Systems Thinking Methodological Approach for Evaluating Pre-College Outreach (RTP)

A Bibliographic and Visual Exploration of the Historic Impact of Soft Systems Methodology on Academic Research and Theory

Systems ◽

10.3390/systems7010010 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 10 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Scott Warren ◽

Brian Sauser ◽

David Nowicki

Keyword(s):

Systems Thinking ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Academic Research ◽

Soft Systems Methodology ◽

Complex Problem ◽

Visual Exploration ◽

Systems Methodology ◽

Soft Systems ◽

Complex Engineered Systems

Soft systems methodology (SSM), an analytic method commonly employed in engineering and business research, produces models focused on human activities and relevant structures used to explain complex, engineered systems. The original version of SSM involves seven stages; five address real-world aspects and observable data, while two stages leverage a systems thinking viewpoint. This approach allows the development of a simplified depiction of complex systems representative of the multi-perspective lenses used to comprehend the systemic complexity of a problem and provide a clearer picture to analysts and decision makers. This bibliometric meta-analysis of 286 relevant publications in engineering, business, and other social sciences fields explores the historic impacts of SSM on academic research and systems thinking in relevant publications that described or employed SSM for research from 1980–2018. This study produced descriptive narrative outcomes and data visualizations including information about top SSM authors, author citation impacts, common dissemination outlets for SSM work, and other relevant metrics commonly used to measure academic impact. The goal of this piece is to depict who, what, why, when, and where SSM had the greatest impact on research, systems thinking, and methodology after nearly 40 years of use, as we look towards its future as a methodological approach used to comprehend complex problem situations.

Download Full-text

Blockchain adoption in health market: a systems thinking and modelling approach

Journal of Asia Business Studies ◽

10.1108/jabs-11-2020-0457 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Shweta Nanda ◽

Saket Nanda

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

Systems Thinking ◽

Reference Model ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

System Structure ◽

Asia Pacific ◽

Problem Structuring ◽

Content Type ◽

Systems Model ◽

Health Market

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to formulate strategic interventions that can contribute to adoption of blockchain in Asian health market. Design/methodology/approach A methodological framework based on the three qualitative phases of the systems thinking and modelling methodology, namely, problem structuring, causal loop modelling and developing strategic interventions were used. Data was collected using thirty interviews and secondary research. Findings The reference model developed in the study captured the system behavior, showing health market blockchain adoption increasing in other countries but struggling in Asia. The qualitative systems model developed explained this behavior by capturing the underlying system structure using six interconnected feedback loops. Three strategic interventions were formulated to change the system structure to improve its adoption. Research limitations/implications This study acknowledges its limitation that blockchain integration in health supply chain management (SCM) and adaptability to technological trends are just few elements that contributes to challenges in blockchain adoption in Asia Pacific health market . It also acknowledges the limited scale of this study using 30 interviews with a narrow set of stakeholders, limiting its generalisability. Practical implications Although the blockchain technology has medical data security benefits, its integration in health SCM could potentially improve cost of health service delivery to patient. Not only it prevents drug counterfeiting, it enhances patient’s safety by reducing the time it takes to alert the supply chain of a product recall from few days to few seconds. Social implications “Blockchain-as-a-Service” has wide applications in SCM, identity management, payments, smart contracts, governance risk and compliance management, with its market size expected to grow in future. This affordable solution opens up the roads for future empirical research for information systems academicians and information technology practitioners. Originality/value This research provides a holistic analysis of the challenges facing blockchain adoption in the health market for Asia. It offers a methodological approach based on systems thinking and modelling to improve its adoption.

Download Full-text

Methodological approach and tools for systems thinking in health systems research: technical assistants’ support of health administration reform in the Democratic Republic of Congo as an application

Global Health Promotion ◽

10.1177/1757975915591684 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 43-52 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Nathalie Ribesse ◽

Paul Bossyns ◽

Bruno Marchal ◽

Hermes Karemere ◽

Christopher J. Burman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Systems ◽

Systems Thinking ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Health Systems Research ◽

Health Administration ◽

Republic Of Congo ◽

Systems Research

Download Full-text

Factors to Foster Organizational Sustainability in Tourism SMEs

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12208657 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (20) ◽

pp. 8657

Author(s):

Juan E. Núñez-Ríos ◽

Jacqueline Y. Sánchez-García ◽

Omar G. Rojas ◽

Elias Olivares-Benitez

Keyword(s):

Conceptual Model ◽

Systems Thinking ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Soft Systems Methodology ◽

Organizational Sustainability ◽

Path Modeling ◽

Organizational Relationships ◽

Systems Methodology ◽

Soft Systems ◽

Tourism Sector

Small and medium-sized tourism companies (SMEs) strongly depend on their collaborators to achieve competitiveness and sustainability. In this sense, these organizations need to identify those factors that help them to use their resources and efforts to achieve the aforementioned goals. This article proposes a model oriented to organizational sustainability in the tourism sector. A systemic approach was adopted to articulate this research; therefore, the soft systems methodology was applied to structure the problem and express a conceptual model that suggests relationships as an alternative solution to the expressed problem. Partial least squares path modeling was applied to statistically validate the relationships expressed in the construct. Results suggest that the relationships proposed in the construct are valid and may promote organizational sustainability. The ideas developed are restricted to the organizational domain and although the results apply in a Mexican context, this potential limitation can be offset by the multi-methodological approach proposed, extending the model’s application to other types of organizations. This study may enable scholars and managers to improve communication and inter-organizational relationships, allowing organizations to focus their strategies and efforts using systems thinking to increase responsiveness and adaptation.

Download Full-text

Of Frames and Cultures - A Cross-Cultural Comparison of TV Newscasts

Zeitschrift für Medienpsychologie ◽

10.1026/1617-6383.18.4.160 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 160-173 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Maria Senokozlieva ◽

Oliver Fischer ◽

Gary Bente ◽

Nicole Krämer

Keyword(s):

Content Analysis ◽

Arab World ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Cross Cultural ◽

Cultural Comparison ◽

Explorative Study ◽

Cross Cultural Comparison ◽

Tv News ◽

The Usa ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. TV news are essentially cultural phenomena. Previous research suggests that the often-overlooked formal and implicit characteristics of newscasts may be systematically related to culture-specific characteristics. Investigating these characteristics by means of a frame-by-frame content analysis is identified as a particularly promising methodological approach. To examine the relationship between culture and selected formal characteristics of newscasts, we present an explorative study that compares material from the USA, the Arab world, and Germany. Results indicate that there are many significant differences, some of which are in line with expectations derived from cultural specifics. Specifically, we argue that the number of persons presented as well as the context in which they are presented can be interpreted as indicators of Individualism/Collectivism. The conclusions underline the validity of the chosen methodological approach, but also demonstrate the need for more comprehensive and theory-driven category schemes.

Download Full-text