This is a core training course, designed for those relatively new to systems thinking and provides basic training in modelling organisational or institutional situations using SSM.
You’ll develop an understanding of a methodology that offers a pluralistic methodology to your inquiry into problematic situations. The whole methodology may be deployed to gain a richer appreciation of systemically desirable and culturally feasible actions to take in the problematic situation. Alternatively, where time and resources are constrained you may choose to apply one or more of the discrete steps in the methodology (e.g. Rich Pictures, CATWOE etc.).
Examples of SSM taken from authoritative case studies are provided and consideration to the ‘art’ and ‘science’ of the methodology are shared.
Objectives
By the end of this training, you should understand:
- the grounding of Soft Systems Methodology in world of Systems Thinking
- the flow of processes within an inquiry using Soft Systems Methodology
- a range of techniques that can be deployed on the Appreciation, Analysis, Assessment and Action phases of an inquiry using Soft Systems Methodology
Trainer
These courses are delivered by Dr Ian Cammack, a senior teaching fellow at the University of Lancaster who among many other qualifications has a Professional Doctorate in Systemic Practice.