Our minds solve problems by applying frameworks of ideas, concepts and methods to areas of interest. Clearly defined situations allow the re-use of themes and structured methods to progressively decompose, analyse, define and integrate systems as solutions. Systems engineering as a methodology is a structured framework typified by the familiar ‘V’ lifecycle. However, socio-technical situations are complicated by unpredictable human responses, conflicting objectives, interdependencies and perceptions. These soft or wicked problems can be difficult to resolve without an understanding of the problem situation and viable improvements that may not be limited to a technical solution.
Soft systems thinking methodologies evolved to encourage a holistic approach to exploring unstructured, complex problems and improve the integration of technology in society. Examples include ETHICS (Mumford), Multiview (Avison and Wood-Harper) and Soft Systems Methodology (Checkland). An early version of the latter is a seven-stage model, and SSM has evolved into a framework for exploration based on interacting logical and cultural streams of analysis. Irrespective of Checkland’s observation that only neophytes apply SSM as a seven-stage process it does provide a mosaic of activities suited to exploring the interplay between society and systems.
This presentation describes the application of Soft Systems Methodology to understand complex socio-technical problem situations and identify improvements. In the spirit of Checkland’s action research approach the presentation uses research into a Marine Safety System to illustrate SSM in a real-world environment. Excursions into other methodologies including Information Systems Methodology (Wilson) and Socio-Technical Stages of Growth (Galliers) are introduced to illustrate the derivation of socio-technical requirements from the problem situation analysis. The findings are used to summarise the benefits of a soft systems thinking approach to understanding the problem situation and viable improvements alongside a structured system-based methodology, proposing another layer to the ‘V’ lifecycle.