Why use Soft Systems Methodology (SSM)?

Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is a proven approach to tackle complex social and business issues by resolving differences and taking action that stakeholders have committed to.

The SSM process explores different perspectives and models options resulting in actions that fit the involved individuals' views and cultures.

SSM has been used extensively over the past 40 years by numerous public, private and voluntary sector organisations to ‘learn their way to action’ in complex, uncertain and dynamically changing situations.

What is Soft Systems Methodology?

Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is an organised way of tackling ‘messy’ social situations in which different people have different ideas regarding what is to be achieved, why, and how to do so.

SSM provides a well-established visual and textual toolkit which can be used to facilitate discussion with multiple stakeholders.

it enables different perspectives to be investigated, alternative activities to be modelled and considered, and for agreed, purposeful action to be taken. 

SSM core
available on LMS
Soft Systems Methodology

core (SSM2 - 2d)

£400 (pre-recorded) Ian Cammack
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
SSM core
Soft Systems Methodology

core (SSM2 - 2d)

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...
available on LMS
Course is online
£400 (pre-recorded)
£400 (pre-recorded)
SSM advanced
please enquire
Soft Systems Methodology

advanced (SSM3 - 1.0d)

Ian Cammack
This advanced course continues our exploration of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) as a powerful tool for engaging in problem situations perceived as being problematic. The course covers the use of SSM to inquire into the process of delivering an intervention as well as the content of that intervention build consensual primary task models that help structure debates and clarify objectives in complex
SSM advanced
Soft Systems Methodology

advanced (SSM3 - 1.0d)

This advanced course continues our exploration of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) as a powerful tool for engaging in problem situations perceived as being problematic. The course covers the use of SSM to inquire into the process of delivering an intervention as well as the content of that intervention build consensual primary task models that help structure debates and clarify objectives in complex...
please enquire
Course is online

All courses will be available in a pre-recorded form at £200 per nominal day.

For groups, they can also be delivered as webinars at £500 per day per trainee

For organisations they can also be delivered face-to-face with terms negotiable

Selected books on SSM

Engels

Systems Approaches to Making Change: A Practical Guide

RRP: £50 Paperback: 346 pages Publisher: Springer; 2nd ed. 2020 edition (19 Feb. 2020) ISBN: 1447174712 The five approaches outlined in this book offers the systems thinking practitioner a range of interchangeable tools for pro-actively making systemic improvements amidst complex situations of change and uncertainty. Practitioners from all professional domains are increasingly confronted with...
Read more
Bijlagen:
Engels

Systems Approaches to Making Change: A Practical Guide

RRP: £50 Paperback: 346 pages Publisher: Springer; 2nd ed. 2020 edition (19 Feb. 2020) ISBN: 1447174712 The five approaches outlined in this book offers the systems thinking practitioner a range of interchangeable tools for pro-actively making systemic improvements amidst complex situations of change and uncertainty. Practitioners from all professional domains are increasingly confronted with...
Engels

Soft Systems Thinking, Methodology and the Management of Change

RRP: £45.72 Paperback : 508 pages ISBN : 1137432683 Publisher : Red Globe Press (17 Jun. 2015) Language: : English What is Soft Systems Methodology? How can it help make sense of complex business scenarios, providing solutions to challenging problems? Soft Systems Thinking, Methodology and the Management of Change identifies the challenges encountered by practitioners of SSM and provides the means...
Read more
Bijlagen:
Engels

Soft Systems Thinking, Methodology and the Management of Change

RRP: £45.72 Paperback : 508 pages ISBN : 1137432683 Publisher : Red Globe Press (17 Jun. 2015) Language: : English What is Soft Systems Methodology? How can it help make sense of complex business scenarios, providing solutions to challenging problems? Soft Systems Thinking, Methodology and the Management of Change identifies the challenges encountered by practitioners of SSM and provides the means...
Engels

Management Science: Decision-making through systems thinking

RRP: £72.21; Paperback: ‎ 604 pp; Publisher: ‎ Red Globe Press; 2nd edition; ISBN 978-0230316478 Management Science provides a comprehensive, accessible overview of the subject, incorporating a broad set of approaches and tools. The authors explore both 'soft' and 'hard' methodologies and highlight conceptual aspects rather than the mathematics of the techniques or computer methods. The book is...
Read more
Bijlagen:
Engels

