Academic literature on the topic 'Soft System Thinking'

Cette recherche a pour objectif de modéliser la complexité des projets pour mieux la maîtriser et, ce faisant, mieux les piloter. Elle s’inscrit ainsi dans une perspective managériale de conduite des projets et d’amélioration de leurs performances. Elle est née de constats convergents sur les limites (théoriques et pratiques) du management de projet dans le contexte contemporain. Elle vise plus particulièrement à réintégrer dans ce pilotage les dynamiques sociales constitutives du projet. Avec elles, c’est donc l’irréductible complexité des systèmes sociaux et des activités concrètes qui s’y déploient ou qu’ils servent qui est réintroduite, permettant alors une autre lecture des problèmes et de leur résolution possible. Plutôt que d’en nier l’existence, la variété ou la variabilité, ces dynamiques sociales sont réintroduites dès les phases amont du projet. Cette réintégration dans une approche systémique du projet est soutenue par une approche méthodologique apte à saisir ces dynamiques et à prendre en compte leurs évolutions. On en escompte des possibilités de simulation, donc de travail sur la base de projections dans des futurs possibles plus à même de servir la conduite du projet et sa réussite<br>This research is intended to model project complexity, in an effort to better control its occurrence and, subsequently, improve how complexity is handled. This work addresses a dual management objective of project oversight and performance enhancement; it has been formulated from a series of convergent observations on the limitations (both theoretical and practical) of project management within contemporary settings. The research conducted focuses on reinserting into this management context the social dynamics central to project design. With such dynamics, the inherent complexity of social systems, along with the practical activities implemented or engendered by these systems, gets added back in, thus providing another perspective on the problems raised and their eventual resolution. Rather than denying their existence, variations or variability, social dynamics are reintroduced as of the project's early planning stages. This reintegration step played out in a systemic project approach is bolstered by a methodological approach capable of tracking dynamics and incorporating their evolution. Simulation possibilities also enter into play, offering perspective based on future scenario projections that benefit project management and the chances of project success

This diploma thesis focuses on the analysis of a particular soft complex system in the company. This system is a running car service with a determined problem situation. This system and its problem is then evaluated in terms of soft systems methodology, system dynamics and critical systems heuristics. The theoretical section provides concepts to understand the complexity and also individual system approaches. As beneficial of work I consider the practical part, which is aimed to the analysis of complex real-world system using the selected approaches as well as an evaluation of these approaches. Main purpose is to bring comparisons and suggestions for improvement and also a broader view to the system. All of this increases information value of approaches and we are able to deliver more relevant information. Thesis is therefore focused not only to deal with examples from practice but also to extend the selected theories within the system approaches.

