Soft systems methodology as a social science research tool

Soft systems methodology (SSM) is well established as a vehicle for action research, particularly in programmes initiated at Lancaster University. It is now sufficiently well known, in academic circles at least, to be considered as a candidate methodology for a wide range of social science research projects. This paper summarizes (and updates) the set of issues which should be explicit when designing a project which includes both SSM and other research approaches. It attempts to "place' SSM within a taxonomy of social science research approaches, examines the contingencies which may determine the success and acceptance of the research, and explores the relationship between SSM components of such programmes and other, more traditional, approaches. A further important focus is the status of SSM products as theory, and the use of SSM for theory generation and/or testing. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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