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Complementarity in systems modelling: an interdisciplinary research network

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Title: Complementarity in systems modelling: an interdisciplinary research network


1
Complementarity in systems modelling an
interdisciplinary research network
  • Mike Pidd
  • Lancaster University

2
Background interdisciplinary networks in systems
theory
  • EPSRC concern is fundamental research on system
    theory needed?
  • Initial stimulus growing complexity and scope of
    business social systems
  • Need to reach beyond disciplinary boundaries
  • Feb 99 workshop, in collaboration with BT
  • Call for proposals
  • interdisciplinary networks
  • relevant to EPSRC concerns
  • OR specifically mentioned

3
Complementarity in systems modelling
Practitioner world
Theory practice
Theory practice
Academic world
4
Complementarity in systems modelling
  • Models as
  • would-be representations of the real world
  • used to investigate options
  • used to investigate how things are
  • need to be validated in some way
  • devices to support debate
  • used as ideal types
  • part of procedural rationality, beyond the
    calculus of rational choice
  • validation remains a problem

5
Hard versus soft approaches
HARD
SOFT
  • Stresses technical work
  • Avoids conflict disagreement
  • Assumes unified objectives
  • Models the 'underlying reality'
  • Relies on sequential rationality
  • Separates process from content
  • Organisationally naive
  • Stresses facilitation
  • Recognises importance of conflict disagreement
  • Makes no assumptions about objectives
  • No search for 'underlying reality'
  • Cyclic or multi-pass approach
  • Outcome process x content
  • Organisationally sophisticated

6
Some research questions(as on the proposal)
  • Complexity versus simplicity
  • how simple, how do we know, simple always best?
  • Computer-based support for linking hard soft
    approaches?
  • Real-world issues
  • what types of problems make the greatest demands?
  • specific contexts where complementarity matters?
  • Links to other aspects of system theory?

7
Initial participants
  • ACADEMIC
  • Lancaster Pidd, Checkland, Kowlaczyk and
    Westcombe, et al
  • Strathclyde Belton et al
  • RMCS Holwell
  • PRACTITIONER
  • BT Lyons et al
  • Shell International Paterson
  • DERA Robinson (Forder)

8
Some issues for today
  • 15 minutes on our interests
  • Identify issues
  • Agree a series of meetings
  • Decide who else to invite
  • Set up criteria against which to evaluate whether
    we succeed or not?

9
Business process modelling
Nuno Melaos PhD research
Practitioner
Academic
Consultant software vendor
10
A business process is ...
  • A deterministic machine
  • A sequence of tasks organised around a customer
    focus
  • A complex dynamic system
  • interconnected subsystems
  • A set of interacting feedback loops
  • needs to be viewed in systems terms
  • A social construct
  • may not really exist
  • Multifaceted!

11
A survey of business process modellers in the UK
  • Examined use/non-use of business process
    simulation
  • 225 UK practitioners, 37 response
  • use of simulation very low
  • saw little added value in using dynamic models
  • prefer simple models (flow charts, spreadsheets
    etc)
  • most projects very short
  • stressed importance of human behaviour in
    business processes
  • Contrasts with claims of software vendors
    consultants

12
Business process modelling needs ...
  • Better tools
  • more flexible
  • easier to use
  • model human behaviour
  • Better methods methodologies
  • not good enough to treat people like
    inter-changeable resources and machines
  • Complementary viewpoints
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