A teoria sobre as capacidades dinâmicas acolhe influências de várias teorias que a antecederam no campo da economia, da teoria das organizações e da estratégia. Em função dessas influências variadas, seu construto central, a capacidade dinâmica, tornou-se complexo e multifacetado. Vários autores especulam acerca da natureza e da evolução das capacidades dinâmicas. A percepção que se tem a partir das definições fornecidas pelos autores seminais é de que a natureza das capacidades dinâmicas é sistêmica e evolutiva. Em particular, é perceptível a afinidade do conceito de capacidades dinâmicas com duas abordagens sistêmicas específicas: o modelo do sistema viável (viable system model, VSM) e a metodologia sistêmica soft (soft systems methodology, SSM). Entretanto, apesar dessa aparente afinidade das capacidades dinâmicas com a visão sistêmica, estudos que relacionem os dois domínios da literatura são muito raros. Praticamente inexistem trabalhos que apliquem o VSM ou a SSM no estudo ou na administração de capacidades dinâmicas. O objetivo desta pesquisa é investigar a natureza e a evolução das capacidades dinâmicas sob uma perspectiva sistêmico-evolutiva. Como descrever a natureza das capacidades dinâmicas segundo uma perspectiva sistêmico-evolutiva? Como operacionalizar uma abordagem de administração evolutiva de capacidades dinâmicas através de metodologias sistêmicas como o VSM e a SSM? Essas são as perguntas que orientam este estudo. Através de revisão narrativa de literatura, a visão de capacidades dinâmicas e as teorias que a influenciaram foram analisadas e relacionadas com a visão sistêmica. Além disso, na falta de artigos que relacionassem os dois domínios da literatura, empreendeu-se uma revisão integrativa de literatura com artigos que tratam sobre a construção, desenvolvimento, evolução, obtenção, manutenção, mobilização e gerenciamento de capacidades dinâmicas. Esses artigos foram submetidos à análise categorial, uma variante da análise de conteúdo, para verificar a ocorrência de temas relacionados ao VSM e à SSM. Como resultado da revisão narrativa, demonstrou-se que a visão de capacidades dinâmicas está intimamente relacionada com a visão sistêmica, inclusive com o VSM e a SSM. Essa relação é uma herança da relação que as teorias que influenciaram a visão de capacidades dinâmicas já possuíam com a visão sistêmica. A revisão integrativa de literatura com análise de conteúdo permitiu concluir que (1) as capacidades dinâmicas têm, de fato, uma natureza evolutiva, (2) a intervenção da administração tem um papel importante na construção e na evolução de capacidades dinâmicas, e (3) essa intervenção pode ocorrer de duas maneiras básicas, que se chamou de evolução por projeto e evolução por aprendizagem, que se relacionou, respectivamente, às abordagens do VSM e da SSM. As descobertas da pesquisa foram sintetizadas em um modelo sistêmico evolutivo de organização que possui múltiplas vistas: um modelo hierárquico de administração de recursos e capacidades, um modelo recursivo de competências, um modelo recursivo de capacidades, um modelo de evolução de capacidades e um modelo de administração evolutiva baseado no VSM e na SSM. A pesquisa oferece uma contribuição teórica, no que diz respeito à compreensão da natureza sistêmica das capacidades dinâmicas. A pesquisa também oferece uma contribuição prática, ao propor a administração evolutiva, operacionalizada através do VSM e da SSM, como uma abordagem para o gerenciamento das capacidades dinâmicas.<br>The theory of dynamic capabilities gathers influences from several theories that preceded it in the fields of economics, organizational theory and strategy. Due to these varied influences, its core construct, the dynamic capability, ended up to become complex and multifaceted. Several authors speculate about the nature and the evolution of dynamic capabilities. The perception that we have from the definitions provided by the seminal authors is that the nature of dynamic capabilities is systemic and evolutionary. In particular, it is noticeable the affinity of the dynamic capability concept with two specific systems approaches: the viable system model (VSM) and the soft systems methodology (SSM). However, despite this seemingly affinity of dynamic capabilities with systems approach, studies that relate both realms of the literature are very scarce. There are practically no studies that apply the VSM or SSM in the study or the management of dynamic capabilities. The goal of the present research is to investigate the nature and the evolution of dynamic capabilities under a systemic-evolutionary approach. How to conceive the nature of dynamic capabilities according to a systemic-evolutionary perspective? How to operationalize an evolutionary management approach to dynamic capabilities by using systems methodologies such as the VSM and SSM? These are the questions that drive this research. By means of a narrative literature review, the dynamic capabilities view and the theories that influenced it were analyzed and related with systems thinking. In addition, given the lack of articles that relate both realms of the literature, an integrative literature review was undertaken with articles that address the construction, development, evolution, attainment, maintenance, deployment and management of dynamic capabilities. These articles were submitted to categorical analysis, a variation of content analysis, to verify the occurrence of themes related to the VSM and SSM. As a result of the narrative literature review, we showed that the dynamic capabilities view is closely related to the systems thinking, including to the VSM and SSM. This relation in an inheritance of the relation that the theories that influenced the dynamic capabilities view already had with systems thinking. The integrative literature review with content analysis led to the conclusion that (1) the dynamic capabilities do have an evolutionary nature, (2) the intervention of management has an important role in building and evolving dynamic capabilities, and (3) this intervention can take two basic approaches, that we named evolution by design and evolution by learning, which we respectively related to the approaches of the VSM and SSM. The findings of the research were synthesized in a evolutionary system model of the organization that has several multiple views: a hierarchical model for resources management, a recursive model of competences, a recursive model of capabilities, a capabilities evolution model and a model for evolutionary management based on the VSM and SSM. The research provides a theoretical contribution, which regards the understanding of the systemic nature of dynamic capabilities. The research also provides a practical contribution, as it proposes evolutionary management, operationalized by applying the VSM and SSM, as an approach to the management of the dynamic capabilities.

