Abstract
Wide interest in, and acceptance for, the using the soft systems methodology (SSM) in the development of information systems (Stowell, 1995; UKSS, 1992; Jayaratna, 1994; Lewis, 1994; Avison and Fitzgerald, 1995; Crowe, Beeby and Gammack, 1996; CCTA, 1993) has greatly increased awareness and use of the methodology. This growth in knowledge of SSM, often obtained through a secondary literature, inevitably leads to a change in the profile of the typical user of the methodology. Many new users will be less concerned with theoretical issues than the immediate, practical benefits that the methodology can provide, have had only limited, if any, supervised experience of the methodology’s use and be unaware of theoretical discussions concerning the methodology and its use. This can have benefits (for example, a more daring willingness to experiment and adapt the methodology) but there is also the danger that ideas may be misunderstood, misapplied, employed crudely or inappropriately. New users may also feel at times uncertain in their use of SSM (Moore, 1996)
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© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Dunning-Lewis, P.J. (1997). Concerning Computer-Based Support Tools for the User of the Soft Systems Methodology. In: Stowell, F.A., Ison, R.L., Armson, R., Holloway, J., Jackson, S., McRobb, S. (eds) Systems for Sustainability. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0265-8_75
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0265-8_75
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