1. SOFT SYSTEMS AND THE META MODEL SEPTEMBER 2018 perspectives abridged
PROFESSOR ROBIN MATTHEWS
KINGSTON UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL LONDON
RANEPA MOSCOW
MOSI YOSHKAR-OLA
ECONOMIC STRATEGIES
PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF CORPORATE STRATEGY AND ACCOUNTING
http/
11/18/2018
robindcmatthews.com

3. META MODEL PAYOFFS INNER DYNAMICS DYNAMICS GRAMMAR OUTER DYNAMICSOUTER
Mandala
The system state
robindcmatthews.com

4. Topics Resource-based view Agency theory Transaction cost theory
Strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions
Diversification
Corporate governance
Business and public policy
Global strategic management
Innovation
Top management team
Performance management

5. Some issues to consider
Grenfell Tower
Me Too Movement
Global Warming
Path Dependence
Black Swans
Singularity
Law of accelerating change
Artificial Intelligence
Interaction between financial and non financial sectors
Restructuring
Competitive landscapes
Development and poverty

6. Soft Systems Methodology (SSM)
Some problems are fuzzy; lack clear definitions, are unstructured, are socially constructed, have multiple solutions or no solutions, or no solutions that will satisfy everyone, require compromises, negotiation.
Soft Systems Methodology is an attempt to apply science to human activity systems
It is an iterative 7 stage approach to understanding a problem situation and deciding a potential solution if one exists
SSM gives structure to fuzzy problem situations

7. Stage 1: Problem situation unstructured
Checkland’s Soft Systems Methodology
Stage 1: Problem situation unstructured
Stage 2: Problem situation expressed (rich pictures)
Stage 3: Naming of relevant systems (root definitions; CATWOE)
Stage 4: Conceptual models
Stage 5: Comparing conceptual models with reality
Stage 6: Debating feasible & desirable changes
Stage 7: Implementing changes

9. High probability
Low probability

11. uncertainty

12. 2. Problem situation not the problem itself
Collect and sort information about the problem
situation
Organisational structure, processes
transformations, path dependence.
human factors gripes, perceptions, moods
Specify echniques to be used (e.g. work
observation, interviews, workshops)
Express the problem/issue/situation with a rich picture - visual representation/communication
The perhaps the meta model of the problem not the problem itself

13. CATWOE
C: customer; (who will be affected by the transformation/new system?)
A: actor (who would do these activities & what
special skills are needed?)
T: transformation process; what input is transformed in to what output?
W: weltanschauung; the world view that makes the system/transformation meaningful?
O: Who is the owner? Who is responsible?
E: What are the outer dynamics/environmental constraints