Using Soft Systems Methodology to Structure Project Definition

According to a research report published in the 1990s, one of the areas where new and original research could provide the most practical benefit is the front-end of projects: “better understanding is needed of the ‘soft’ methodologies and their relevance and credibility”. This chapter focuses on one of these “soft” methodologies, namely, soft systems methodology (SSM) and how it can be applied at the front-end. The chapter will demonstrate the relevance of SSM, together with its strong credibility, having been developed in real situations for more than thirty years. A real example of SSM in action is presented and, linked to this, a brief introduction to the approach. It is not intended to be a definitive guide to using SSM at the front-end: it merely presents one experience of using the approach in order to highlight its relevance and credibility and to illustrate the kind of role that SSM can play at this crucial stage.