Practical Soft Systems Analysis

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Practical Soft Systems Analysis

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Summary

This work demonstrates how to interpret and apply soft systems concepts in practical situations. It explains the methodology and explores its use in practice, discussing the difficulties that can arise in the process and providing examples of real-life applications.

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Practical Soft Systems Analysis by Dc Patching

Primarily this book demonstrates how to interpret and apply soft systems concepts in practical situations. It bridges the gap between pragmatists and academics in the systems field by approaching the subject from a practical viewpoint, first translating the language of systems into common parlance, examining the difficulties that occur in practice and overcoming them, and providing substantial examples of real-life applications based on the author's extensive experience. The first part explains systems concepts in general, with particular reference to formal systems models and attributes, and then distinguishes between hard and soft systems models. The second part details each stage of a soft systems examination - its purpose, model development, the use of rich pictures, the terminology, methods of information collection and analysis, performance measures, control mechanisms, and client involvement. The final part provides the full practical element, beginning with the types of application that can benefit from soft systems analysis, followed by a comprehensive illustration of its use in organisational analysis based on a local authority social services department, a study carried out as part of an Esprit project, and finishing with a paradigmatic information model of an organization that can be used to improve the information base or the communication system. A final chapter is an example of the use of soft systems ideas to set up and implement an audit of procedures, whether low or high level.
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9780273032373
ISBN 10 0273032372
Title Practical Soft Systems Analysis
Author Dc Patching
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Paperback
Publisher Pearson Education Limited
Year published 1990-10-01
Number of pages 320
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note Unavailable