There are three different uses of the term 'information' in ordinary language: in the restricted sense, it means diverse types of material objects, such as data or documents ('information as thing'); alternatively, the term is used as in reference to the act of informing or becoming informed ('information as process'), or to equate to knowledge ('information as knowledge'). Each of these connotations represents a legitimate view of information in its own right, being equally significant to information-intensive organisations. The literature lacks studies that approach information from an integrative viewpoint, however. The purpose of this study was to explore and develop the notion of 'information governance' as an integrative, systemic approach to information in the context of research organisations. Soft Systems Methodology was used in a case study involving the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation. Qualitative data was gathered through in-depth interviews with researchers and information/knowledge managers, followed by a thematic, two-level analysis. From a 'macro level' of analysis (the wider Brazilian agricultural research system) it was found that, to solve increasingly complex research problems, collaborative, multidisciplinary networking is needed. On the other hand, competitive forces are continuously emanating from the systems of research steering, funds and resources' allocation, quality control, and recognition and reward. This conflict inhibits the collaborative sharing of 'information as thing' and 'as knowledge', disturbs internal communication flows and contributes to low levels of synergy and cross-departmental partnerships, ultimately affecting research outcomes. At a 'meso level' (the local practices and culture of agricultural knowledge production), different epistemic cultures were identified (named in vitro, in situ and in silico research), which respond differently to the opposing forces of collaboration and competition. Based on a deep understanding of the agricultural research system and underlying epistemic cultures, a framework for effective governance of information was developed. Action to improve the governance of information at Embrapa would involve nurturing an information culture that supports collaborative work. Given that interactions between researchers are determined by their individual pursuits and struggles, this would require a change in the corporate system of performance evaluation and reward, according to the different epistemic cultures.

La tesi è rivolta alle grandi imprese che si trovano di fronte alla necessità di realizzare un nuovo Organismo Edilizio. Il metodo utilizzato ha come obbiettivo quello di individuare, tra più soluzioni proposte, quella che genera i maggiori benefici per l’azienda. Tale metodo, ideato dal Prof. Green e chiamato Simple MultiAttribute Rating Technique (SMART) si basa su due giornate di workshop e termina con una comparazione multiparametrica delle proposte sviluppate. Nella prima giornata vengono definiti gli obbiettivi che l’Organismo deve soddisfare, decisi in accordo tra gli Stakeholders, oltre alle soluzioni in grado di soddisfarli. Tra i due workshop un progettista svilupperà gli studi di fattibilità per ciascuna soluzione. Nella seconda giornata di workshop, verrà attributo a ciascuno obbiettivo un peso in base alla sua importanza. Le due soluzioni vengono poi valutate sulla base del grado di soddisfazione che ciascuna ipotesi dà per ogni attributo. Moltiplicando ciascun voto per il relativo peso dell’attributo è possibile procedere al calcolo della soddisfazione aggregata di entrambe le soluzioni. Quest’ultimo valore verrà poi rapportato con i costi delle due proposte. La proposta con il punteggio finale maggiore risulta essere quella che genera i maggiori benefici. Si è ipotizzato che il metodo SMART venisse utilizzato dalla Fiera di Bologna, che di fronte alla necessità di dover intervenire sui Pad. 29-30, chieda al progettista al termine del primo workshop, di sviluppare due soluzioni: • restyling dei padiglioni esistenti; • costruzione ex-novo dei padiglioni. Gli studi di fattibilità sono stati redatti seguendo i principi della metaprogettazione ambientale, tecnologica ed economica secondo la norma UNI 10723 1998. La soluzione che al termine del secondo workshop risulta essere la vincente è quella di costruzione ex-novo. Al termine del lavoro sono state fatte delle considerazioni finali sul metodo SMART e sui risultati raggiunti nella tesi.

This thesis has two distinct research threads. One thread examines the effectiveness of technology support on the performance of focus groups. Unlike previous research, the work described in this thesis addresses the fundamental issue that groups are social systems, and that comprehensive measurement of the effectiveness of group activities requires assessment of both the task-oriented and social aspects of the group activity. In this research, four different communication modes are used to compare group effectiveness. The second research thread in this thesis is the use of Systems Thinking, and specifically Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), as the framework for inquiring into the effects of technology support on group effectiveness. The strategy in this thesis for developing and evaluating hypotheses extends the general descriptions and guidance in the literature on using SSM for hypothesis testing. Systems thinking also provides the basis for examining the prevailing ???profile deviation??? view that the better the fit between the group task and the technology support the greater the group performance. Using the six perspectives of fit developed by Venkatraman (1989), the most common GSS models and other models developed to examine Task-Technology Fit (TTF) are analysed. The results show that group performance models are most often tested from a ???profile deviation??? perspective and TTF models developed from a profile deviation perspective claim to have predictive and descriptive validity for assessing the level of group performance. To assess whether an SSM based approach can improve the predictive and/or descriptive analysis of the impact of technology support on group work, a field experiment was conducted at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Twenty focus groups of officer cadets assessed their military training program using a GSS in one of four communication modes. The results showed little predictive or descriptive support for the profile deviation perspective of TTF when measuring the group???s overall effectiveness, task effectiveness, participant satisfaction or group relations. The alternative ???gestalt??? perspective, operationalised in this research by using SSM, provided a more comprehensive approach to examining the effectiveness of technology support for group work.

