Introducing soft systems methodology plus (SSM+): why we need it and what it can contribute

Abstract

There are many complicated and seemingly intractable problems in the health care sector. Past ways to address them have involved political responses, economic restructuring, biomedical and scientific studies, and managerialist or business-oriented tools. Few methods have enabled us to develop a systematic response to problems. Our version of softsystems methodology, SSM+, seems to improve problem solving processes by providing an iterative, staged framework that emphasises collaborative learning and systems redesign involving both technical and cultural fixes.