Micro-Skills for learning Soft Systems Methodology? Challenges and opportunities in an undergraduate dissertation project

Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) holds promise as an effective approach to addressing real-world problem situations. However, new learners of SSM can expect a number of challenges in learning the approach: its ambiguity and complexity, the number of likely unfamiliar concepts, its focus on rational an...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Armstrong, Ryan, Jiménez Rodriguez, Guillermo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/192912
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/192912
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Competències bàsiques en educació
Educació superior
Avaluació de sistemes educatius
Competency based education
Higher education
Educational systems evaluation
Descripción
Sumario:Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) holds promise as an effective approach to addressing real-world problem situations. However, new learners of SSM can expect a number of challenges in learning the approach: its ambiguity and complexity, the number of likely unfamiliar concepts, its focus on rational analysis over emotion, and the demanding environment in which it is applied. This paper furthers the discussion of the teaching and learning of SSM in undergraduate education by considering SSM and its components from a skills-based perspective. We suggest that attention to critical, underlying component behaviors that make up SSM and an increased consideration of emotional issues in its application are key to improving learning outcomes for initial learners. We explore challenges and an approach for address these through an illustrative case involving an undergraduate dissertation project. Finally, we offer a number of recommendations and possible future lines of research which could support SSM's more widespread adoption in education and practice.