Police Operational Planning and Crime Detection through Adopting an Information Systems Approach

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Peter Kinloch ◽  
Hulya Francis ◽  
Michael Francis ◽  
Mark Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Viable Systems ◽  
Problem Situations ◽  
Systems Model ◽  
Generic Framework ◽  
Crime Detection

In recent years the introduction and subsequent enhancements of information technology has seen the emergence of major opportunities for developing new approaches to improve information interchange. The provision of information provides opportunities to find resolutions to problem situations, and the power of providing relevant and accurate information through using information systems cannot be underestimated. However, the world of information systems thinking has, so far, experienced difficulty finding a methodology suitable for utilizing the full range of available current information technology. This situation in the real world shows itself predominantly as information starvation as current information systems struggle to bring order and structure to information technology developments. This article will discuss the issues relating to the development of a new generic framework. The novel aspect of this generic framework for planning information systems is that it integrates Soft Systems Methodology and Viable Systems Model in a coherent whole, whilst embracing the concepts of self-adaptation and autonomy. Further, the generic framework integrates the spatial analysis capabilities of a Geographical Information System. The generic framework will then be tested in real world problem situations in order to test its effectiveness, efficiency and efficacy with regards to finding suitable solutions to the problem of information starvation. The importance of focusing the framework on GIS functionality is related to the fact that in many organizations GIS is employed as the solution to information starvation because of its ability to display spatial information. This article will demonstrate the implementation of the generic framework in a UK Police Authority, a large emergency service that suffers from information starvation. In the context of a UK Police Authority the combination of Soft Systems Methodology and Viable Systems Model being supported by GIS functionality is seen as being a significant progression in relation to crime detection and operational planning.

scholarly journals Soft Systems Methodology Applied to Design Processes in an Artisan Enterprise

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 308-322
Author(s):  
Citlalli Macías-Barreto ◽  
Mario Aguilar-Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Network Structure ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Ability To Work ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Design Processes ◽  
Viable Systems ◽  
Systems Model ◽  
The Family

Given the tendency of design to intervene in marginalized artisan communities as a strategy to face the demand for their products, this research was focused on the difficulties that artisan enterprises face when moving from the family economic unit to a productive network structure with territorial span. For this reason, it was proposed to answer, how design processes should be integrated into indigenous contexts, in order to improve the systemic viability of these artisan enterprises. Together with the Viable Systems Model, the Soft Systems Methodology was chosen to intervene in a náhuatl artisan enterprise in Mexico. The results provide an environment-oriented design methodological model, to be implemented in small and medium- sized enterprises that wish to improve their ability to work as an integrated whole, and to adapt to the opportunities or threats of the environment. It is concluded that the systematization of the design practice contributes, not only to improving the artisan product, but also, to the strengthening of enterprises in indigenous contexts.

scholarly journals Logical Soft Systems Modelling for Programme Development: An Action Research

10.28945/2779 ◽  
2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ho-Leung Tsoi
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Major Drawback ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Information Systems Professionals ◽  
Planning Methodology ◽  
Teaching Modules ◽  
Programme Planning

Business Information Systems education-such as majoring in Business Computing, E-Commerce and Business Computing, and Information Systems--is the basic foundation of all Information Systems professionals. So good planning of these programmes is an indispensable element in the development of computing disciplines. The traditional ways of planning an education programme are mainly based on understanding the goals and including appropriate teaching modules to fulfil the requirements. The major drawback of this development methodology is that the importance of different (though relevant) modules in the development process may be undermined. For instance, human and environmental factors are fundamental to planning an education programme and must be taken into account. Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is a well-known model for information system design. This paper proposes to see an education programme as a system and adopts the soft systems concept to represent the design of the programme. Based on the soft systems concept, a new methodology, named Soft Systems Programme Planning Methodology (SSPPM), for programme planning is proposed to support designing and planning a new postsecondary programme. The SSPPM not only considers all relevant facets, but it also helps the school management to clarify the connectivity of the elements in the design of a programme.

Soft Systems Methodology in IT-Related Organizational Change

2021 ◽  
pp. 32-54
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Meaningful Information ◽  
Development Methodology ◽  
Is Development

Any organization needs information technologies (IT) to attain efficient process and make effective decisions. The main discussion of this study is focused on IT as a reason of change in an organization. Besides providing a definition for information systems (IS), this chapter aims at explaining soft systems methodology (SSM) as an IS development methodology. Considering seven elements of philosophy, model, techniques and tools, scope, output, practice, and product, it clarified the SSM position in other methodologies. In this concern, it revealed the main concern of using SSM in the development of information systems (i.e., meeting the real needs of the organization through generating meaningful information based on the available data) as represented in five case studies of SSM in IT-related organizational change.

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 Change and improvement 50 years in the making: a scoping review of the use of soft systems methodology in healthcare

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Augustsson ◽  
Kate Churruca ◽  
Jeffrey Braithwaite
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Problem Situation ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Problem Situations ◽  
Healthcare Settings

Abstract Introduction Improving the quality of healthcare has proven to be a challenging task despite longstanding efforts. Approaches to improvements that consider the strong influence of local context as well as stakeholders’ differing views on the situation are warranted. Soft systems methodology (SSM) includes contextual and multi-perspectival features. However, the way SSM has been applied and the outcomes of using SSM to stimulate productive change in healthcare have not been sufficiently investigated. Aim This scoping review aimed to examine and map the use and outcomes of SSM in healthcare settings. Method The review was based on Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. We searched six academic databases to January 2019 for peer-reviewed journal articles in English. We also reviewed reference lists of included citations. Articles were included if they were empirical studies focused on the application of SSM in a healthcare setting. Two reviewers conducted the abstract review and one reviewer conducted the full-text review and extracted data on study characteristics, ways of applying SSM and the outcomes of SSM initiatives. Study quality was assessed using Hawker’s Quality Assessment Tool. Result A total of 49 studies were included in the final review. SSM had been used in a range of healthcare settings and for a variety of problem situations. The results revealed an inconsistent use of SSM including departing from Checkland’s original vision, applying different tools and involving stakeholders idiosyncratically. The quality of included studies varied and reporting of how SSM had been applied was sometimes inadequate. SSM had most often been used to understand a problem situation and to suggest potential improvements to the situation but to a lesser extent to implement and evaluate these improvements. Conclusion SSM is flexible and applicable to a range of problem situations in healthcare settings. However, better reporting of how SSM has been applied as well as evaluation of different types of outcomes, including implementation and intervention outcomes, is needed in order to appreciate more fully the utility and contribution of SSM in healthcare.

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