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  • The Evolution of Confusion: Soft Systems Methodology and Social Theory revisited

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    Author(s)
    Houghton, Luke
    Ledington, Paul
    Griffith University Author(s)
    Houghton, Luke
    Year published
    2002
    Metadata
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    Abstract
    Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is a potentially powerful tool for improving the management of the complex social systems aspect of Information Systems. Yet if it is to be employed effectively IS managers need to understand the theory of social systems that makes SSM a meaningful practical approach. However finding out about that social theory is not straightforward. It is 20 years since the first discussions of the social reality implied by Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and the area has been given little attention since. Yet SSM itself has progressed dramatically since those first critiques of its underpinning social theory ...
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    Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is a potentially powerful tool for improving the management of the complex social systems aspect of Information Systems. Yet if it is to be employed effectively IS managers need to understand the theory of social systems that makes SSM a meaningful practical approach. However finding out about that social theory is not straightforward. It is 20 years since the first discussions of the social reality implied by Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and the area has been given little attention since. Yet SSM itself has progressed dramatically since those first critiques of its underpinning social theory were first developed. This paper revisits the area in order to provide a contemporary perspective and foundation for future development. It reveals apparent weaknesses in the research debate about SSM and social theory, and shows how the evolution of SSM has apparently been affected by that debate. SSM is introduced and examined according to the primary literature and re-evaluated using Burrell and Morgan's four-paradigm matrix of social theory paradigms in order to understand the social reality implied by SSM. The paper examines criticisms of SSM, the recent evolution of SSM, and suggests future directions for development.
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    Journal Title
    Australian Journal of Information Systems
    Volume
    9
    Issue
    2
    Publisher URI
    http://dl.acs.org.au/index.php/ajis/article/view/194
    Copyright Statement
    © 2002 Australasian Association for Information Systems. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 (CC BY-NC-ND 2.5 AU) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/au/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial distribution, and reproduction, provided the original work is properly cited. You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.
    Subject
    Information Systems
    Business and Management
    Publication URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10072/60915
    Collection
    • Journal articles

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