that which opment in the 1970s by Maturana and Varela makes explicit use of the concept of ‘system’, and (1980) of the concept of a system whose elements today it is ‘systems thinking’ in its various forms generate the system itself provided a way of cap- which would be taken to be the very paradigm turing the essence of an autonomous living sys- of thinking holistically. In 1954, as recounted in tem without resorting to use of an observer’s Chapter 3 of Systems Thinking, Systems Practice, notions of ‘purpose’, ‘goal’, ‘information pro- only one kind of systems thinking was on the cessing’ or ‘function’. (This contrasts with the the- table: the development of a mathematically ory in Miller’s Living Systems (1978), which expressed general theory of systems. It was sup- provides a general model of a living entity expre- posed that this would provide a meta-level lan- ssed in the language of an observer, so that what guage and theory in which the problems of many makes the entity autonomous is not central to different disciplines could be expressed and the theory.) This provides a good example of the solved; and it was hoped that doing this would further development of systems ideas as such. help to promote the unity of science. The rethinking, by Chorley and Kennedy (1971), These were the aspirations of the pioneers, but of physical geography as the study of the dynam- looking back from 1999 we can see that the project ics of systems of four kinds, is an example of the has not succeeded. The literature contains very use of systems thinking to illuminate a particular little of the kind of outcomes anticipated by the subject area. founders of the Society for General Systems This paper provides an example of the third Research; and scholars in the many subject areas kind of development: a combination of the two to which a holistic approach is relevant have been illustrated above. We set out to see if systems understandably reluctant to see their pet subject ideas could help us to tackle the messy problems as simply one more example of some broader of ‘management’, broadly defined. ‘general system’! In trying to do this we found ourselves having to develop some new systems concepts as a *Correspondence to: Peter Checkland, 25 Pinewood Avenue, Bolton- response to the complexity of the everyday prob- le-Sands, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 8AR. aReproduced from Soft Systems Methodology in Action, John Wiley & lem situations we encountered, the kind of situ- Sons, Ltd, Chichester, 1999. ations which we all have to deal with in both our Copyright Þ 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. RESEARCH PAPER Syst. Res. professional and our private lives. The aim in the cations (SCMA) (Wilson 1984, 2nd Edn 1990) research process we adopted was to make neither describes the response of a professional control the ideas nor the practical experience dominant. engineer to experiences in the Lancaster pro- Rather the intention was to allow the tentative gramme of action research; less concerned with ideas to inform the practice which then became the human and social aspects of problem situ- the source of enriched ideas — and so on, round ations, it cleaves to the functional logic of engin- a learning cycle. This is the action research cycle eering and presents an approach which Holwell whose emergence is described in Systems Think- (1997) argues is best viewed as classic systems ing, Systems Practice and whose use and further engineering with the transforming addition of development is the subject of SSM in Action. human activity system modelling. The action research programme at Lancaster Soft Systems Methodology in Action (SSMA) University was initiated by the late Gwilym Jenk- (Checkland and Scholes 1990) describes the use of ins, first Professor of Systems at a British univer- a mature SSM in both limited and wide-ranging sity, and Philip Youle, the perspicacious manager situations in both public and private sectors; it in ICI who saw the need for the kind of col- moves beyond the ‘seven-stage’ model of the laboration between universities and outside methodology (still useful for teaching purposes organizations which the action research pro- and — occasionally — in some real situations) to gramme required. Thirty years later that pro- see it as a sense-making approach, which, once gramme still continues, and with the same aim: internalized, allows exploration of how people to find ways of understanding and coping with in a specific situation create for themselves the the perplexing difficulties of taking action, both meaning of their world and so act intentionally; individually and in groups, to ‘improve’ the situ- the book also initiates a wider discussion of the ations which day-to-day life continuously creates concept of ‘methodology’, a discussion which and continually changes. Specifically, the pro- will be extended below. gramme explores the value of the powerful bun- Information, Systems and Information Systems dle of ideas captured in the notion ‘system’, and (ISIS) (Checkland and Holwell 1998) stems from they have not been found wanting, though both the fact that in very many of the Lancaster action the ideas themselves and the ways of using them research projects the creation of ‘information sys- have been extended as a result of the practical tems’ was usually a relevant, and often a core, experiences. concern; it attempts