Soft Systems Methodology

Soft Systems Methodology Soft systems methodology The development of soft systems methodology was the brainchild of Peter Checkland and was developed in the 1960s at Lancaster. Ever since then the technique has grown and now is internationally recognised. To understand soft system methodology we need to understand 2 types of systems thinking. One is hard systems thinking while the other is soft system thinking. Hard systems thinking uses the hard system approaches such as structured methods, and systems engineering. It assumes that that problem is well defined, it has a scientific approach to problems, and considers technical factors foremost. Soft systems thinking uses soft system approaches. This approach is needed when structured methods alike have failed, when problems are messy and not well defined. This technique is more creative in terms of problem solving as it addresses many factors including humans, cultural, ethics, politics etc. It would be safe to say that soft systems methodology looks at the interaction between people and its business environment instead of just technology. By looking at the system as a whole it recognises that a change from one part of the systems may influence another part of a system. It is called â€Å"soft† because its about people and the way they relate to the environment. The systems are the way we use the theory and put it into practices with people, relationship, objects, and processes. This is described here in detail 1(Mackness, 2007). 2 Patching (1993) declared that the methodology is merely a method with a set of guidelines that help predict an outcome to problem situations which is described here (Patching, 1993 p. 41) 1.martinwellsinterview. 2007. Dr John Mackness Soft Systems Methodology [online]. [Accessed 19 November 2007]. Available from World Wide Web: 2 Patching, D. (1993) Practical soft systems analysis. London: Pitman Publishing Checklands software system methodology comprises of a seven stage model. It is very similar to other methods of investigation. Sounce: http://portals.wi.wur.nl/files/images/msp/soft%20systems%20methodology.gif Stage 1. This stage shows messy problems, which are not suitable for hard system methods. Stage 2. Is concerned with rich pictures to express situations more clearly, which in turn provides better feedback. It is the problem expressed in the real world. May included client and yourself in the picture, physical layout, hierarchy etc. Stage 3. Root definitions are needed but first a viewpoint must be selected. Are we looking at it form the employees position or the managers position etc? Root definitions describes what a systems is, and what it will do by doing so, it takes into account whoever is part of the system. It looks at who is part of it and who may be affected in any way. Using the mnemonic CATWOE, this is basically a simple checklist for thinking about problems. Customers Who are they, and how does the issue affect them? Actors Who is involved in the situation? Who will be involved in implementing solutions? And what will impact their success? Transformation Process What processes or systems are affected by the issue? Weltanschauung What is the big picture, world view ? And what are the wider impacts of the issue? Owner Who owns the process or situation you are investigating? And what role will they play in the solution? Environmental Constraints What are the constraints and limitations that will impact the solution and its success? Source : http://www.lifehack.org/articles/management/whats-the-problem-find-out-using-catwoe.html Stage 4. Is the conceptual model, which represents the minimum set of procedures for the system to be able to achieve the desired transformation. Procedure and task are described by verbs. Stage 5. Is a comparison of the conceptual model and the real world. Stage 2 and stage 4. Questioning the situation and how they could be changed. Stage 6. This stage discusses where improvements can be made to certain areas and whether it is culturally feasible taking into account stakeholders views, backgrounds, experience of the people involved. Desirable changes are also discussed for the systems that may benefit the transformation. Stage 7. Is to take action and implement the changes that would improve the system. This would involve changes in attitude, finance, equipment, staff, training etc. It is advisable to note stage 3, the root definitions to not overlook things. After implanting the changes it is important to measure the systems performance. In SSM we use the 3 Es which Checkland, Scholes (2001) describes ‘ efficacy (for ‘does the means work?) effienecy (for ‘amount of output divided by amount of resources used) effectiveness (for ‘is T meeting the longer term aim?) 3.(Checkland, Scholes, p.39). 3.Checkland, P. and Scholes, J. (2001) Soft systems methodology in action. Chichester: Wiley Accompanied with the 3 Es would be a model to determine what stage each of the 3 Es are at. This is the complete conceptual model when applying soft systems methodology, which consist of Rich Picture Root Defitions Catwoe Model of transformation Measure of performance Advantages to soft systems methodology Soft systems methodology can be used as a tool to increase an analyst understanding of a problem during investigation as well as the later stages. The technique helps identify areas that need to be improved, and areas that have weaknesses where hard approaches have been unable to do so. It helps produces solutions in a sense that it defines the problem well enough for other system approaches to take over such as hard techniques. By trying to use hard techniques would stop the problem from being seen as a whole. Soft systems methodology relies on a holistic view for the problem to be solved successfully. Another advantage of this methodology is that it doesnt really rely on the use of any equipment except pen and paper. The technique is successful enough to produce solutions to problem just by itself which is supported here 4.(Davies, 1998 p.256). All it needs is a competent analyst. The methodology can be adapted to fit a situation, customer values are considered greatly over other values such as financial and technical values while aiming to find the best solution that would suite all that are involved. Disadvantages to soft systems methodology This disadvantage to soft systems methodology is that the technique does not tell you how to build a system. Problems are subject to change anytime as there were fuzzy in the first place. With added discussions from key actors more changes to the problem situation may be made. It relies heavily on people for SSM to work. Can be very time consuming and requires money and experts. Non technical issues are taken into account which may make the problems situation more complex. Companies sometime view SSM as inferior to other techniques of improving an organisation and would rather hire 2 different parties. One would be the business consultant for improving effectiveness while the other would be a technical consultant to improve the technological side of the organisation. Instead of hiring a SSM competent analyst that would do both by in twining them together some companies would rather keep them separate. Sometimes a goal may never reached as root definitions may still be unclear which i n turn sends the whole process into a loop that may never finish. 4.Davies, P.B. (1998) Information systems development. 3rd ed. Hampshire: Macmillan Press LTD. Souce images / quoatations x 2 Souces 1 youtube 3 books 1 Journals http://0-www.sciencedirect.com.lispac.lsbu.ac.uk/science?_ob=MImg_imagekey=B6VB4-3V7C64C-5-1_cdi=5916_user=121704_orig=search_coverDate=10%2F31%2F1998_sk=999819994view=cwchp=dGLbVzb-zSkzkmd5=c0cb2fed4864aeb21d813248fc205aa1ie=/sdarticle.pdf http://usability.myforum365.com

