Soft Systems Methodology
(Checkland)

Applying Systems Thinking to non-systemic situations. Explanation of Soft Systems Methodology of Checkland. ('81)

Contributed by: Peter Weeks

What is the Soft Systems Methodology? Description

The Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) from Peter Checkland is a qualitative technique that can be used for applying Systems Thinking to non-systemic situations. It is a way of dealing with problem situations in which there is a high social, political and human activity component. This distinguishes SSM from other methodologies which deal with HARD problems that are often more technology-oriented.

 

SSM applies Systems Thinking to the real world of human organizations. But crucially without assuming that the subject of enquiry is itself a simple system. SSM therefore is a useful way to approach complex situations and corresponding messy questions.
 

Origin of the Soft Systems Methodology. History

SSM originated from the understanding that "hard" Systems Thinking, such as Operations Research techniques, is inadequate for enquiring into large, complex organizational issues. Soft Systems Methodology was developed by Peter Checkland for the express purpose of dealing with problems of this type. He had been working in the industry for a number of years and had been working with a number of hard system methodologies. He saw how these were inadequate for the purpose of dealing with extremely complex problems which had a large social component. Therefore in the 1960s he goes to the University of Lancaster in an attempt to research this area, and to deal with these soft problems. He conceives his "Soft Systems Methodology" through a number of research projects in industry and its application and refinement over a number of years. The methodology, which is pretty much how we know it today, was published in 1981. By that time Checkland was firmly entrenched in University life and he had left the industry to pursue a career as a professor and researcher in Software Engineering.

 

Usage of the Soft Systems Methodology. Applications

  • Any complex, organizational situation where there is a high social, political and human activity component.

Steps in the Soft Systems Methodology. Process

The following steps should be taken (often several iterations are needed):

  1. Investigate the unstructured problem.
  2. Express the problem situation through "Rich Pictures". Rich Pictures are a means of capturing as much information as possible relating to the problem situation. A rich picture can show boundaries, structure, information flows, and communication channels. But in particular it shows the human activity system. This is the element that is not included in models such as: data flow diagrams or class models.
  3. Root definitions of relevant systems. From what different perspectives can we look at this problem situation?
    • Root definitions are written as sentences that elaborate a transformation. There are six elements that make a well formulated root definition. They are summed up in the acronym CATWOE:
      • Customer. Everyone who may gain benefits from a system is considered as a customer of the system. If the system involves sacrifices such as layoffs, then those victims must also be counted as customers.
      • Actor. The actors transform inputs into outputs and they perform the activities defined in the system.
      • Transformation process. This is shown as the conversion of inputs to outputs.
      • Weltanschauung. The German expression for world view. This world view makes the transformation process meaningful in context.
      • Owner. Every system has some proprietor, who has the power to start up and shut down the system (power of veto).
      • Environmental constraints. These are external elements that must be considered. These constraints include organizational policies as well as legal and ethical matters.
  4. Conceptual models.
    • Formal system concept.
    • Other system thinking.
  5. Comparison of 4 with 2.
  6. Feasible, desirable changes.
  7. Action to improve the problem situation.

Strengths of the Soft Systems Methodology. Benefits

  • SSM gives structure to complex organizational and political problem situations, and it can allow them to be dealt with in an organized manner.  It forces the user to look for a solution that is more than technical.
  • Rigorous tool to use in "messy" problems.
  • Specific techniques.

Limitations of the Soft Systems Methodology. Pitfalls

  • SSM requires from participants to adapt to the overall approach.
  • Be careful not to narrow the scope of the investigation too early.
  • It is difficult to assemble the richest picture, without imposing a particular structure and solution on problem situation.
  • People have difficulties to interpret the world in the loose way. They often show an over-urgent desire for action.

Assumptions of the Soft Systems Methodology. Conditions

  • Assumes that most management and organizational problems cannot be seen as pure "systems problems" as the system is far too complex to analyze.
  • Nevertheless applying a systemic approach in a non-systemic situation is valuable.

