Soft, Hard and Viable Systems
Three systems methods are normally used:
1. Soft systems method - complex messy situations
2. Hard systems method- difficulties where we know the cause and desire endstate
3. Viable systems method - comparing operations, management and control with environmental influences and looking at the links between elements (communications, audit, feedback etc)
Thus in conclusion; systems approaches aid analysis because it compares reality with the perceived ideal and takes all viewpoints and influences into consideration in an attempt to manage the cause and affect created by our decision making.