Abstract
There are many ways in which Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is soft to advantage. While ‘bubble and arrow’ diagrams are a popular style of depicting SSM conceptual models, SSM explicitly accommodates alternative systems modelling approaches, without affecting its other desirable soft properties. Two, harder notations and methods to the ‘bubble and arrow’ style of conceptual modelling are proposed. First, if a similar graphical notation to it is to be used, then SSM conceptual analysts should profit from adopting the more rigorous notation and methods of software engineering’s Data Flow Diagram (DFD) analyses. Second, the formal method Simplified Set Theory for Systems Modelling (SST4SM) has been designed so that it requires little mathematical knowledge to understand and use. The SST4SM algebraic expressions in tabular systems models are claimed to be easy to construct and reason with, even by the mathematically challenged. The use of the SST4SM method is claimed to lead to systems models that are better in many ways from those likely to arise from the ‘bubble and arrow’ type approaches. Furthermore, the size of an SST4SM system model, which can be grown iteratively, is not as limited as graphically based conceptual models.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ashworth, C. & Goodland, M. (1990), SSADM: A Practical Approach, McGraw-Hill.
Avison, D. E. & Taylor, V. (1997), “Information Systems Development Methodologies: A Classification According to Problem Situation”, Journal of Information Technology 12(1), 73 - 81.
Avison, D. E., Golder, P. A. & Shah, H. U. (1992), “Towards an SSM Toolkit: Rich Picture Diagramming”, European Journal of Information Systems 1(6), 397 - 407.
Brown, A. D. (1992), “Grounding Soft Systems Research”, European Journal of Information Systems 1(6), 387 - 95.
Brown, A. D. (1993), “Soft Systems Methodology: A Case for User-dependent Methodology — A Reply”, European Journal of Information Systems 2(4), 309 - 11.
Checkland, P. (1972), “Towards a Systems-Based Methodology for Real-world Problem Solving”, Journal of Systems Engineering 2(1), 9 - 38.
Checkland, P. (1978), “The Origins and Nature of ‘Hard’ Systems Thinking Applied Systems Analysis”, Journal of Applied Systems Analysis 5(1), 99 - 100.
Checkland, P. & Wilson, B. (1980), “Primary Task and Issue-based Root Definitions in System Studies Applied Systems Analysis”, Journal of Applied Systems Analysis 7(1), 51 - 4.
Checkland, P. B. (1981), Systems Thinking, Systems Practice, John Wiley & Sons.
Diaper, D. (1989), Task Analysis for Knowledge Description (TAKD), inD. Diaper (ed.), Task Analysis for Human—Computer Interaction, Ellis Horwood, pp. 108–159.
Diaper, D. (1990), Simulation: A Stepping Stone between Requirements and Design Simulation and the User Interface, inA. Life, C. Narborough-Hall & W. Hamilton (eds.), Simulation and the User Interface, Taylor & Francis, pp. 59–72.
Diaper, D. (2000), The Model Matters: Constructing and Reasoning with Structural Models, To be submitted.
Diaper, D. & Johnson, P. (1989), Task Analysis for Knowledge Descriptions: Theory and Application in Training, inJ. Long & A. Whitefield (eds.), Cognitive Ergonomics and Human—Computer Interaction, Cambridge University Press, pp. 191–224.
Diaper, D. & Zhu, H. (1999), Systems And Task Analysis Method Integration, Research proposal to the ESRC/EPSRC.
Diaper, D., McKearney, S. & Hume, J. (1998), “Human—Computer Interaction and Software Engineering: Integrating Task and Data Flow Analyses using the Pentanalysis Technique”, Ergonomics 41(11), 1553 - 82.
Dowell, J. & Long, J. (1989), “Towards a Conception for an Engineering Discipline of Human Factors”, Ergonomics 32(11), 1513 - 35.
Downs, E., Clare, P. & Coe, I. (1988), Structured Systems Analysis and Design Method: Application and Context, Prentice-Hall.
Eva, M. (1994), SSADM Version 4: A User’s Guide, McGraw-Hill.
Harrison, M. D. & Thimbleby, H. W. (eds.) (1990), Formal Methods in Human—Computer Interaction, Cambridge Series on Human—Computer Interaction, Cambridge University Press.
Kreher, H. (1993), “Critique of Two Contributions to Soft Systems Methodology”, European Journal of Information Systems 2(4), 304 - 8.
Long, J. (1997), Research and the Design of Human-Computer Interactions or ‘What Happened to Validation’, in H. Thimbleby, B. O’Conaill & P. Thomas (eds.), People and Computers XII (Proceedings of HCI’97), Springer-Verlag, pp.223–43.
Long, J. & Dowell, J. (1989), Conceptions of the Discipline of HCI: Craft, Applied Science and Engineering, inA. Sutcliffe & L. Macaulay (eds.), People and Computers V (Proceedings of HCI’89), Cambridge University Press, pp. 9–34.
Long, J. B. (1986), People and Computers: Designing for Usability, inM. D. Harrison & A. Monk (eds.), People and Computers: Designing for Usability (Proceedings of HCI’86), Cambridge University Press, pp. 3 - -23.
Patching, D. (1990), Practical Soft Systems Analysis, Pitman.
Pressman, R. S. (1987), Software Engineering: A Practitioner’s Approach, second edition, McGraw-Hill.
Ross, K. A. & Wright, C. R. B. (1988), Discrete Mathematics, second edition, Prentice-Hall.
Zhu, H., Jin, L. & Diaper, D. (1999), Testing Software Requirements with Task Analysis, in 11th. International Conference on Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering (SEKE’99), Knowledge Systems Institute, pp. 239–45.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2000 Springer-Verlag London
About this paper
Cite this paper
Diaper, D. (2000). Hardening Soft Systems Conceptual Modelling. In: McDonald, S., Waern, Y., Cockton, G. (eds) People and Computers XIV — Usability or Else!. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0515-2_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-0515-2_13
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-85233-318-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-0515-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive