Applying Soft Systems Methodology to Implement Strategy in the Organization: A Case Study of Improving the Motivation System of Statistic Center

Abstract

The increased complexity of contemporary organizations necessitates adapting analysis and decision-making models as cognitive and analytical tools to cope with this complexity. Systemic thinking and its methodologies offer a way to overcome these complications to a desirable degree. Strategies are enacted in the organization when they are operationalized, as the diverse viewpoints of its stakeholders often hinder the practical attainment of the organization's strategic objectives. Hence, the researcher selected soft systems methodology (SSM) as one of the prevalent systems thinking methodologies to address this challenge and to achieve a relative alignment among the stakeholders' interests. Given that intervention in the organization is the primary prerequisite to resolving organizational problems with this methodology, the Iran Statistics Center (ISC) was chosen as a case study. At the onset of the intervention to enhance the processes of implementing the strategies of ISC with SSM, the main steps of operationalizing the strategies were elicited in the planning department, and then from the steps to devise an operational plan to increase employees molivation the motivation of employeesThe operational plan, developed through stakeholder involvement and consideration of diverse perspectives, facilitated the formulation of task strategies with a focus on executability. This approach aimed to bridge the gap between the strategic and operational layers within ISC. Additionally, the development of evaluation indicators enabled the monitoring of strategy execution within ISC. Besides developing a strategic and operational plan, this research also had other outcomes, such as organizational learning by using SSM. Through the education and facilitation of the researcher and the department staff, they became empowered to develop an operational plan for other strategies.

Keywords

• soft systems methodology
• strategy implementation
• iran statistics center
• strategic operational plan
• system methodology