Management Science: Decision-making through systems thinking

RRP: £72.21; Paperback: ‎ 604 pp; Publisher: ‎ Red Globe Press; 2nd edition; ISBN 978-0230316478 Management Science provides a comprehensive, accessible overview of the subject, incorporating a broad set of approaches and tools. The authors explore both 'soft' and 'hard' methodologies and highlight conceptual aspects rather than the mathematics of the techniques or computer methods. The book is...
Engels

Learning for Action: A Short Definitive Account of Soft Systems Methodology, and Its Use Practitioners, Teachers and Students

RRP: £34 Paperback: 226 pages Publisher: John Wiley (23 Mar. 2007) ISBN: 0470025549 From the father of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), Peter Checkland, comes a new, accessible text which clearly and concisely looks at SSM. The book leaves out all of the development detail and historical/intellectual material which can be found in Checkland's other classic works, but contains the practical...
Read more
Bijlagen:
Engels

Learning for Action: A Short Definitive Account of Soft Systems Methodology, and Its Use Practitioners, Teachers and Students

RRP: £34 Paperback: 226 pages Publisher: John Wiley (23 Mar. 2007) ISBN: 0470025549 From the father of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), Peter Checkland, comes a new, accessible text which clearly and concisely looks at SSM. The book leaves out all of the development detail and historical/intellectual material which can be found in Checkland's other classic works, but contains the practical...
Engels

Soft Systems Methodology: Conceptual Model Building and Its Contribution

RRP: £56 Hardcover: 284 pages Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (12 Jun. 2001) ISBN: 9780471894896 Conceptual model building is accepted as a key phase in Soft Systems Methodology. Despite the recognition of the importance of the SSM, students are still experiencing difficulty with the basic process of conceptual model building. This book addresses that issue.
Read more
Bijlagen:
Engels

Soft Systems Methodology: Conceptual Model Building and Its Contribution

RRP: £56 Hardcover: 284 pages Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (12 Jun. 2001) ISBN: 9780471894896 Conceptual model building is accepted as a key phase in Soft Systems Methodology. Despite the recognition of the importance of the SSM, students are still experiencing difficulty with the basic process of conceptual model building. This book addresses that issue.
Engels

Soft Systems Methodology: a 30-year retrospective

RRP: £45.53 Paperback: 418 pages Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; New Ed edition (30 May 1999) ISBN: 9780471986058 Soft Systems Methodology in Action "Whether by design, accident or merely synchronicity, Checkland appears to have developed a habit of writing seminal publications near the start of each decade which establish the basis and framework for systems methodology research for that decade."...
Read more
Bijlagen:
Engels

Soft Systems Methodology: a 30-year retrospective

RRP: £45.53 Paperback: 418 pages Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; New Ed edition (30 May 1999) ISBN: 9780471986058 Soft Systems Methodology in Action "Whether by design, accident or merely synchronicity, Checkland appears to have developed a habit of writing seminal publications near the start of each decade which establish the basis and framework for systems methodology research for that decade."...
Engels

Systems: Concepts, Methodologies, and Applications

RRP: £25 Hardcover: 412 pages Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; 2 edition (27 July 1990) ISBN: 0471927163 "Systems: Concepts, Methodologies and Applications, Second Edition" is brought forward by Brian Wilson Department of Systems and Information Management, Lancaster University, UK. The result of many years' experience, this book, now extensively revised and updated, emphasizes the application of...
Read more
Bijlagen:
Engels

Systems: Concepts, Methodologies, and Applications

RRP: £25 Hardcover: 412 pages Publisher: John Wiley & Sons; 2 edition (27 July 1990) ISBN: 0471927163 "Systems: Concepts, Methodologies and Applications, Second Edition" is brought forward by Brian Wilson Department of Systems and Information Management, Lancaster University, UK. The result of many years' experience, this book, now extensively revised and updated, emphasizes the application of...
Engels

Systems Thinking, Systems Practice

RRP: £41.46 Paperback: 424 pages Publisher: JW; 1st edition (16 Sept. 1999) ISBN: 9780471986065 Systems Thinking, Systems Practice "Whether by design, accident or merely synchronicity, Checkland appears to have developed a habit of writing seminal publications near the start of each decade which establish the basis and framework for systems methodology research for that decade." Hamish Rennie...
Read more
Bijlagen:
Engels

Systems Thinking, Systems Practice

RRP: £41.46 Paperback: 424 pages Publisher: JW; 1st edition (16 Sept. 1999) ISBN: 9780471986065 Systems Thinking, Systems Practice "Whether by design, accident or merely synchronicity, Checkland appears to have developed a habit of writing seminal publications near the start of each decade which establish the basis and framework for systems methodology research for that decade." Hamish Rennie...