IT Management assignment on: Soft systems methodology
- Methodology:
Soft systems methodology (SSM) refers to a systematic approach which helps in order to solve the various problems being faced by the different sectors. Soft system methodology refers to a result of the research which was taken up by Check land, Brian Wilson, many more. This has been referred to as a framework which would help the users to deal with different types of messy problems as well as lack problem definition (Downs, Clare & Coe, 1988).
It has been termed to be one of the common misunderstandings regarding SSM which will only deal with soft problems such as social, cultural as well as psychological problems. SSM refers to a methodology which will not differentiate amongst the soft & hard problems whereas provides various means with which both type of problems can be solved in a much defined manner. It shall be noticed that within every situation, the problem assessed consists of both the aspects i.e. hard & soft elements.
SSM helps in distinguishing the various hard system approaches which would help in the better understanding of the systems along with the ontological entities. The hard systems approaches would help in order to speak with the computer application, system, and information system along with the telecommunication system. These are the bounded entities which would help in the physical existence of the formally described as well as designed purpose of the same.
Soft system methodology helps the system as an epistemological rather than an ontological entity which would help the various users to have a well defined understanding regarding the same. With the up gradation of the entire system, Air India will be able to transform the raw materials into a full product. This system would help to make high levels of profits, etc.
None of these descriptions is right or wrong, they are merely different ways of understanding what is going on. This requires us to become conscious of our particular perspective and values, and these in turn determine what aspects of the situation we understand as being part of the system of our concern. For instance, if we are trying to understand this organization as a system to transform raw materials into a commercial product, we are likely to include the providers of raw materials and the customers who buy the end-product in our understanding of this system. However, if we look at the organization as a system to provide jobs to the local community, we are likely to include different elements such as the local transport infrastructure which allows members of the community to access the organization. As such, depending on our perspective we draw different boundaries around what we perceive the system to be.
- Literature Review:
In such a competitive business environment, all the managers are forced to engage themselves in different type of transformations which would help their business to succeed in long run. One such type of transformation is related to the blend within the product s as well as services offered by the organization. According to William, it has been stated that “In today’s competitive markets & environment, the industrial companies are quite strong which needs to be augmented with the current offerings of the organization”. This methodology would be helpful to provide a fair blend of the goods & services as well as compete with them in the best possible manner.
This paper takes into consideration the development of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) in the various organizations such as construction, aviation, etc. This paper specifically takes into consideration the macro level modeling of the aviation sector specifically Air India. This soft system methodology refers to a generic approach which is flexible & would take into consideration various challenges within a particular sector. SSM refers to a tool which would transform Air India as well as capture the conflicting expectations of the same. It must be taken into consideration that, the main audience for this paper would be the management teams, support systems, system engineers, and people belonging to the ground staff. This system would also be one of the most important for the people belonging to other disciplines as well as related for the transformation of the same. It shall be noticed that, in short run the various benefits would be able to be realized which would help in the encouragement of the company. The positive results would also be beneficial in respect to the overall performance & operation at Air India. The SSM will act more beneficial in realizing the smooth functioning of the operations as well as improve the entire performance within the enterprise. Whereas if taken into consideration in the long run, the high levels of application of the soft system methodology will help to act as a catalyst in order to identify the core, correct & essential activities which would help to transform the entire organization.
- Assumptions:
The following assumptions have been used in order to prepare the research study. They are as follows:
Þ This paper specifically takes into consideration the macro level modeling of the aviation sector specifically Air India
Þ The main audience for this paper would be the management teams, support systems, system engineers, and people belonging to the ground staff.
Þ The positive results would also be beneficial in respect to the overall performance & operation at Air India.
- Limitations:
While studying the implementation of soft system methodology (SSM) it has been seen that, soft system methodology has been proved to be one of the most useful methodologies within the aviation sector specifically in Air India.
In order to confirm the appropriateness of the approach for the information analysis as well as the evaluation of the information system (IS) during the change analysis which shall be carried several numbers of times within the same organization at appropriate intervals.
However, the lengthy analysis is then appropriate as well as the various ways to speeded up the process which shall be explored.
Therefore, the possibility of soft system methodology (SSM) refers to a method which would monitor the organizational context within the information system (IS) projects. The minute incremental organizational change will affect the outcomes of the information system (IS) projects.
- Constraints:
The following constraints are as under:
Þ The entire report which has been prepared is totally based upon assumptions mentioned above.
Þ The data collection methods which have been used in order to complete this research study are different
Þ The data processing methods
Þ Reliability of the outcomes refers to the biggest constrain while preparing any research study
Þ The outcomes of the final outcomes are not always same. Since the data collection methods & the data processing used are always different.
- Scope of the research:
In such a competitive business environment, all the managers are forced to engage themselves in different type of transformations which would help their business to succeed in long run. One such type of transformation is related to the blend within the product s as well as services offered by the organization (Robey & Boudreau, 1999). According to William, it has been stated that “In today’s competitive markets & environment, the industrial companies are quite strong which needs to be augmented with the current offerings of the organization”. This methodology would be helpful to provide a fair blend of the goods & services as well as compete with them in the best possible manner.
