Special issue on problem structuring research and practice

Ackermann, Fran; Franco, L. Alberto; Rouwette, E.A.J.A.; White, Leroy

doi:10.1007/s40070-014-0037-6

Cited by 21 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Utilizing this approach in studies which employ SSM not only increase the accuracy of the results but also lead form an appropriate relationship between facilitators and problem owners. & Similar to the present study, it is suggested to utilize SSM in preliminary stages of interdisciplinary studies to outline and clarify the framework of the problem and create common sense among the stakeholders (Ackermann et al 2014). & In this paper, only 4 stages of SSM were implemented.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

A Soft Systems Methodology Approach to Occupational Cancer Control Problem: a Case Study of the Ministry of Petroleum of Iran

Sepehrirad

Rajabzadeh

Azar

et al. 2017

Syst Pract Action Res

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Petroleum industries of Iran offer some of the best job opportunities within Iranian labor market. However, due to the attributes of the chemicals used in these industries, their staffs are exposed to various risk factors of several chronic diseases. Such exposures might lead to cancer incidence after a decade or two. The Ministry of Petroleum (MoP) runs an organization, namely Petroleum Industry Health Organization (PIHO), which is responsible for the health insurance of the personnel working in Petroleum industries. PIHO and Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) units play fundamental roles in providing the employees with health services during their professional life and retirement period. Yet, these organizations still do not have a system to specify occupational cancer control mechanisms at the MoP. The negative influences of cancer on patients suffering from it as well as its heavy costs of treatment have forced MoP to put measures of coping with this chronic disease in the first priority. This paper aims to define the structure and design a framework for MoP's occupational cancer control problem as the first step for improving the described situation. Given the presence of various stakeholders and actors, and the wide range of complexities of this problematic situation, we have adopted Soft System Methodology (SSM). We have reached an agreement with the problem owners on a rich picture, CATWOE analysis, root definition and a conceptual model for the way this situation could improve within real world circumstances. The results were obtained through various sessions with practitioner from different departments of MoP, while the conflict of interests was common.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

A Soft Systems Methodology Approach to Occupational Cancer Control Problem: a Case Study of the Ministry of Petroleum of Iran

Sepehrirad

Rajabzadeh

Azar

et al. 2017

Syst Pract Action Res

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“…Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs) are approaches to deal with ill-structured problems, in other words, problems without a clear set objectives, resources, and constraints (Kotiadis & Mingers, 2014;Rosenhead & Mingers 2001). Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is one of the most traditional, well-known, and effective PSM to explore an illstructured situation deemed problematic (Ackermann et al, 2014;Georgiou, 2015;Ormerod, 2014). SSM is an action-oriented approach which promotes changes that are both systemically desirable and culturally feasible to improve the situation (Checkland, 1985;2000;Georgiou, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combining Value-Focused thinking and soft systems methodology: A systemic framework to structure the planning process at a special educational needs school in Brazil

Françozo

Paucar‐Caceres

Belderrain

2021

Journal of the Operational Research Society

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Soft systems methodology (SSM) is a well-known Problem Structuring Methods that has proven effective when tackling problematic situations. To model different perceptions of a problematic situation, SSM encourage stakeholders to propose possible transformation likely to improve the situation. The more transformations compiled the richer the process become; but in practice, managing higher number of transformations presents a challenge. Value-Focused Thinking (VFT) is an approach designed to obtain and structure stakeholders' valuebased objectives. In an SSM application, stakeholders ascribe their value-based objectives to the transformations proposed; we propose a multi-methodological framework in which VFT analysis is added to a revised version of SSM (Re-SSM). This allows to reduce the transformations to a manageable number. We applied the (Re-SSM)-VFT framework to a single casestudy to structure/define policies/practices in planning the inclusion of students with special educational needs in a Brazilian Federal High School. In applying the framework, we found that from more than 40 initial SSM transformations only 8 transformations were needed to reach 4 out of 5 objectives. Results suggest that it is possible to save time/effort in the planning process by considering transformations associated with the stakeholders' value-based objectives enabling efficient systemic plans, aligned with their expectations.

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“…To support teams or groups of people in making informed collective decisions in organizations, the operations research, group decision and negotiation fields recommend the use of formal procedures and systematic approaches (Franco & Montibeller, 2010;Kilgour & Eden, 2010;Luoma, 2016). Group model building (GMB) is one such approach particularly aimed at structuring complex dynamic problems, such as product sales, with a group of stakeholders (Ackermann et al, 2014;Andersen & Richardson, 1997;Richardson & Andersen, 2010). GMB aims at uncovering elements of a complex system and their causal interrelations (Vennix, 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uncovering causes of stagnating product sales of a healthy snack: A system dynamics group model building project in a food processing company

Horvat

Bartelet²,

Andersen

et al. 2021

Journal of the Operational Research Society

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Product life cycle (PLC) analysis studies patterns of sales over time and the reasons behind those patterns. Such analysis can be challenging because of the interconnected effect of technical product characteristics, marketing mix elements, and the environment (e.g. competition, consumers). Moreover, employees from different functions have different backgrounds and perceptions about the origins of patterns, which constrains mutual understanding and hampers decision-making. The group model building (GMB) approach can be an effective method to support teams in solving complex dynamic problems, such as a PLC analysis of product sales. This study uses a GMB approach and presents a system dynamics model, which supported cross-functional collaboration in analysing causes of stagnating product sales in the PLC of a healthy snack product in a food processing company. Through multiple GMB sessions with the company team, a system dynamics model was developed, and several strategies were analysed. The model has proven useful in explaining the reasons behind the sales stagnation and in studying possible interventions. Moreover, GMB was successful in increasing participants' insight into the causes of the problem, improving communication, and creating a shared vision about the problem.

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Special issue on problem structuring research and practice

Cited by 21 publications

References 34 publications

A Soft Systems Methodology Approach to Occupational Cancer Control Problem: a Case Study of the Ministry of Petroleum of Iran

A Soft Systems Methodology Approach to Occupational Cancer Control Problem: a Case Study of the Ministry of Petroleum of Iran

Combining Value-Focused thinking and soft systems methodology: A systemic framework to structure the planning process at a special educational needs school in Brazil

Uncovering causes of stagnating product sales of a healthy snack: A system dynamics group model building project in a food processing company

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