The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Evaluating soft OR: some reflections on an apparently "unsuccessful" implementation using a Soft Sytems Methodology (SSM)-based approach

Evaluating soft OR: some reflections on an apparently "unsuccessful" implementation using a Soft Sytems Methodology (SSM)-based approach
Evaluating soft OR: some reflections on an apparently "unsuccessful" implementation using a Soft Sytems Methodology (SSM)-based approach
This paper reflects on a case study in which a soft OR problem structuring approach, based on Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), was used to help in the design of an information system for health service users providing care in the community in a part of the South and West Health Region in the UK. The paper reflects on why an apparently 'successful' structuring led to an apparently 'unsuccessful' implementation. As part of this reflective process, the paper makes a contribution to the soft OR literature by reviewing some of the approaches taken in the literature to the evaluation of success of problem structuring using soft OR. This review reveals a lack of evaluative criteria, a lack of clarity over the identification of users, and a failure to differentiate criteria associated with 'structuring' and 'implementation' issues. An evaluative framework is proposed, which is applied retrospectively to the case study.
soft systems methodology, soft OR, systems evaluation, OR practice
0160-5682
150-160
Connell, N.A.D.
20c3599b-f2e6-49fb-9b95-870b421fc27e
Connell, N.A.D.
20c3599b-f2e6-49fb-9b95-870b421fc27e

Connell, N.A.D. (2001) Evaluating soft OR: some reflections on an apparently "unsuccessful" implementation using a Soft Sytems Methodology (SSM)-based approach. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 52 (2), 150-160. (doi:10.1057/palgrave.jors.2601054).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This paper reflects on a case study in which a soft OR problem structuring approach, based on Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), was used to help in the design of an information system for health service users providing care in the community in a part of the South and West Health Region in the UK. The paper reflects on why an apparently 'successful' structuring led to an apparently 'unsuccessful' implementation. As part of this reflective process, the paper makes a contribution to the soft OR literature by reviewing some of the approaches taken in the literature to the evaluation of success of problem structuring using soft OR. This review reveals a lack of evaluative criteria, a lack of clarity over the identification of users, and a failure to differentiate criteria associated with 'structuring' and 'implementation' issues. An evaluative framework is proposed, which is applied retrospectively to the case study.

Text
2601054a.pdf - Version of Record
Restricted to Repository staff only
Request a copy

More information

Published date: February 2001
Keywords: soft systems methodology, soft OR, systems evaluation, OR practice

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 35698
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/35698
ISSN: 0160-5682
PURE UUID: 9daca25e-98b3-4f0d-ae35-0a31e3afc278

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 22 May 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 07:53

Export record

Altmetrics

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×