Soft systems methodology : conceptual model building and its contribution

Author(s)

    • Wilson, Brian

Bibliographic Information

Soft systems methodology : conceptual model building and its contribution

Brian Wilson

John Wiley & Sons, c2001

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Note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Since its inception more than thirty years ago, the benefits of using Soft Systems Methodology for problem solving has gained worldwide recognition. Yet, despite recognising the importance of SSM, students and practitioners still experience considerable difficulty with the intellectual process involved. Based on a lifetime experience as an academic and consultant, Brian Wilson provides guidance on how to develop a range of conceptual models across a variety of business problems. Building on his earlier work in Systems: Concepts, Methodologies and Applications he takes a practical approach to the topic based on the premise that all organisations are unique. He develops concepts to articulate ways of thinking about complexity. These are an alternative to mathematically-based concepts, and they offer rigorous, and defensible ways of answering the question 'What do we take the organisation to be?' A model of the most appropriate and relevant concept for your own organisation can then be successfully developed and applied. Of relevance to organisations of any type, or any size, this book shows how model building within SSM can be used to cope with real-life problems. It will be an invaluable resource for students and practitioners in both the public and private sectors.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Mike Duffy. Preface. Preamble. Models and Methodology. Basic Principles of HAS Modelling. Selection of Relevant Systems. Business Process Re-engineering. The Consensus Primary Task Model. CPTMFormulation Using Wider-system Extraction. CPTMAssembly Using the Enterprise Model. Application to Training Strategy and HR. Generic Model Building. Conclusions. Appendix 1: The Albion Case. Appendix 2: Exercises. Appendix 3: The Development of the United Kingdom's Single Army Activity Model and Associated Information Needs and its Relationship to Command and Control. Appendix 4: An Overview of Soft Systems Methodology. Appendix 5: Example of Applying Information Analysis Method to Airspace Control Function. Appendix 6: Examples of Product to Information Category Mapping. References. Index.

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Details

  • NCID
    BB25696529
  • ISBN
    • 0471894893
  • Country Code
    uk
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    Chichester
  • Pages/Volumes
    xvii, 260 p.
  • Size
    25 cm
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