Soft systems

Soft Systems Methodology is an approach to Organisational-modelling used for general problem solving. Developed in England by Peter Checkland its primary use is in the analysis of complex situations (e.g. How to improve the National Health Service? How to defuse the situation in Iraq?) where even the actual problem to be addressed may not be easy to classify.

It is an inclusive method where all relevant parties are invited to contribute thoughts to 'Rich pictures' of the situation under analysis. This reveals the actors own personal interpretation of significant aspects of a given situation. This will then lead to a 'root definition' encapsulating the problem situation in a few phrases.

From this a 'conceptual model' is designed which begins to look at possible solutions to the identified problem by associating a system with each root definition within the context for intervention (i.e. Context: Improving the NHS, Root Definition: Lack of funding, System: United Kingdom taxation system). Contexts for intervention can be identified using methods such as Stakeholder analysis. A 'Maltese Cross' can be drawn from this which compares current activities and inputs with proposed activities and inputs to reveal any new data requirements.

By taking acount of the 'Messyness' of the world in which we live Soft Systems Methodology seeks to find a solution that is both 'sytematically desirable and culturally feasible' rather than one that could be considered as 'optimal' in the Hard Systems view of the world.