Apply Soft Systems Methodology for ambiguous, multi-perspective, sociotechnical problems.
Use when
the situation is messy and contested
conventional requirements framing is too narrow
worldview, ownership, and environmental constraints matter heavily
Inputs
project or problem context
goals and constraints
known stakeholders, systems, and documents
level of formality required
Procedure
Describe the messy situation without forcing premature structure.
Produce a rich-picture-oriented summary or prompt.
Identify relevant purposeful activity systems.
Perform CATWOE for the most relevant systems.
Write root definitions.
Produce conceptual activity models.
Compare conceptual models to the real world.
Recommend feasible, desirable changes and open tensions.
Outputs
messy-situation summary
rich picture prompt/spec
CATWOE tables
root definitions
conceptual activity model notes
intervention options
Guardrails
Explicitly separate fact, inference, and assumption.
Prefer evidence-backed conclusions over polished speculation.
Where conflict exists, record it rather than smoothing it away.
Produce artifacts that can be inspected, edited, and reused.
Completion criteria
deliverable pack exists
tradeoffs are explicit
unknowns are logged
next decisions are obvious
1---2name: ssm-analysis3description: Purpose4---5## Purpose6Apply Soft Systems Methodology for ambiguous, multi-perspective, sociotechnical problems.78## Use when9- the situation is messy and contested10- conventional requirements framing is too narrow11- worldview, ownership, and environmental constraints matter heavily1213## Inputs14- project or problem context15- goals and constraints16- known stakeholders, systems, and documents17- level of formality required1819## Procedure201. Describe the messy situation without forcing premature structure.212. Produce a rich-picture-oriented summary or prompt.223. Identify relevant purposeful activity systems.234. Perform CATWOE for the most relevant systems.245. Write root definitions.256. Produce conceptual activity models.267. Compare conceptual models to the real world.278. Recommend feasible, desirable changes and open tensions.2829## Outputs30- messy-situation summary31- rich picture prompt/spec32- CATWOE tables33- root definitions34- conceptual activity model notes35- intervention options3637## Guardrails38- Explicitly separate fact, inference, and assumption.39- Prefer evidence-backed conclusions over polished speculation.40- Where conflict exists, record it rather than smoothing it away.41- Produce artifacts that can be inspected, edited, and reused.4243## Completion criteria44- deliverable pack exists45- tradeoffs are explicit46- unknowns are logged47- next decisions are obvious
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