Use Of Soft Systems Methodology Research Articles

Metode Penyelenggaraan Kuliah Studi Pasca Sarjana Post Pandemi: Mana Yang Lebih Memenuhi Kebutuhan Pasar?

The method of post-pandemic lecture delivery in postgraduate studies is an issue for educational institution management. Lectures will be delivered offline since the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, and the conditions are recovering. Postgraduate students, especially working students, are protesting because they have to attend face-to-face lectures on weekdays for various reasons. This study aims to determine which postgraduate lecture delivery method meets the market needs (university students). The research method made use of Soft System Methodology (SSM). The FGD was conducted with twelve participants, classified into postgraduate students of Wijawiyata Management (full-time students), Young Executives (students with at least two years of work experience), and Executives (students with no less than five years of work experience). The research was conducted in March and April 2023. The results were analyzed using Role (clients, practitioners, and owners), Social (educational institutions and instructors), and Power (national policies and regulations) Analysis. This research shows that by rich picture and root definition, weekday online lectures and weekend (Saturday) offline lectures meet the market's needs and violate no Indonesian higher educational regulations. The findings also suggest that a combined lecture mode, offline and online, is more favorable to Master's degree students, hence the Indonesian government's rigorous encouragement for Distant Learning for various learning needs across the archipelago.

Exploring the Use of Soft Systems Methodology and Business Model Canvas in Energy Service Companies

Exploring the Use of Soft Systems Methodology and Business Model Canvas in Energy Service Companies

An adaptive use of Soft Systems Methodology with Strategic Assumption Surfacing and Testing, Critical Systems Heuristics and Interactive Planning in a women's prison

AbstractThis study uses the two strands model of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) with other change methodologies within a single intervention to elicit new insights into a multi‐methodology and address problems detected in a women's prison in Turkey. Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of SSM, the study proposes to use SSM, as a core approach, with Strategic Assumption Surfacing and Testing (SAST), Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH) and Interactive Planning (IP), as subordinate methodologies. The multi‐methodology integrates group formation of SAST into the cultural and logic‐based streams of analysis of SSM. Also, it adapts assumption surfacing, dialectical debate and synthesis of SAST, boundary questions of CSH and resource planning of IP to a logic‐driven stream of inquiry of SSM. The study reports the methodological effects of this approach and examples of psychosocial services and a performance appraisal system to assist human well‐being and promote public safety in a women's prison.

A Hybrid Use of Soft Systems Methodology for Developing a Framework of Evidence-Based Teaching for Hospitality and Tourism Instructors in Vietnam.

This paper adopts the hybrid use of soft systems methodology (SSM) as a process of inquiry into understanding the lack of a framework for evidence-based teaching (EBT) in hospitality and tourism education in Vietnam. By combining SSM techniques with interview data, we also develop an EBT framework for the hospitality and tourism profession. The proposed framework addresses three essential sources of evidence for teaching: (1) research-based professional and pedagogical methods, (2) industry-based materials to ensure education-industry linkage, and (3) instructors’ knowledge, experience and assumptions about their teaching roles in the classroom. This conceptual framework can be used as a guideline for conducting relevant curriculum renewal and pedagogical reforms in hospitality and tourism institutions in Vietnam.

Use of Soft Systems Methodology for Implementing Clinical Practice Guidelines in a General Hospital

Background: It is challenging to implement evidence-based care and update and improve health care policy. Adhering to evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) serves as a guide for making decisions based on the best evidence and making an attempt to improve the quality of patient care and outcomes. Despite the need for implementing CPGs in Iranian hospitals, the concept and implementation method of CPGs are not clear yet. This action research aims to propose the soft systems methodology (SSM) to facilitate the implementation of CPGs in a general hospital in Iran. Methods: We employed the SSM to conceptualize the situation for the implementation of CPGs. Semi-structured in-depth interviews and group discussions with different stakeholders were used to define the purposeful activity model. The SSM tools and techniques were used to identify the main areas of change and select necessary measures to facilitate the implementation of CPGs. Flexible qualitative methods for data collection and analysis were utilized throughout the study. Results: Applying SSM for implementing CPGs could generate knowledge by recognizing hyper-complexity in healthcare setting, adopting an attitude of inquiry, and fostering dynamic changes in diverse and numerous worldviews of professionals in the accommodation process. This knowledge can provide a model for the successful implementation of CPGs at a macro-system level and facilitate the persuasion process for its implementation at the mesosystem level. More importantly, adopting SSM can create iterative learning loops over time and, thus, help the clinical microsystems face future healthcare complexities. Conclusion: The application of systems thinking approaches, especially SSM is recommended for implementing CPGs and addressing complex issues in healthcare settings and other system levels.