some conceptual cleansing The progress of the 30 years of research has of the confused field of IS and IT, treating IS as been chronicled and reflected upon since 1972 in being centrally concerned with the human act of about 100 papers and four books — which will creating meaning, and relates experiences based be referred to in the remainder of this chapter by on a mature use of SSM to a fundamental con- the initials of their titles. The nature of the books ceptualization of the field of IS/IT; it carries for- is summarized briefly below. ward the discussion of SSM as methodology but Systems Thinking, Systems Practice (STSP) less explicitly than will be attempted here. (Checkland 1981) makes sense of systems think- It is important to understand the nature of ing by seeing it as an attempt to avoid the these books if the aim of this chapter is itself to reductionism of natural science, highly successful be properly understood. The less than impressive though that is when investigating natural but nevertheless sprawling literature of ‘man- phenomena; it describes early experiences of try- agement’ caters in different ways for several dif- ing to apply ‘systems engineering’ outside the ferent audiences. There is an apparent insatiable technical area for which it was developed, the appetite for glib journalistic productions, offering rethinking of ‘systems thinking’ which early claimed insights for little or no reader effort — experience made necessary, and sets out the first Distribution Management in an Afternoon: that developed form of SSM as a seven-stage process kind of thing. Such books are more often pur- of inquiry. chased than actually read. There is also a need Systems: Concepts, Methodologies and Appli- for textbooks which systematically display the Copyright Âc 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Syst. Res. 17, S11–S58 (2000) S12 Peter Checkland Syst. Res. RESEARCH PAPER conventional wisdom of a subject for aspiring of Gwilym Jenkins when he moved to Lancaster students. These need to be updated periodically University in the mid-1960s to found the first in new editions. And also, more austerely, there systems department in a UK university. He did are books which carry the discussion which is the not want a department which could be dismissed real essence of any developing subject, and try to as ‘academic’. He rejected the idea that the name extend the boundaries of our knowledge. The of the department should be Systems Analysis, in books described above are of this kind. It is not favour of a Department of Systems Engineering. usually appropriate — as it is with textbooks — ‘Analysis is not enough’, he used to say hereti- to update them in new editions. They are ‘of their cally. ‘Beyond analysis it is important to put time’. But it is useful on republication to offer something together, to create, to ‘‘engineer’’ reflections on the further development of the something.’ Given this attitude it was not sur- ideas as new experiences have accumulated since prising that he initiated the programme of action the books were written. That is what is done here research in real-world organizations outside the for STSP and SSMA. university. The intellectual starting point was A particular structure is adopted. First, the Optner’s concept (1965) that an organization emergence of soft systems thinking is briefly could be taken to be a system with functional revisited.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Re-Examining the Implications of Systems Thinking for Evaluation
    RE-EXAMINING THE IMPLICATIONS OF SYSTEMS THINKING FOR EVALUATION BY EMILY F. GATES DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology in the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2016 Urbana, Illinois Doctoral Committee: Professor Jennifer C. Greene, Chair Professor Thomas A. Schwandt, Director of Research Professor Lizanne DeStefano Professor Martin Reynolds, Open University ABSTRACT Over the last twenty years, many prominent evaluators have been borrowing and using ideas, theories, and methods from the systems and complexity fields with little research on the implications of this trend for the evaluation field. This thesis examines this borrowing to identify over-arching implications for evaluation theory and practice. The first paper reviews inter- disciplinary literature on systems thinking and complexity science with regards to evaluating social policies and programs and identifies major implications for how evaluators theorize evaluation practice. The second paper reports on an analysis of eight cases of evaluation practice that use systems and complexity ideas and techniques and presents findings regarding how evaluators conceive of and practice evaluation. The third paper advances an argument for how evaluators can use critical systems heuristics to surface, reflect on, and make explicit the values that influence and should influence an evaluation. Collectively, these papers support the potential of borrowing from the systems and complexity fields to expand on and re-define evaluation theory and practice. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation would not have been possible without the mentorship of Dr. Thomas Schwandt and Dr. Jennifer Greene. I am thankful to Tom for overseeing this dissertation, sharing his wisdom, providing generous editorial comments, and continuously challenging and expanding my thinking.
