NEW PERSPECTIVES OF SIMULATION MODELING IN THE OPERATIONAL ART OF MILITARY ACTION PLANNING THROUGH SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 303-310
Author(s):  
Daniel ROMAN
Keyword(s):  
Design Thinking ◽  
Action Planning ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Operational Environment ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Military Action ◽  
The Status ◽  
Operational Art ◽  
The Impact

Abstract: The contemporary operational environment is mainly determined by the dynamics of the phenomena occurring within the connections of the societal fields. Decoding the reality and designing military actions have shifted to new coordinates of the operational art, in terms of the way the factors of influence that change the status of each societal field are jointly approached. The term societal has acquired new meanings in the context of the overconnectivity of the fundamental domains of the society which are the following: political/diplomatic, military, economic, social, medical – pandemic, infrastructural, informational, environmental and geo-strategic. The operational art of military action planning is based on decoding the operational environment and includes analyses with different level of detail depending on the approached societal field. The analyses result in different models of action of the opponent that involve organizing and reorganizing the friendly formations that will be planned to take part in operations. Deciding for or against certain options for resolving a (military) crisis situation takes place following repeated simulations until favorable results are obtained. In this article, we aimed to bring to the attention of the specialists in the field of military action planning the integrative methodology of "design thinking" the main aspects related to the impact of the dynamics of the societal domains network in the perspective of the simulated modeling in military action planning.

The Use of Soft Systems Methodology for Change Management

2021 ◽  
pp. 55-73
Keyword(s):  
Change Management ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Management Communication ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
New Knowledge ◽  
Big Picture ◽  
The Impact

Due to the gap in our knowledge of soft systems methodology (SMS) and organizational change management, this chapter seeks to develop new knowledge that explains the use of SMS as an intervention measure in optimizing change. Using SSM, leaders are able to see the big picture, consequences of their measures in a larger environment, and provide effective, long-term, and sustainable solutions. Here are some case studies on subjects related to issues of stakeholder selection and management, communication assumptions in SSM, the facilitator's ambiguous role, and the impact of highly politicized problem environments on the methodology effectiveness in the change process.

scholarly journals Keeping it pure – a pedagogical case study of teaching soft systems methodology in scenario and policy analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Yeoman ◽  
Una McMahon-Beattie ◽  
Carol Wheatley
Keyword(s):  
Scenario Analysis ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Problem Situation ◽  
Good Teaching ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Teaching Tasks ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Soft systems methodology (SSM) is well documented in the academic and management literature. Over the last 40 years, the methodology has come to be adapted depending on the tool users’ skills and experience in order to fit the problem. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate good teaching and learning practice from a pedagogical perspective. Design/methodology/approach Dr Ian Yeoman of Victoria University of Wellington provides a personal reflection of how the methodology is used in the teaching and learning of TOUR301 Tourism Policy and Planning as a policy and scenario analysis method. Findings The paper articulates the seven stages of SSM from problem situation unstructured, through to Rich Pictures, vision and guiding principles, policy solutions, comparisons, feasibility and implementation stages. The paper uses a series of teaching tasks to breakdown the complexity of the methodology thus guiding students and teachers in how to deploy the methodology in the classroom. Originality/value The value of the paper demonstrates the reflective practice of SSM in action as an exemplar of good practice. The paper clearly articulates the stages of the methodology so students and teachers can adopt this approach in classroom environments following a scaffolding learning approach. The use of teaching tasks throughout the paper helps bring clarity and order thus enabling the teacher to effectively teach the subject and the students to learn. The most significant contribution of this paper is the articulation of good teaching practice in policy and scenario analysis which articulated through four learning lessons: facilitating a learning environment; the impact of visual thinking; political theory; the importance of incremental learning; and problem-based learning and international students.

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

Secure e-Government Services

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Karokola ◽  
Louise Yngström ◽  
Stewart Kowalski
Keyword(s):  
Soft Systems Methodology ◽  
Frame Of Reference ◽  
Business Community ◽  
Systems Methodology ◽  
Soft Systems ◽  
Government Services ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Security Challenges ◽  
Security Standards ◽  
Common Frame Of Reference

E-Government offers many benefits to government agencies, citizens and the business community. However, e-Government services are prone to current and emerging security challenges posing potential threats to critical information assets. Securing it appears to be a major challenge facing governments globally. Based on the international security standards – the paper thoroughly investigates and analyzes eleven e-government maturity models (eGMMs) for security services. Further, it attempts to establish a common frame of reference for eGMM critical stages. The study utilizes the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) of scientific inquiry/ learning cycle adopted from Checkland and Scholes. The findings show that security services (technical and non-technical) are lacking in eGMMs – implying that eGMMs were designed to measure more quantity of offered e-government services than the quality of security services. Therefore, as a step towards achieving secure e-government services the paper proposes a common frame of reference for eGMM with five critical stages. These stages will later be extended to include the required security services.

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