An enhanced use of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) in Mode 2 to explore online distance education in Saudi Arabia

This paper develops a framework to enhance the use of Soft Systems Methodology or SSM in Mode 2, with the aim of learning about Online Distance Learning or ODE in the country of Saudi Arabia. Mode 2 focuses on learning by mapping, internalising and reflecting on SSM principles, stages or techniques to make sense of situations as fluxes of events. This mode of use has been scarce in the literature in the last 20 years, partly because of the popularity of a more explicit Mode 1 of use which advocates explicit and participative application of SSM stages and methods. In the case under study, one of us (the researcher) engaged with ODE as an area of exploration; difficulties of access to the situation led her to shift to a Mode 2 of SSM use, and include Kolb’s experiential learning theory/model in her framework of ideas (F) to refine her initial learning framework. We discuss implications for SSM use to enhance learning of researchers in the future.

The Use of Soft System Methodology To Build A Conceptual Model for Strengthening Innovation of Entrepreneurs in Coastal Area of Jakarta

Strengthening innovation for entrepreneur is very important because nowadays consumers are smarter and they demand to meet their needs in terms of quality, renewal and price. Small businesses and beginners are often unable to achieve business sustainability. Therefore, innovative capabilities are needed to meet consumer's needs and to achieve business sustainability. By using an entrepreneurial ecosystem approach through elements of actors, factors, enthusiasm and interrelated processes that can strengthen the innovation of entrepreneur. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the dynamics of entrepreneurial innovation so that factors to strengthen innovation can be identified. This study uses Soft System Methodology (SSM) through the application of SSM steps to obtain a conceptual model to strengthen innovation for entrepreneur. This research was conducted for 6 months, by conducting in-depth interviews with 50 respondents consisting of government, academics, community leaders and business actors. The results showed that a strong will from within the entrepreneur and the use of technology are key factors in strengthening entrepreneurial innovation. Keywords: coastal area, conceptual model, entrepreneur, innovation, soft system methodology

Change and improvement 50\u2009years in the making: a scoping review of the use of soft systems methodology in healthcare

IntroductionImproving the quality of healthcare has proven to be a challenging task despite longstanding efforts. Approaches to improvements that consider the strong influence of local context as well as stakeholders’ differing views on the situation are warranted. Soft systems methodology (SSM) includes contextual and multi-perspectival features. However, the way SSM has been applied and the outcomes of using SSM to stimulate productive change in healthcare have not been sufficiently investigated.AimThis scoping review aimed to examine and map the use and outcomes of SSM in healthcare settings.MethodThe review was based on Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. We searched six academic databases to January 2019 for peer-reviewed journal articles in English. We also reviewed reference lists of included citations. Articles were included if they were empirical studies focused on the application of SSM in a healthcare setting. Two reviewers conducted the abstract review and one reviewer conducted the full-text review and extracted data on study characteristics, ways of applying SSM and the outcomes of SSM initiatives. Study quality was assessed using Hawker’s Quality Assessment Tool.ResultA total of 49 studies were included in the final review. SSM had been used in a range of healthcare settings and for a variety of problem situations. The results revealed an inconsistent use of SSM including departing from Checkland’s original vision, applying different tools and involving stakeholders idiosyncratically. The quality of included studies varied and reporting of how SSM had been applied was sometimes inadequate. SSM had most often been used to understand a problem situation and to suggest potential improvements to the situation but to a lesser extent to implement and evaluate these improvements.ConclusionSSM is flexible and applicable to a range of problem situations in healthcare settings. However, better reporting of how SSM has been applied as well as evaluation of different types of outcomes, including implementation and intervention outcomes, is needed in order to appreciate more fully the utility and contribution of SSM in healthcare.

Rich Pictures: Non Visual use of Visual Tools

This reflective article explores the use of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) Rich Pictures within the learning design. It introduces SSM as part of a broader interest in systems within education and positions SSM as part of a broader family of participatory approaches within a range of fields. Based on learning design practice with organisations looking to (re)connect with learners, the paper sets out a scenario where participants are asked to draw of a Rich Picture of the “ideal learner”, where questions of future selves and ideal forms highlight are used to highlight the non-representative nature of representative forms. It reflects on questions of power on deliberative decision-making tools like Rich Pictures and suggests ways of addressing this in practice. It argues that care needs to be taken lest the value of Rich Pictures is the visual representations made rather than the process, and suggests that practitioners should remember that the image is not the outcome.