Why Is Organ Donation Important

Why is organ transplant important The reason why I think organ donation is very important, because it gives a second chance to life to a person that is in need of an organ because they organs have start to fail and shut down. Although clinical issues such as the possibility of the recipient's body rejecting the organ have been raised, the social and legal issues—from determining how donations should be handled and who should receive them, to the black-market practice of organ trafficking—spark the most heated debates. They help save lives and also give second chances to live to many people. . History and the types of organ transplants 2. Why is it so important to become organ donor 3. Who decides who gets the Organs Transplant first I. History and types of Organ Transplant A. The first organ transplant (a skin graft) was completed in 1869. However, it was not until almost a century later, in 1954, that surgeons transplanted the first internal organ, a kidney, when a liv ing donor donated to his identical twin. B. Today, organs that can be transplanted include the kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, intestine, and skin. C.Although some of these, such as the heart, can only be transplanted from recently deceased donors, transplant surgeons have made several advances in transplanting organs from living donors, most notably a split-liver transplant, in which a live donor shares a portion of his or her liver with the recipient—the liver being the only organ that can regenerate itself to some degree. II. Why is it so important to become organ donors A. The shortage of organs has increased the use of so-called expanded-criteria organs, or organs that used to be considered unsuitable for transplant.B If organ sales are voluntary, it's hard to fault either the buyer or the seller. But as long as the market remains underground the donors may not receive adequate postoperative care, and that puts a black mark on all proposals to legalize financial compensation. C. The world-wide shortage of organs is going to get worse before it gets better, but we do have options. Presumed consent, financial compensation for living and deceased donors and point systems would all increase the supply of transplant organs. Too many people have died already but pressure is mounting for innovation that will save lives.I think that without people becoming an organ donor that many more lives will start to fail within the next couple of years, and so more people that have been waiting on organ transplants list will start to die for from some type of organ failure. III. Who gets the organ Transplant first A. Organs are allocated (given) according to strict rules that take into account physical matching, tissue and blood type matching, medical criteria, waiting time, severity of illness, etc. The allocation system is blind to name, race, sex, and wealth. B.At the time of death, the team that coordinates donation will review medical and social historie s to determine donor suitability on a case-by-case basis. Many diseases that were once considered to exclude organ donation are no longer considered a barrier. Examples include hepatitis and diabetes. C. Age limits for organ donation no longer exist. Organs may be donated from someone as young as a newborn and as old as 90. The liver, in particular, does not age like other organs and livers are commonly donated by people in their 70's and 80's.