    [Show full text]
  • An Overview of the Soft Systems Methodology Stuart Burge
    System Thinking: Approaches and Methodologies An Overview of the Soft Systems Methodology Stuart Burge The Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) was born out of research conducted at Lancaster University to apply Systems Engineering approaches to solve “management/business problems”. In other words they attempted to apply a Hard Systems approach to fix business problems. What they discovered was the approach often stumbled at the first step of problem definition. This happens quite simply because the different stakeholders have divergent views on what constitutes the system, the purpose of the system and therefore the problem. Two key players in the development of the SSM are Peter Checkland [1999] and Brian Wilson [2001] who through “action research” were able to put together a practical and pragmatic approach to the identification and solution of “soft” ill-defined problems. This methodology was more than just a process; Checkland and Wilson also developed a set of tools to help users carry out the steps. These include: • Rich Picture • Conceptual Model • CATWOE • Formal Systems Model More on these later because, at this point, I would like to focus on the approach. Figure 1 presents a view of the SSM. Since its origin back in 1970’s and 80’s it has changed as various workers have added their bit. Figure 1 shows a 7-step process approach to SSM. I have chosen this view, that while it is an early representation, it does allow several key and important aspects of SSM to be made clear. Figure 1: The 7 Step Soft Systems Methodology © Burge Hughes Walsh 2015 page 1 System Thinking: Approaches and Methodologies Before launching into detail about the 7-steps it is worthwhile explaining the overall philosophy behind SSM.
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of Problem Structuring Methods for Consideration in Prognostics and Smart Manufacturing
    A Review of Problem Structuring Methods for Consideration in Prognostics and Smart Manufacturing Patrick T. Hester 1, Andrew J. Collins 2, Barry Ezell 2, John Horst 3 1 Department of Engineering Management & Systems Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529 [email protected] 2 Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center, Old Dominion University, Suffolk, VA 23435 3 Engineering Laboratory, National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MA 20899 ABSTRACT environments has been exacerbated in recent years. “Modern engineering systems and manufacturing processes Successful use of prognostics involves the prediction of are becoming increasingly complex, and are operating in future system behaviors in an effort to maintain system highly dynamic environments. Thus, sustaining the availability and reduce the cost of maintenance and repairs. reliability of such systems is becoming a more complex and Recent work by the National Institute of Standards and challenging requirement” (Lee, Ghaffari, & Elmeligy, 2011, Technology indicates that the field of prognostics and health p. 111). Prognostics and health management, specifically for management is vital for remaining competitive in today’s smart manufacturing, is a promising area of research as a manufacturing environment. While prognostics-based means for maintaining complex system reliability and for maintenance involves many traditional operations research- helping to make the U.S. succeed globally; however, it has centric challenges for successful deployment such as limited yet to be universally embraced due to a number of factors availability of information and concerns regarding that will be discussed later in this paper. We argue that computational efficiency, the authors argue in this paper that prognostics and health management requires a the field of prognostics and health management, still in its preprocessing step, known as problem structuring, in order embryonic development stage, could benefit greatly from to allow it to reach its full potential.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Evolution of Systems
    Evolution Of Systems Michel Lecoq iTER - Belgium tel. : + 32 4 278 1008 fax.: + 32 4 278 1009 [email protected] Introduction This article is an attempt to formalize my thoughts about the evolution of products or of systems in general. It does not contain anything new. To the contrary, it just applies the assumption that "somebody somewhere has solved a problem like mine". Altshuller proposed "trends of evolution" that are presently expanded by many authors in the TRIZ literature. In his book, Darrell Mann (1) has 31 of these trends. They are observations of the evolutions of objects. This part of TRIZ does not satisfy me. It looks more like a collection of examples of the use of some TRIZ principles (e.g. The trend of "space segmentation" or the trend of "object segmentation" show the segmentation principle at different levels in a solid). This article tries to show TRIZ practitioners other attempts to approach the evolution with the hope that somebody will once formulate a coherent theory or at least a coherent guideline. After introducing the general modeling of systems, the article draws from the evolution of living systems to show some conclusions useful for the TRIZ practitioner. The way we look at the evolution of products has also an impact on the way we model the objects and their functions. Therefore, the article ends with some comments about modeling. First part: Modeling the general system System theory is a "theory" that started in the 1920's and was developed mainly from 1950 to 1980. It is a kind of reaction to the Cartesian or scientist thinking of most of the technicians.
