Information Systems Development Methodologies - High Level Models and Methodologies for Information Systems - page 45

analysis (Checkland 2000 ). Thus, SSM is a speci c approach that starts off with the

assumption that a system is not a real entity, but rather a construction of the human
mind. It

s assumed that there are many different perspectives on what a given
system is, which will be taken into account as the system is analyzed or built.
SSM is a systemic methodology, essentially created to face problem situations of
a complex nature with several important aspects, actors, and points of view (S

'

nchez
and Meija 2008 ). In this sense, the SSM proposes a variety of views of the prob-
lematic situation, from the perspective of each participant in the process, in order to
reach a compromise between each different participant

á

s point of view, building a
bridge between them. Given that it is an action research methodology, SSM provides
not just a guide to intervention in complex situations, but also the feedback to
promote knowledge gains from that intervention (Tajino et al. 2005 ). Although soft
thinking can be used in any context, it is primarily used for analysis and problem
solving in intricate and disorganized environments.
This methodology allows the clari

'

cation of confusing and problematic situa-
tions by supporting thinking in layers, where the starting point must be the search
for the crucial motivating the organization (Checkland 2000 ). Patel

( 1995 ) states that its application is not limited to technologically based organiza-
tions, as its focus on human activity systems means that SSM is likely capable to
address all areas where human involvement is prominent. Human activity systems,
in this context, consist of a series of activities associated together in a logical
manner to represent a determined whole (Tajino et al. 2005 ).
Generally, there are seven clear stages to a soft systems approach (S

“ core purpose ”

á nchez and

Meija 2008), illustrated in Fig. 3.1 .
Stages one and two correspond to the de nition of the situation and/or problem.

In stage three, we leave the real world and we enter the in the system environment,
and thus, we arrive to stage four that is related to the development of the model.
After the development of the models, we return to the real world in stage

five, six,
and seven in order to compare the models to reality, create solutions to problems
that might appear when comparing the model to real-life situations and lastly
implement the model.

Fig. 3.1 Stages of SSM