Soft Systems Methodology Conceptual Model Building and Its Contribution

by Wilson, Brian

• ISBN13: 9780471894896
• ISBN10: 0471894893
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-06-22
• Publisher: WILEY

Summary

Conceptual model building is accepted as a key phase in Soft Systems Methodology. Despite the recognition of the importance of the SSM, students are still experiencing difficulty with the basic process of conceptual model building. This book addresses that issue.

Author Biography

BRIAN WILSON has a background in nuclear power engineering and control system design. In 1966 he became a founding member of the Department of Systems Engineering at the University of Lancaster, where he pursued the application of control principles to management problem solving. There he was involved in the development and use of Human Activity Systems and 'verbs in the imperative' in place of mathematics as the modelling language for the intellectual processes involved and maintained particular interest in the application of SSM to information and organisation-based analysis. This research was published in Systems: Concepts, methodologies and Applications by John Wiley Sons. In 1992 he founded his own consulting company, Brian Wilson Associates, where he continues to develop and apply his unique brand of Soft Systems Methodology.

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.

CPTM--Formulation Using Wider-system Extraction.

CPTM--Assembly 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.