    [Show full text]
  • Soft Systems Methodology
    Soft Systems Methodology An Introduction Computer Science/Roskilde University, Spring 1994 Jesper Simonsen Soft Systems Methodology......................................................................................1 Background...........................................................................................................1 SSM 1981 ...............................................................................................................2 Stage 1 and 2..............................................................................................3 Stage 3........................................................................................................4 Stage 4........................................................................................................5 Stage 5........................................................................................................6 Stage 6 and 7..............................................................................................7 SSM 1990 ...............................................................................................................7 The Stream of Logic-Based Enquiry........................................................9 The Stream of Cultural Enquiry ............................................................11 SSM and the Construction of IS ........................................................................12 Table of Key Concepts and Techniques/Guidelines.......................................14 The Philosophy of SSM......................................................................................14
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluation of the Vocational Training System in Qatar's Public Sector
    Evaluation of the Vocational Training System in Qatar’s Public Sector Hamad Al-Kaabi In Partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Degree of Philosophy Cardiff Metropolitan University February 2020 Abstract The concept of policing a state has had to undergo a change of mindset due to the global nature of today’s world. There was anecdotal evidence that the training was outdated and did not take into account the cross-cultural differences that exist in Qatar. This study investigates this hypothesis and evaluates the quality of training at the Police Training Institute in Qatar After conducting an exhaustive literature review covering cross cultural differences, systems thinking and different delivery methods a methodological evaluation of public sector training was conducted using the Soft Systems Methodology of Professor Peter Checkland. The key findings to come out of the SSM Analysis were: the police training did not meet the participants’ expectations, course content failed to provide trainees with new skills, the delivery of the courses lacks interaction and courses were not useful or challenging. A conceptual model was developed that dealt with: new content cultural differences and; new delivery methods A new course was designed, delivered, tested and evaluated. This was a course on Systems Thinking. Also, an App was designed for mobile phones which enabled the course to be delivered in a more modern manner which used the concept of social media. The final analysis showed that the Systems Thinking ideas were well received and more courses need to be designed at all levels. It suggested that there is a future for mobile technology in training and it encouraged organizations to experiment with this form of delivery.
    [Show full text]
  • Soft Systems Methodology (SSM)
    Page 1 of 8 Soft systems methodology 4.1 introduction: Soft systems methodology (SSM) is a systemic approach for tackling real-world problematic situations.[1] Soft Systems Methodology is the result of the continuing action research that Peter Checkland,[2] Brian Wilson,[3] and many others[4] have conducted over 30 years, to provide a framework for users to deal with the kind of messy problem situations that lack a formal problem definition.[5][6] Soft systems methodology Soft systems methodology (SSM) is a systemic approach for tackling real-world problematic situations.[1] Soft Systems Methodology is the result of the continuing action research that Peter Checkland,[2] Brian Wilson,[3] and many others[4] have conducted over 30 years, to provide a framework for users to deal with the kind of messy problem situations that lack a formal problem definition.[5][6] Overview It is a common misunderstanding that SSM is a methodology for dealing solely with ‘soft problems’ (i.e., problems which involve psychological, social, and cultural elements). SSM does not differentiate between ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ problems, it merely provides a different way of dealing with situations perceived as problematic. The ‘hardness’ or ‘softness’ is not the intrinsic quality of the problem situation to be addressed, it is an aspect of the way those involved address the situation. Each situation perceived as problematic has both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ elements. The very notion of a problem is contingent on a human being perceiving it as such. e.g. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. SSM distinguishes itself from hard systems approaches in the way it deals with the notion of ‘system.’ Common to hard systems approaches is an understanding of systems as ontological entities, i.e., entities existing in the real world.
