Towards an SSM toolkit: rich picture diagramming

Soft systems methodology (SSM) attempts to make sense of complex problem situations which involve human activity. These problem situations are not well defined, often being described as 'fuzzy'. SSM uses models of these purposeful activity systems (human activity systems) to help their interpretation. Tools are not usually associated with this approach because problem situations are difficult to model and tools are considered inappropriate by many of the approache's proponents. In this paper we discuss the benefits of the soft systems approach and the use of tools in general, consider some of the issues relating to tools in the context of soft systems and describe our research in developing tools in this area, in particular, a tool supporting the drawing of rich picture diagrams called Get Rich Quick! Information systems development Information systems development concerns the com-plex world of people and organizations as well as tech-nology (Avison & Fitzgerald, 1988). Many information systems development methodologies stress technical aspects which are closed and predictable. The structured approaches to systems analysis and design (DeMarco