SSM Process
SSM endorses a four step process to manage change in a problematic situation:
- Finding out (the stakeholders and their concerns);
- Model building (explicating worldviews);
- Discussing and debating (accommodating worldviews);
- Taking action (improving the problematic situation).
These steps need not necessarily be performed in this order. In practice, parts of the steps will overlap or are re-iterated. Moreover, the SSM process is in fact potentially endless. By improving a situation by means of taking action to implement changes, new issues may arise that require a new SSM investigation. SSM should therefore be considered as a lifelong, group learning process. There is no end to learning!
In the following sections, the highlights of SSM methods and techniques are explored, most notably rich pictures and the PQR formula, which play a key role in EMM and ST. A detailed, practical introduction to SSM is included in Systems Approaches to Managing Change).