Since an understanding of 'culture' positively affects the wayan information systems practitioner influences and initiates actions in an organization, this research aims to get insight into an organizational infomlation systems management culture. In this research, a case study has been carried out in the context of the four major telecommunication companies operating in Thailand. The information systems management culture has been interpreted in terms of value systems embedded in the organization's managerial process of information systems and the manifestation of Thai values in such value systems. As such, the research domain of study is defined as 'the soft socio-technical aspect of the managerial process of information systems of the telecommunication companies operating in Thailand'. To tackle the research domain of the 'soft socio-technical aspect', the research embraces a 'soft systems' concept and adopts a 'soft' and 'socio-technical' approach to information systems. This is because of the fact that the research context is involved with human-machine inter-connections, pluralism, and multi-facets of a problem situation. The research enquiry process is formed by the systemic tools and techniques available in the socio-technical methodology namely SISTeM (Atkinson 1997; Atkinson and Brooks 2008) and 'Generative Systemic Metaphor' (Atkinson and Checkland 1988; Atkinson 2003). In order to obtain an in-depth understanding of the research domain of study, the constructed research enquiry process is used to interpretatively analyze the 'managerial process of information systems of the telecommunication companies operating in Thailand', as well as the value systems embedded in such managerial process and the influences of Thai culture on the identified value systems. Because within the Thai information systems research community, there is no previous 'soft systems' research, it could be argued that, for such a community, the research carried out in this thesis opens up an arena for a further 'soft systems' approach to information systems research, particularly those relevant to the soft socio-technical aspect of information systems.

A publicação do livro “The machine that changed the world” de Womack et al. (1990) tornou popular no mundo ocidental o termo Lean, que segundo os autores seria a forma generalizada do sistema Toyota de produção. Desde então, a academia tem se dedicado a estudar diversos aspectos envolvidos com o Lean. Apesar do conhecimento teórico gerado, poucas empresas têm conseguindo aplicar esta estratégia de manufatura apropriadamente e experimentar os supostos benefícios. Este é o caso, por exemplo, da siderúrgica AGR (nome fictício). Em 2004, a empresa iniciou um programa formal para transformação Lean e poucos anos depois os esforços foram descontinuados. Recentemente, novos direcionamentos na empresa conduziram à retomada destes esforços. Neste contexto específico, um questionamento foi realizado: como os esforços Lean podem ser retomados e organizados na AGR? Cabe ressaltar que implicitamente este questionamento desdobrou em uma revisão da literatura que identificou diferentes pontos de vista teóricos sobre o fenômeno Lean. Neste sentido, Fujimoto (1999), como pensador mais proeminente da escola de pensamento evolucionária – utilizando uma abordagem interpretativista – argumenta que a Toyota apresenta uma capacidade de aprendizagem evolucionária que permite a emergência de um novo sistema de manufatura ao longo do tempo. A provável ausência desta capacidade de aprendizagem em empresas que buscam se tornar Lean indicaria uma das razões pelas quais se tem dificuldade em alcançar e sustentar este sistema. Observando a descrição desta capacidade na Toyota, verifica-se que a mesma ocorre via construção social da realidade. Desta forma, uma aprendizagem similar poderia ser gerada ao operacionalizar-se a Soft Systems Methodology no processo de estruturação da transformação Lean. Uma pesquisa-ação foi conduzida para avaliar esta possibilidade na prática e ao mesmo tempo auxiliar a AGR com a situação problemática na retomada dos esforços Lean.<br>The term lean became popular in the Western world after publication of "The machine that changed the world" (Womack et al., 1990) which argues it is the generalized form of the Toyota Production System. Since then, the academy has been investigating several aspects about it. Despite theoretical knowledge contribution, few companies have been able to implement this manufacturing strategy properly and, therefore, have experienced the supposed benefits. This is the case of AGR (fictitious name) steelmaking facility. The company started a lean transformation program in 2004 and few years later the efforts were discontinued. Recently new directions led other attempt at lean efforts. In this particular context, an inquiry was made: how the lean efforts can be organized and reinitiate in AGR? It is noteworthy that this implicitly unfolded a literature review that identified different theoretical views on the lean phenomenon. Fujimoto (1999) as the most prominent thinker of evolutionary school of thought – using an interpretivist approach – argues that Toyota has an evolutionary learning capability that enables the emergence of a new manufacturing system over time. The absence of a similar learning capability in companies seeking lean practices indicates one possible reason why they are difficult to achieve and sustain. Fujimoto (1999) describes it operating at Toyota through social construction of reality. Thus, a similar learning could be generated applying the Soft Systems Methodology as the structuration process for lean transformation. An action research was conducted to evaluate this proposition in practice and at the same time to help AGR in the attempt at lean efforts.