What is the Problem? The Human Activity System: Making a Model

2013 ◽  
pp. 67-98
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mehrabioun ◽  
Bibi Malihe Mahdizadeh

BACKGROUND: Customer retention and management of customer churn are deemed as among the most significant issues for businesses. Given the fact that customer churn is not typically predictable easily, identifying and analyzing customer churn is necessary for businesses. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, the current research was conducted to employ a complementary approach to identify the reasons influencing customer churn. METHODS: To do so, initially, customers’ data were clustered by recruiting the K-means method. Each cluster represented customers who held similar values and the probability of churn behavior. In the next step, stakeholder groups are identified based on the K- means algorithm. Then, Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) was employed to encapsulate each of the identified interested groups’ world-view to better understand logical reasons for churned customers. Purposeful activity modeling (human activity system) was adopted for each interested group utilizing SSM techniques. RESULTS: Using SSM techniques, purposeful activity modeling (human activity system) for each interested group adopted. Utilizing human activity systems for structuring debate sessions about change actions, short-term and long-term plans have been proposed to maintain and improve customer retention programs. CONCLUSIONS: SSM can be considered as an overarching approach that can afford a better understanding of the processes derived from data mining.


1985 ◽  
pp. 19-28
Author(s):  
Lyn Antill ◽  
Trevor Wood-Harper

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (S4) ◽  
pp. 1085-1097
Author(s):  
Leisian Itkulova ◽  
Arkadiy Lukyanov ◽  
Evgeniy Bikmetov ◽  
Marina Pushkareva ◽  
Zaynab Valiullina

Using historical-philosophical and historical-cultural material, the authors substantiate the idea that the heuristic potential of knowledge is enhanced by an in-depth analysis of its philosophical foundations. In the process of analysing knowledge in various philosophical traditions, the authors reach an activistic conception of knowledge, which includes freedom as a prerequisite for external and internal human activity. Knowledge doesn’t coincide with the absolute measurement of freedom and at the same time with the factuality of phenomenal being. It realizes itself at the point of unity of these considerations. By analyzing the sensual, empirical, and theoretical measurement of knowledge, the authors conclude that knowledge, as well as its structure, should be considered in a broad methodological and philosophical way, including the dialectic of knowledge and ignorance. Knowledge is related to the system of human activity. This system includes the object, subject, purpose and objectives of study. But the activity system also relates to nature of the operations performed. This nature is connected with the soul of a person, their inner world. The latter has to do with personal knowledge, latent knowledge. The purpose of the study is to analyze scientific knowledge as a prerequisite for discovering the essential powers of the individual.


This chapter seeks to explain possible uses of the soft systems methodology (SSM) for project management (PM) when uncertain and sometimes conflicting aims are being pursued. To this end, two topics were considered: (1) application of SSM for funds allocation planning among major development projects and (2) feasibility of industrial projects considering their compliance with principles of sustainable development. The focus of the SSM is on the so-called human activity system (HAS), synergizing all stakeholders towards a single goal. PM, on the other hand, not only deals with the HAS, but also manages organization-wide initiatives participated by a wide variety of stakeholders. In this respect, SSM can contribute to better implementation of the PM initiatives, thereby enhancing the obtained gains.


2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luci Fuscaldi Teixeira-Salmela ◽  
Sandra J. Olney ◽  
Revathy Devaraj

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