Book: Peter Checkland - Systems Thinking, Systems Practice -

 

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Recent User Comments
mandeep - UK Rich Pictures in SSM "What precisely is the role of rich pictures in SSM?"    5
 - Russia What book you should get for SSM "is Checkland's book the only one for SSM?"    3
Adamma - Nigeria Soft System Methodology for Energy Policy "How can one use soft system to do an analysis of the regulation of a country's energy policy taking issues of nuclear, coal and hydro power energy sources?"    1
Bridget Otubor - Nigeria Using Checkland's Methodology "Can Checkland's system help to solve / choose from extreme options ie in difficult situation for decision-making."    0
Mcguy - Malaysia Conceptual modelling in SSM "I am having problem understanding how to create models. Can anyone throw more light on this for me?"    2
Best User Comments
Lee - England Soft Systems "Hi everyone, studying a module at university that involves SSM, HSM and forecasting etc. Just asking if anyone has a straight to the point definition of SSM and HSM as im finding a lot of information about the topic. Thanks"    18
 - UK Strategy and Rich Pictures "Can any one help me with an example of a rich picture used to explain strategic thinking Thanks Jean"    1
Tommy - England Systems management & hard and soft systems "Hi all, I'm studying a module at university and after untold hours of research I am still not happy with the information I have on what is meant by hard systems, and the diversion that is occuring between hard and soft systems!! This has to relate to the construction industry!.. Any help or tips?"    0

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  ● Vinod kumar (Australia) What is the role of rich pictures in SSM "The rich pictures are easy to show your thinking basically individuals perspective of the problem situation. In different countries where there are language barriers rich pictures are more helpful to communicate between stakeholders and BA ."

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  ●  (Brazil) SSM "Support of Identification and Confrontation of Problems-Situations (SIESP). Revista do Serviço Público - RSP, v.59, n.01, jan/mar, 2008, ISSN: 0034/9240."

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  ● Charles Omeh (Nigeria) SSM For Energy Policy "This may be a difficult task to accomplish considering the nuclear, coal and power sectors as specified in the context of Nigeria. The issues here is that it may be difficult to get all stake holders in the industry to agree on the proposed SSM due to what could be diverse and selfish interests in the country.
Hard systems if segmented to different sectors, might be a better option."

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  ● Janeth (Kenya) SSM versus HSM "I'm not getting the main difference between SSM and HSM, can you please brief me?"
  ● Richardson (UK) Understanding SSM "Lee, think of SSM as a way to label an approach you want to take to research a 'messy' subject where you cannot agree to approach the research through any hard and fast methods ie statistics, maths.
SSM gives you the freedom to 'wander around' your specific subject and qualify topics as they are uncovered. Using Rich Pictures to justify/qualify your findings. It also gives the reader of your research a quick and precise understanding of your research method. All the semantics about Weltanshauungen I would discard as 'noise' by researchers poorly acquinted with the German language. Think of using what Checkland suggests as reasonable when you wish to formulate a finding from different points of views when describing a sub-topic."
  ● Charlie (UK) Response to Janeth "My personal opininion: HSM is applicable to complex systems, but I think assumes things can be measured and therefore managed. It is based on a positivisic attitude that all may be rationalised and explained. SSM also deals with complex systems - the most complex sytems that probably exist - human or social systems (or systems were human or social form a large part). SSM implies you do not have to rationalise or measure, but that you join with a social system in the problem domain you are trying to work in, and you learn as a group, by mutually exploring the problem domain, and reach accomodations and agreements for new things to do, that improve matters in the problem domain. The description of the SSM steps above do not capture this learning and sharing agreement aspect - it smacks to much of a hard systems approach...
I really do recommend Checklands book. Hope you find this useful."
  ● Chris (UK) SSM "I used this website and SSM in a University project last year resulting in great success. Thank you for all the information provided I found it all very useful and it helped me to get a great grade in my E-Busines project. Kind Regards Chris"

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