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Achieving Consensus within SSM.

Berg, Tessa; Pooley, Rob; Queenan, J

Authors

Tessa Berg

Rob Pooley

J Queenan



Abstract

SSM is a socio-technical system methodology offering tools for analysing complex situations. This modelling
approach identifies differing worldviews of the system by encouraging discussion and debate. Academic
ethical studies of moral philosophy have been extensively studied but rarely attributed to system modelling.
We investigate the possibility of an ethical dimension to SSM comparing it to the ethical theories of duty,
conduct and justice. This paper identifies the key problem areas when requirement gathering in group
situations. We investigate the negative groupthink syndromes that occur within groups and discuss the
concept of ‘fairness with particular emphasis on the management of facilitator power. It is concluded that
participatory system methodologies that feature holism and worldviews have clear links with moral
philosophy.. The desirable system outcome requires man and machine to work in harmony. This can be better
implemented when there is a deepened understanding of the moral complexities of group requirement
gathering.

Citation

Berg, T., Pooley, R., & Queenan, J. (2011). Achieving Consensus within SSM. International journal of humanities and social science, 1, 231-239

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date 2011-04
Deposit Date Sep 25, 2014
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Print ISSN 2220-8488
Electronic ISSN 2221-0989
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 1
Pages 231-239
Keywords SSM; groupthink; ethics; facilitator power;
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/7210

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