Validity in SSM: neglected areas

Ö Pala (), J A M Vennix and T van Mullekom
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Ö Pala: Nijmegen University
J A M Vennix: Nijmegen University
T van Mullekom: Nijmegen University

Journal of the Operational Research Society, 2003, vol. 54, issue 7, 706-712

Abstract: Abstract Contrary to the prevailing notion in hard OR, in soft system methodology (SSM), validity seems to play a minor role. The primary reason for this is that SSM models are of a different type, they are not would-be descriptions of real-world situations. Therefore, establishing their validity, that is representativeness with regard to reality, is useless. However, in this paper, we employ a broader meaning of validity (well-groundedness) and demonstrate that this surfaces a couple of neglected areas in the discussion of validity in SSM. These relate to (a) the notion of SSM as a learning system, (b) the idea to improve real-world problem situations, and (c) learning about the effectiveness of SSM itself.

Keywords: group decision-making; group decision support; messy problems; soft OR; soft systems methodology; validity; judgment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2003
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:jorsoc:v:54:y:2003:i:7:d:10.1057_palgrave.jors.2601577

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DOI: 10.1057/palgrave.jors.2601577

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