Perancangan model simulasi untuk meningkatkan jumlah penumpang Bus Transjakarta menggunakan soft system methodology dan Agent Based Model

Jakarta is one of the cities in Indonesia with public transport services that have not been optimal. The quality index of public transport in Jakarta is only 18%, far lower than the average quality index of public transport in Indonesia which reaches 38.67%. Until 2016, the number of public transport users in Jakarta was only 24%, while ideally the number of public transport users was 60%. This shows the low interest of the people of Jakarta to use public transportation. One of the public transportation is Transjakarta Bus, where since 2011, the number of Transjakarta Bus passengers tends to be stagnant. This study aims to identify the actual problems experienced by Transjakarta Corridor Bus passengers using Soft Systems Methodology and then simulate using Agent Based Models. The use of Soft Systems Methodology produces nine model activities that can be carried out by PT. Jakarta Transportation to improve the Corridor 8 Transjakarta Bus system, so as to increase the number of passengers. The use of simulations with an agent based model shows that increasing speed and BRT scores can increase the number of passengers, but the increase in the number of passengers on the Transjakarta Bus will be more optimal if supported by a reduction in headway and the percentage of single buses. Increased passengers can occur as much as 6.83 to 44.38%.

The Use of Soft System Methodology in Evaluating the Business Strategies in Organic Farming: The Case from Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the business strategies applied in one of the sustainable organic farming in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The methodology used is Soft System Methodology (SSM). SSM is an organizational process modeling method that can be used for general problem resolution and change management. Rich picture, Root definitions and conceptual model were presented in the paper. Data were taken using focus group discussion and in-depth interviews with the owner, staffs, and farmers from the organic farm. The focus of this research is to get knowledge about the actors, their behavior, relationships and their influence on decision - making processes. From the analysis, eight main results were obtained as the key strategies in organic farming: identification of actors and critical factors in the farm, vision and mission socialization, operational evaluation, transformation, managerial improvement, measurement of revenue and profit, consistency in sustainability indicator used, and mitigation plan.

Mapping the use of soft systems methodology for change management in healthcare: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionIt is notoriously challenging to implement evidence-based care and to update and improve healthcare practices. One reason for the difficulty is the complexity of healthcare and the powerful influence of...

Exploring the use of Soft Systems Methodology with realist approaches: A novel way to map programme complexity and develop and refine programme theory

As the use of realist approaches gains momentum, there is a growing interest in how systems approaches can complement realist thinking. In this article, we discuss how the epistemology of Soft Systems Methodology is compatible with realist approaches. Both Soft Systems Methodology and realist approaches emphasize the necessity to engage stakeholders; through models, the description of contingencies and exploring the intricacies of how complex programmes really work. We outline the key elements of realist approaches and Soft Systems Methodology, and report on two novel case studies. Drawing on our own experiences, we make the case that, used in conjunction with a realist approach, Soft Systems Methodology can provide a useful tool to a) map programme complexity, and b) develop and refine stakeholders programme theories, thus increasing the transparency, reliability, validity and accuracy of the theory building and refining process in realist approaches. We highlight Soft Systems Methodology as a novel companion to realist approaches and detail the first case studies of its use.

Systemic Design for Applying the Combined Use of SSM and CDA to Social Practices

In this paper, we propose a framework for applying the combined use of soft systems methodology (SSM) and critical discourse analysis (CDA) based on social semiotic systemic functional linguistics to social practices. In the social practice, ‘participation’ mode of Checkland’s SSM is used for ‘problem-solving’ whilst CDA is used to problematize ‘problem-solving’ processes within the practice. During the meta-process of problematization of our research, we used Churchman’s systems approach and its theory of ‘boundary critique’ in order to explore issues such as governance, inequality of power, and social values within the organization examined for this study. In other words, the process-oriented methodology proposed in this paper consists of two processes: that of ‘problem-solving’ based on SSM and of problematization of naturalized discourse from the perspective of CDA and two phases of boundary critique in social practice. A detailed account of a case study of Korean social enterprise is given to demonstrate how our proposed framework of the combined use of SSM and CDA is applied into practice. Reflecting the outcome of the case study, this paper argues that critical social research from systemic inquiry using what we call ‘process-oriented methodology’ is useful to address some of the social and complex issues related to understanding dynamic relation between power and discourse amongst participants in the social enterprise in Korean contexts.