Nuclear Technology

One question that has caused a great deal of controversy over the years is nuclear technology. Although it offers a number of advantages in world peace and green power, it is also a dangerous technology. In this essay I intend to show how these benefits outweigh that disadvantage. The opponents of nuclear power generally base their arguments on the danger it represents to the world. There are two main dangers: the risk of nuclear warfare and the nuclear disasters. If one thinks about Chernobyl, it is easy to understand why people are worried about nuclear power, as it can cause major suffering. There are, however, two good reasons for believing that nuclear technology is generally advantageous. The first of these is that there has not been a major world conflict since the invention of nuclear weapons. While there have been wars, they have not been on the same scale as the Second World War. It is possible to say that the world is a safer place because of nuclear weapons. The other most significant benefit relates to the environment. Perhaps the greatest danger facing our world today is a combination of global warming and the greenhouse effect. This danger is caused partly by burning fossil fuels which leads to our polluted atmosphere. Nuclear power, however, is a much greener alternative which does not have such negative effects. Furthermore, in the last 50 years there have not been too many nuclear disasters and many experts claim that it is in fact a safe technology. In conclusion I would say that nuclear technology is better than the current alternatives. However, I also believe we should keep looking for ways to make it safer.

The Need For Universal All Day Pre Kindergarten - 1255 Words

The Need for Universal All Day Pre-Kindergarten in Texas Many Texans agree that high quality pre-k can no longer be considered a luxury for upper income families or a special program for the disadvantaged. Based on various studies conducted on children s brain development during these crucial years, pre-k has become just as necessary as kindergarten or first grade. Currently, nearly half of all kindergarten teachers report that their children have problems that hinder their success. Children unprepared for kindergarten tax the resources of the entire system. In the long term the unprepare chilern become a burden to all of society. However, classrooms where all children are prepared have higher learning productivity and classroom†¦show more content†¦Pre-kindergarten is a public policy issue that has played a crucial role in the last few legislative session in both the federal and state level, because the public outcry for this service. In Texas the state currently pays for half-day pre-kindergarten for students from low-income, English-language learning, military and foster families. In the 84th legislative session House Bill 4 passed, which increase the funding for pre-kindergarten funding in Texas, but it comes short from offering the full-day programs students need to succeed in their academic lives. Texas could save billions of public dollars over the upcoming decades by immediately investing in pre-kindergarten programs. Various studies that will be discussed later contends the pre-kindergarten programs would begin paying for themselves within eight years. According to the Texas data, investment in quality universal pre-kindergarten would generate $75.9 billion in total benefits by 2050. A more targeted pre-kindergarten program concentrated on vulnerable populations, could yield $37.8 billion in total benefits. The purpose of this research design is to compare and analyse data that gives reasons for and against pre-kindergarten programs; the benefits, supporters and opposers. Statement of the Research Question In this research design proposal, the question that will be studied and analyzed is: How much more is universal pre-kindergarten beneficial