Towards a General Holistic Framework for Improving and Controlling Human Activity Systems

Abstract

This chapter introduces the Holon Framework, which aims to improve and control human activity systems. It combines aspects of Soft Systems Thinking and Hard Systems Thinking. We discuss the essence of Hard Systems Thinking and point to a key weakness, which accounts for the emergence of Soft Systems Thinking and soft methodologies such as Soft Systems Methodology. Next, a key weakness of Soft Systems Methodology is highlighted to justify the need to incorporate ideas from representational measurement theory. An overview of the Holon Framework is provided, illustrating what is taken from each approach. The soft part of the framework is associated with improvement, as it addresses basic types of questions i.e. ‘the what’, ‘the where’, and ‘the who’. The hard part of the framework is linked with control, as it addresses different questions, i.e. ‘the how’, ‘the why’, ‘the when’. We describe two case studies that have used the soft part of the approach. The first case study (conducted in the post-mortem mode) examines a completed software project. The second case study (conducted in the visioning mode) investigates a Department within a University. Additionally, we clarify the theoretical assumptions that underwrite the Framework using a one-dimensional scheme based on Burrell and Morgan’s work. Finally, we outline future research which is linked by the two objectives of General Systems Theory; firstly to identify common holons and problems which may lead to the discovery of system dynamics archetype structures operating in different disciplines, and secondly to base the maturing framework on a ‘spectrum’ of theories.