Using soft systems methodology to align community projects with sustainability development in higher education stakeholders' networks in a Brazilian university

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Paucar‐Caceres ◽  
Melissa Franchini Cavalcanti‐Bandos ◽  
Silvia Cristina Quispe‐Prieto ◽  
Lucero Nicole Huerta‐Tantalean ◽  
Katarzyna Werner‐Masters
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Community Projects ◽  
Education Stakeholders

Using SSM to Approach Complex Problematical Situations in Learning, Teaching and Assessment Management

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Junkang Feng
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Chinese Higher Education ◽  
Traditional Learning ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Problem Situations ◽  
Business College

Chinese higher education has moved into a popularized and internationalization stage, which makes the traditional learning, teaching and assessment (LTA) management challenging and sometimes problematical. This paper introduces how to approach complex problematical situations in LTA management by using Checkland's Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) at the Business College of the Beijing Union University (BCBUU) in China. Through this case study of seven years, the author made sense of and improved the problematical situations. It is found that SSM provides LTA managers with an innovative and fundamental methodology to appreciate otherwise seemingly unapproachable and unmanageable complex and ill-structured problem situations that they face. It is also proven that the case study of SSM in the context of LTA management in a Chinese college is practically effective.

scholarly journals A SYSTEMIC APPROACH TO IMPROVING INNOVATIVENESS IN HIGHER EDUCATION

TEME ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dejana Zlatanović ◽  
Jelena Nikolić ◽  
Zlatko Nedelko
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Systemic Approach ◽  
Order System ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Higher Education Systems

Innovativeness can be seen as a major competitive advantage in organizations enhancing their effectiveness and enabling the basis for sustainable development. Innovations in higher education systems have an impact on all the systems elements, relationships as well as on the higher order system in which higher education institutions (HEIs) are embedded, ranging from individuals to organizations. A holistic approach to innovativeness in higher education is required in order to improve innovativeness. The paper deals with the issues of improving innovativeness in higher education from the viewpoint of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), as a relevant interpretive systems approach. The main purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how this systemic approach can help to explore the complex and pluralist nature of management innovativeness in higher education and provide a foundation for improving innovativeness of HEIs. Accordingly, the paper contributes to reveal different perceptions and interpretations of HEIs’ relevant stakeholders on innovativeness, as well as to identify systemically desirable and culturally feasible changes which can improve innovativeness of HEIs. Findings will be useful for HEIs to improve their innovativeness.

scholarly journals Immersive Learning Design for Technology Education: A Soft Systems Methodology

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. H. Wu ◽  
Y. M. Tang ◽  
Y. P. Tsang ◽  
K. Y. Chau
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Technology Education ◽  
Stem Education ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Teaching Quality ◽  
Learning Performance ◽  
Immersive Learning ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Immersive Technologies

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education is a globalized trend of equipping students to facilitate technological and scientific developments. Among STEM education, technology education (TE) plays a significant role in teaching applied knowledge and skills to create and add value to systems and products. In higher education, the learning effectiveness of the TE assisted by the immersive technologies is an active research area to enhance the teaching quality and learning performance. In this study, a taught subject of radio frequency identification (RFID) assisted by using mixed reality technologies in a higher education institution was examined, while the soft systems methodology (SSM) was incorporated to evaluate the changes in learning performance. Under the framework of SSM, stakeholders’ perceptions toward immersive learning and RFID education are structured. Thus, a rich picture for teaching activities is established for subject control, monitoring, and evaluation. Subsequently, the design of TE does not only satisfy the students’ needs but also requirements from teachers, industries, and market trends. Finally, it is found that SSM is an effective approach in designing courses regarding hands-on technologies, and the use of immersive technologies improves the learning performance for acquiring fundamental knowledge and application know-how.

A SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY APPROACH TO IMPROVING THE SUPPLY CHAIN OF A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN GAUTENG PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-99
Author(s):  
Lewis Tsuro ◽  
Stan Hardman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Project Planning ◽  
Suitable Model ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Good Tool ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems

The Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) was developed as a set of tools for identifying and making incremental steps to improve situations with poorly defined causes or solutions. The supply chain forms a key process of any construction project; however, on any given construction site, supply chain inefficiencies could arise from many different avenues. Opinions vary, though, on which of these avenues is more important for increasing supply chain efficiencies; whether any problem even exist across the different aspects of the supply chain; as well as what steps should be taken to resolve them. It was therefore studied, here, whether SSM could be employed as a useful tool to systematically apply in the supply chains of a construction project in South Africa, for understanding and targeting the problematic situations that arise. Following thorough cyclical open-ended interviews with 17 workers, supervisors, foremen, site clerks, senior managers, and the CEO of the principal contractor at a new office park construction project in Rosebank, Johannesburg, and a thematic analysis of the data, SSM was performed to understand the existing challenges, and develop a suitable model for improvement. The study found that SSM was a good tool for understanding the ‘messy’ circumstances surrounding the chosen construction project supply chain, as well as actions that could be taken to improve the supply chain’s efficiency on site. The findings add weight to the argument that SSM could be a good tool for project managers to systematically introduce into their project planning regimens

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