1006. The history and foundations of SSM
Invited abstract in session MC-41: Soft OR/PSMs Foundations and History, stream Soft OR and Problem Structuring Methods.
Monday, 12:30-14:00Room: Newlyn GR.01
Authors (first author is the speaker)
| 1. | Karthik Suresh
|
| University of Hull |
Abstract
This paper will review the development of SSM as "a genuine attempt to deal, in a rational way, with the actual reality of organizational life."
SSM evolved in a Lancaster University research programme that, for 30 years, carried out "practical action research in real-world situations outside the University", addressing the research question "could the systems engineering approach be successfully used in a broad spectrum of management problems?".
Three books demarcate the stages of SSM, each published roughly a decade apart. Published in 1981, Systems Thinking, Systems Practice, developed the main techniques of SSM, articulated its philosophical stance and introduced the "seven-stage" method. Soft Systems Methodology in Action, published in 1990, discusses a mature methodology informed by reflective use in practice, with a clearer philosophy, refined techniques and a flexible three-part method. Information, Systems and Information Systems, published in 1998, discusses the wider application of SSM with particular reference to information systems. Following these three publications, "Learning for Action: a short, definitive account of soft systems methodology and its use for practitioners, teachers and students", published in 2006, aims to help anyone teach SSM or use it in real situations.
SSM continues to be one of the most widely applied Soft OR methods today, due to its ability to capture and model rich descriptions of real-world situations.
Keywords
- Problem Structuring
- Soft OR
- OR History
Status: accepted
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