The Commercial Air Carrie System (CAS) has been used by the terrorists to attack the various countries. This has been termed to be both as a target as well as a weapon in a much significant manner. At Air India, this system has been utilized as an entry node in CAS. This system has been implemented within the carryon baggage, passengers screening as well as responsible for identifying the threats amongst the passenger’s population (Kidwell, Linde & Johnsons, 2000). Apart of the integration of the process along with the boarding of the aircraft, screening of the system would help to provide long queues or unpredictable waiting time which has been referred to as one of the major threats for the passengers (Robey & Boudreau, 1999). With the existing system as Air India, there is very little flexibility in order to respond towards the emergency threats. The newly developed system will help to provide effectiveness as well as efficiency within the entire system. The newly developed system i.e. Soft System Methodology (SSM) would be significant in providing less amount of wasting time as well as take up the confidence of the passengers (Saad, Alias & Rahman, 2004).
The scope of soft system methodology (SSM) is to define the various challenges which have been faced at Air India as well as define the problem and control the environment. The main intention of the implementation of this system is to use the system ideas in order to find a structure as well as unstructured the problems in real life.
- SSM Methodology:
While implementing soft system methodology (SSM), the following three aspects shall be kept in mind. They have been described as under. They are:
Þ System Design
Þ Soft System Thinking
Þ Interpretivistic Philosophy
System Design: With the implementation of soft system methodology (SSM) at Air India has helped to raise high levels of interest which would help in order to raise the levels of attention amongst the various information systems. The system design at Air India will be implemented which would help in order to combine the various methodologies along with wide range of functionalities (Davies & Ledington, 1988).
The soft system methodologies (SSM) at Air India would be required to understand the various interpretations as well as the learning’s of the reality. The system design at Air India shall be taken into consideration by proposing a theoretical framework which shall be incorporated as a design. System design would be referred to as a creative process which would help in order to design a “new” reality rather than fixing the existing system at Air India. The system design would help Air India to be constraint with the various types of “template” models which would help in the further strengthening of the existing system (Housel & Bell, 2000).
It is often stated that, system design would help to add on the creativity of the existing system along with various types of constraints. It must be kept in mind by the strategic mangers of Air India that, large amount of attention shall be provided with an aim to improve the overall designing of the information systems. The design shall be formulated in such a manner which would help Air India to design the various intellectual tools such as facts, figures & mental models (Checkland & Scholes, 1999).
Soft systems methodology would be regarded as methodology which would impart high levels of learning at Air India. The sue of SSM within any given organization would enable in better learning as well as construct a better learning system (Eason, 1988).
Soft System Thinking: In order to understand the various existing methodologies, Check land soft system methodology has made categorization in five varied classes such as designed systems, physical systems, human activity systems, abstract systems & transcendental systems.
With regards to Air India it must be taken into consideration that the system which shall be designed as per the requirements of the target audience. It must be stated that, at Air India various activities shall be kept in mind taking into consideration the coherency as well as the principle of the underlying mission or objective (Mirijamdotter, 2006). The system shall be designed in such a manner which would help the users to use the same in the best possible manner. The human activity systems have been designed in such a manner which would help them to serve the entire purpose of the humans. As in this case, Air India would be required to identify the purpose of the system design as a human activity system (Bennetts, Harper, & Mills, 2000). The designing of the entire system shall be such which would help in order to take into consideration all the issues such as logistics, better arrangements for the passengers, good quality food, proper drainage system, etc.
While designing the system for Air India, defining the problem shall be done at the first place. Mismatch between the intention as well as the expectation & outcome will lead to the creation of problems for Air India. Therefore, all the problems shall be listed & the system shall be provided to the managers which would help in the effective as well as better functioning of the managers. Once the problem has been defined at Air India, fair implementation of the system shall be taken into place. The role of methodology in providing a systematic problem solving methods shall be kept in mind (Baroudi & Orlikowski, 1988). The system shall be designed in such a manner which would help to perceive the various problems as well as define a difference amongst the present as well as the desired situation. The role of this system i.e. soft system methodology would be to provide a systematic guidance in finding the solutions. The soft systems would assume that, the world is filled with problems characterized with different types of approaches, alternatives, etc (Robey & Boudreau, 1999).
Interpretivistic Philosophy: The main idea of implementing soft system methodology (SSM) is to develop that; the individuals would interpret the situations according to the most meaningful findings. With the help of interprestivistic philosophy, a prior difference could be defined as one of the traditional means which would help to position the facts as well as the values attached to it (Robey & Boudreau, 1999).
With this philosophy at Air India, positivism would be evolved for the target audiences. This philosophy would be helpful to discuss the subjective factors along with the various per determined actions. With the implementation of the soft system methodology, the members of Air India would be helpful to implement as well as build a co-ordinated social life, etc. This would help to understand the various models along with the new way of thinking, etc. At Air India, soft system methodology (SSM) has been termed to be an idea or an interpretation which would help in order to link the various philosophies (Avison & Wood-Harper, 1991).
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