Integrating soft systems methodology to aid simulation conceptual modeling

AbstractDiscrete‐event simulation is considered an increasingly common support tool for decision making, especially in manufacturing. Most simulation projects are divided into three distinct phases: conception, implementation, and analysis. Some authors believe the conception phase is the most important, as the simulation study objectives are defined and the project's foundation is laid at this point. Many researchers do not spend the necessary amount of time on this important initial phase. Thus, this article presents an integration method that makes use of soft systems methodology (SSM), a complex problem‐solving approach, during the conceptual phase of simulation studies. SSM was used throughout the conceptual modeling phase for a real manufacturing simulation case study. Through the analysis of this study, it can be concluded that the use of SSM to develop the conceptual model enabled identification of the study objectives, thus avoiding errors and reworks. The study's results are presented and the method's application is justified by presenting a valid model capable of analyzing the system's key input variables.

Vendor Selection Using Soft Thinking Approach: A Case Study of National Iranian South Oil Company

Facing the complexity of managerial problems, on which different stakeholders have different viewpoints, has increasingly led to the use of soft systems methodology (SSM). One of these issues that play an important role, particularly in purchasing and supplying resources, is Vendor Selection. Using traditional methods of problem solving as a principal solution for such issues overlooks the significant role of human factors such as the level of knowledge and experience of experts, as well as the culture and norms of the organizations. This crucial drawback of hard methodologies motivated the study of vendor selection issue from another perspective, using a soft thinking approach. Furthermore, Cognitive Map is used to model knowledge and experience of all beneficiaries and combine their mental maps in designing the solution of vendor selection problem. In this study, using the combination of cognitive mapping and SSM, based on a distinctive research approach, namely Action Research, the fundamental factors of an issue were identified to make it possible to combine the views of different experts to reach consensus among several attitudes for choosing the best vendor. The methodology proposed in this study was applied for vendor selection process in National Iranian South Oil Company (NISOC) as a case study.

Service Quality Evaluation: A Systems Thinking Approach

Institutions of higher learning have introduced innovative strategies to attract and retain fee paying students. One of the strategies has been the rending of a quality service to a student-centred environment. The goal of this paper is to report on the use of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH) techniques in gaining a greater understanding of the issues associated with evaluation of service quality at a university in South Africa. The study adopts a qualitative paradigm whereby an action research approach was implemented. A purposive convenience sampling technique was chosen and the findings of the study revealed that the participants had gained a greater understanding of the issues associated with evaluation of service quality via the use of the techniques employed in the study. The contribution of this paper is in the demonstration of SSM and CSH techniques applied and the lessons learned from the application thereof.

Addressing Wicked Problems in a Range of Project Types

Wicked problems are recognised and need to be seen as a subset of complex systems or projects. Complex projects are identified within a hierarchy of simple, complicated, and complex and then complex projects are separated into three distinctive types. Wicked problems (type B) are focused on and solution methods addressed. Methodologies to identify stakeholders and project boundaries are identified and it has been found that the use of soft system methodology, especially to create meaning, is valuable. Multiple perspectives are identified through use of Dooyeweerd's suite of aspects in which to frame the rich picture and consequently the root definition and solution.

A Multiparadigm Approach to Developing Policy for the Location of Recreational Facilities

In this paper, we examine the use of soft systems methodology (SSM) for analysing patterns of nonparticipation in recreational sports activities, identifying potential barriers to recreational sports participation and assisting the site location process for new or extended recreational sports facilities. The research reported in this paper was based upon a 1-year case study in a UK regional sports participation agency. The results of the SSM analysis enabled an enhanced understanding of the nature of recreational sports nonparticipation among differing socio-economic, age and gender groups. This provided a basis for an analysis of the potential barriers to recreational sports participation. This enabled an informed modelling approach to the location of new or extended recreational sports facilities implemented using a geographical information system. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Rendezvous of medical science with management science. “Use of soft systems methodology (SSM) in exploring waiting list issues in the eye clinic”

Rendezvous of medical science with management science. “Use of soft systems methodology (SSM) in exploring waiting list issues in the eye clinic”