    [Show full text]
  • What Is Systems Theory?
    What is Systems Theory? Systems theory is an interdisciplinary theory about the nature of complex systems in nature, society, and science, and is a framework by which one can investigate and/or describe any group of objects that work together to produce some result. This could be a single organism, any organization or society, or any electro-mechanical or informational artifact. As a technical and general academic area of study it predominantly refers to the science of systems that resulted from Bertalanffy's General System Theory (GST), among others, in initiating what became a project of systems research and practice. Systems theoretical approaches were later appropriated in other fields, such as in the structural functionalist sociology of Talcott Parsons and Niklas Luhmann . Contents - 1 Overview - 2 History - 3 Developments in system theories - 3.1 General systems research and systems inquiry - 3.2 Cybernetics - 3.3 Complex adaptive systems - 4 Applications of system theories - 4.1 Living systems theory - 4.2 Organizational theory - 4.3 Software and computing - 4.4 Sociology and Sociocybernetics - 4.5 System dynamics - 4.6 Systems engineering - 4.7 Systems psychology - 5 See also - 6 References - 7 Further reading - 8 External links - 9 Organisations // Overview 1 / 20 What is Systems Theory? Margaret Mead was an influential figure in systems theory. Contemporary ideas from systems theory have grown with diversified areas, exemplified by the work of Béla H. Bánáthy, ecological systems with Howard T. Odum, Eugene Odum and Fritj of Capra , organizational theory and management with individuals such as Peter Senge , interdisciplinary study with areas like Human Resource Development from the work of Richard A.
    [Show full text]
  • Applying Multi-Methodological Systems Theory to Project Management
    APPLYING MULTI-METHODOLOGICAL SYSTEMS THEORY TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT Dr Tim Haslett Department of Management Faculty of Business and Economics Monash University Associate Professor Shankar Sankaran School of the Built Environment Faculty of Design Architecture and Building University of Technology Sydney Abstract This paper begins with the proposition that most project managers are dealing with complex systems. Complex systems are defined as systems with numerous stakeholders, nonlinearities, multiple interdependencies and feedback systems. Typical nonlinearities are often unanticipated changes in the scope of the project, the dismissal of project managers, shedding people with critical labour skills or the termination of credit arrangements with banks. The interdependencies are the relationships between project management, the suppliers and contractors, the clients and the other stakeholders. The feedback systems most common to the success and failure of project management are the rework cycles and their impact on both the demand for labour and the final budget and completion date. The paper outlines a methodology for project management that integrates a number of systems thinking tools into the project management process. Introduction The project management processes as described constitutes what is commonly known as a "wicked problem". Such problems require a multi-methodological approach because they are often not amenable to solution with a single methodology. Lee and Miller (2004) document a multi-methodology approach combining System Dynamics with Critical Chain Project Management to simulate a multi-project environment where the focus is on interactions between projects. The approach taken in this paper is broader and examines a series of methodologies, primarily from Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), System Dynamics (SD), and Viable Systems Methodology (VSM).
