Soft Systems Analysis and Modeling Tool (SSAMT)

Abstract

A critical issue for would be practitioners of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) (Checkland, 1981) is the limited availability of support tools and guidance to aid an investigation and analysis. Potential users of SSM can be discouraged from participating in studies by the apparent lack of rigour and seeming ‘wooliness’ of SSM as an approach to problem solving in organisations. Indeed, critics argue that the richness of the understanding and subjective context of each individual problem situation could be hindered by over prescriptive tools (Kreher, 1993). Useful attempts have been made to provide interesting and exiting support for SSM. Avison et al (1992) have developed a rich picture diagramming tool and Stowell et al. (1991) an expert system trainer for teaching SSM. What has not been developed are specific modelling tools for practitioners to use in a study. It is well documented that practitioners find difficulty implementing significant parts of SSM, selecting ‘relevant systems’ (RS’s) to model, defining ‘root definitions’ (RD’s) and creating ‘conceptual models’ (CM’s) (Mingers, 1992). There is a need for suitable tools to aid SSM practitioners with modelling and analysis in a way which complements SSM without restricting the systemic nature of a study. This paper describes SSAMT a computer based modelling tool for SSM. Developed at Teesside Business School, SSAMT is a windows based application for assisting SSM practitioners with modelling and analysis, incorporating the selection of relevant systems to model, defining root definitions, creation of conceptual models and diagnosing potential change. It is concluded that such tools can be useful for practitioners and rather than constrain studies they can assist by providing rigour, diagnostic support and a focal point for debate.