Course co-ordinator(s): Jenny Coady (Edinburgh), Steve Gill (Dubai).
Aims:
- The module aims to give students the opportunity to develop an understanding and an ability to apply Checkland and Wilson’s Soft Systems Methodology (SSM)
- They will be introduced to systems thinking as a means of analysing the whole context of an information system
- The use of techniques such as rich pictures and other diagrammatical notations will be used to allow analysis to incorporate all stakeholders
- Students will learn to adopt a critical approach of evaluating socio-technical systems based on an understanding of their role as a reflective practioner
- To examine the underlying frameworks
- To understand the issues that arise when characterising problems
- Practical use of these skills will be developed through exercises based on case studies.
Detailed Information
Course Description: Link to Official Course Descriptor.
Pre-requisites: none.
Location: ALP, Dubai, Edinburgh.
Semester: 2.
Syllabus:
- The problem situation unstructured
- The problem situation expressed
- Root definitions of relevant systems
- Making and testing conceptual models
- Comparing conceptual models with reality
- Identify feasible and desirable changes
- Action to improve the problem situation Systems thinking
- Socio-technical systems methods
- Modelling frameworks and issues
- People centred solutions
- Checkland’s theories and thinking
SCQF Level: 9.
Credits: 15.