This paper provides a brief comparison between Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and the Work System Method (WSM) by S. Alter. The latter is a relatively recent systems approach specifically developed with the needs of the Information Systems field. It focuses on previous criticisms towards SSM and suggests how WSM might compare against them. Those comparisons are related to the difference between...

This paper describes a group support system (GSS) to support distributed requirements investigation using Soft Systems Methodology (SSM). SSM is useful in complex problem situations involving many stakeholder roles with conflicting interests and goals. We use a worldwide-web-based GSS to facilitate maximum participation by potential users and stakeholders distributed world-wide. Design issues a...

Despite the myriad of information systems development methods that have surfaced over recent years, and the growing interest in the use of soft systems methodology (SSM), the realisation of computer-based information systems in realworld situations continues to be somewhat challenging. Against this background, this paper will aim to delve into such a methodology known as SSM, establish an under...

e-Government system has been developed in various countries. e-Government system can support the government's performance in serving the public. Because there are many aspects that must be considered, then the eGovernment system development process can be very complex. Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), that is based on soft system thinking, is suitable for use in the eGovernment system developmen...

What is now known as Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) has been continuously developed and honed in a programme of action research which is now in its thirtieth year at Lancaster University. Development continues, but SSM can fairly be described as ‘mature’, that maturity stemming from a conscious focus not on systems theory, not on systems practice, but on the relation between the two: how the tw...

A Conceptual Design for Knowledge Management System 2.0 Based on Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) Approach

There has been a growing interest in the use of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) in helping solve information systems problems. This paper applies the SSM methodology within the context of action research in solving a knowledge management problem in a real world situation. The level of success in implementation of knowledge management initiatives is significantly dependent on the right balance of...

Soft System Dynamics Methodology (SSDM), a systemic methodology product of the combination of two widely used systems-based methodologies from two different systems thinking paradigms, Systems Dynamics (SD) and Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), is presented. The paper argues that by combining some of SD and SSM stages, within the intellectual framework proposed by SSDM, a methodology developed by...

The application of information technology in healthcare has focused primarily on the implementation of specific systems such as electronic health records (EHRs) and clinical decision support systems (CDSSs), mainly for intraenterprise use. However, for the integrated health system (IHS) to function effectively in a complex inter-enterprise healthcare delivery environment, designers must focus o...

Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) was devised by Checkland (1981) and elaborated by Checkland & Scholes (1990) to provide a tool for investigating an unstructured problem situation. SSM is not a system design tool, but a tool for system requirements investigation. Unlike systems analysis tools, such as entity-relationship modelling or data-flow diagrams, which allow the designer to model how the s...