REVIEW : FIVE CASE
STUDIES APPLYING SOFT
SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY TO
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
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29018003
GITA PARTIWI
PUTRI INTAN SARI
BACKGROUND
PARTNE
R
JOINT
VENTURE
 Complex
 Subject to
constant change
 Highly competitive
 Cost critical
CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT
SUB - CONTRACTOR
SOFT SYSTEMS
METHODOLOGY
Soft System Methodology
Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is a
system approach that is used to analyze
and learn different perceptions in
complex and messy situations
(Maqsood, et al, 2001; Andrews, 2000)
“SSM is helpful for knowledge elicitati
on in complex and poorly defined areas”
(Finegan, 1994)
SSM PROCESS
1. The problem
situation in its
unstructured form
Start 7. Action to improve
the problem situa
Again?
tion
2. The problem
situation
expressed as
a rich picture
6. Identification of
the feasible, desir
able changes
5. Comparison of
models(4) with the
real world(1&2)
Real World
3. Root definitions of
relevant, purposeful
activity systems
4. Conceptual models of
the systems named in
the root definition
System
Thinking
THE CASE STUDY
Australian construction contractor company
Bridge Project
BAMTEC
Innovation
Project
History
Road Project
Pretenders
CASE STUDY :
PRETENDERING
Stage 1
The problem situation:
The pre-tendering approach
mostly resides in the heads
of team member in a tacit
form. The tacit knowledge
will loss if an individual
team member leave the
organization
Stage 2
Rich Picture:
STAGE 3
Root Definition
A system owned by the precontracts team, who together
with the Chief Estimator and
the Design Managers, takes
prospective projects from the
Business Manager, together
with knowledge, processes and
technology, to prepares preliminary understanding of the
project and cost estimates(X)by
setting the criteria to assess
the feasibility (Y) , in order to as
sess the feasibility of making
a tender bid (Z) .
Customer: Regional Manager (RM)
Actors: Engineering Manager, Chief
Estimator, Design Manager, Pre-Contr
acts team, Business Manager.
Transformation: Knowledge, process
and technology together with details of
prospective projects (input) , are used
to prepare an understanding of the
project and a cost estimate (output).
Weltanschauung: To assess the
feasibility of making a tender bid, RM
need a good understanding of the
project, cost and timeline details.
Owner: Pre-Contracts Team
Environment: Competitive, quality,
cost and time critical, community and
corporate goals.
STAGE 4
Conceptual Model
CASE STUDY : PROJECT HISTORY
STAGE (1) & (2)
Rich Picture Diagram
CASE STUDY : PROJECT HISTORY
STAGE (3)
STAGE (4)
CONCLUSION
• SSM encourages group learning, ideal as a group decision-making
approach.
• SSM is recommended where an organization is seeking to achieve
changes in workplace culture and transformation into a learning
organization.
Thank you!