    [Show full text]
  • Systems Thinking Is the Process of Understanding How Things Influence One Another Within a Whole
    Systems Thinking Systems thinking is the process of understanding how things influence one another within a whole. In nature, systems thinking examples include ecosystems in which various elements such as air, water, movement, plants, and animals work together to survive or perish. In organizations, systems consist of people, structures, and processes that work together to make an organization healthy or unhealthy. Systems Thinking has been defined as an approach to problem solving, by viewing "problems" as parts of an overall system, rather than reacting to specific part, outcomes or events and potentially contributing to further development of unintended consequences. Systems thinking is not one thing but a set of habits or practices [1] within a framework that is based on the belief that the component parts of a system can best be understood in the context of relationships with each other and with other systems, rather than in isolation. Systems thinking focuses on cyclical rather than linear cause and effect. In science systems, it is argued that the only way to fully understand why a problem or element occurs and persists is to understand the parts in relation to the whole. [2] Standing in contrast to Descartes's scientific reductionism and philosophical analysis , it proposes to view systems in a holistic manner. Consistent with systems philosophy , systems thinking concerns an understanding of a system by examining the linkages and 1 / 8 Systems Thinking interactions between the elements that compose the entirety of the system. Science systems thinking attempts to illustrate that events are separated by distance and time and that small catalytic events can cause large changes in complex systems .
    [Show full text]
  • 'Maintaining Systems-Of-Systems Fit-For-Purpose'
    SW Hinsley FFP_thesis_iss_2_2_1.doc ‘Maintaining Systems-of-Systems Fit-For-Purpose’ A technique exploiting Material, Energy and Information Source, Sink and Bearer Analysis by Steven W. Hinsley A Doctoral Thesis Submitted as partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Ph.D. of Loughborough University Submitted September 2016 Revised with Corrections April 2017 © by Steven W. Hinsley 2017 Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering Engineering Systems-of-Systems Group SW Hinsley FFP_thesis_iss_2_2_1.doc Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering Engineering Systems-of-Systems Group SW Hinsley FFP_thesis_iss_2_2_1.doc Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering Engineering Systems-of-Systems Group SW Hinsley Abstract Abstract Across many domains, systems suppliers are challenged by the complexity of their systems and the speed at which their systems must be changed in order to meet the needs of customers or the societies which the systems support. Stakeholder needs are ever more complex: appearing, disappearing, changing and interacting faster than solutions able to address them can be instantiated. Similarly, the systems themselves continually change as a result of both external and internal influences, such as damage, changing environment, upgrades, reconfiguration, replacement, etc. In the event of situations unforeseen at design time, personnel (for example maintainers or operators) close to the point of employment may have to modify systems in response to the evolving situation, and to do this in a timely manner so that the system and/or System-of- Systems (SoS: a set of systems that have to interoperate) can achieve their aims. This research was motivated by the problem of designing-in re-configurability to the constituent systems of a SoS to enable the SoS and its systems to effectively and efficiently counter the effects of unforeseen events that adversely affect fitness-for–purpose whilst operational.
    [Show full text]
  • Soft Systems Methodology in Action: a Case Study at a Purchasing Department
    Magisteruppsats i Informatik Master thesis in Informatics REPORT NO. 2008:034 ISSN: 1651-4769 Department of Applied Information Technology Soft Systems Methodology in action: A case study at a purchasing department Using SSM to suggest a new way of conducting financial reporting at a purchasing department in the automotive industry OLLE L. BJERKE IT Universtiy of Göteborg Chalmers University of Technology and Universtiy of Gothenburg Göteborg, Sweden 2008 1 Using Soft Systems Methodology at a purchasing department to conduct a study of financial reporting needs Olle L. Bjerke Department of Applied Information Technology IT University of Göteborg Göteborg University and Chalmers University of Technology SUMMARY The aim of this essay has been to try out Soft Systems Methodology on financial reporting at Volvo Cars Corporation (VCC). VCC saw a possible opportunity to improve their reporting processes, and SSM was chosen to deal with this possible problematic situation. Action Research became the natural way of conducting the study since it is almost a mandatory way of conducting SSM. A delimitation was made due to limited resources and only a small part of the purchasing department was involved, namely electrical purchasing. The result of the study is the artifacts from the different SSM steps that points upon how the participants would like the reporting system to be as well as many issues with the current reporting process. These outputs from the method were regarded as successful by both practitioner and participants. In essence the method was considered to be effective on a case such as this. This report is written in English Keywords: SSM, Soft Systems Methodology, VCC, Case, Financial, Report, Action Research, Volvo.
    [Show full text]