Further FAQs
Q. What is SIPOC?
A SIPOC table, or diagram, is a standard tool used in process understanding to define suppliers (S), inputs (I), process (P), outputs (O) and customers (C). Standard SIPOC tables are adapted in PrOH Models so that each part of the process is connected to other parts of the process in a logical structure. This is done by ensuring that each input has a source person and task, and each output has a destination person and task.
Q. What is soft systems methodology?
Soft systems methodology is an approach to enquire into complex situations, where there are divergent views about the definition of the problem. SSMs are well suited to use in organisational change programmes and action research. SSM is a type of systems thinking.
Q. What is action research?
Action research is a research method that aims to simultaneously investigate and solve an issue. As the name suggests action research conducts research and takes action at the same time. If a systems thinking is used within the method then it is also possible to make a contribution to systems thinking.
Q. Why does PrOH Modelling use abductive rationalisation?
Abductive reasoning or rationalization allows an action researcher to reflect on prior established knowledge frameworks to explain observations and actions taken in a more generalizable way. The framework may not have been identified or known until the research is well underway because at the onset of the research the problem was not yet fully understood or defined.
Q. What is PrOH Modelling?
PrOH modelling is a novel methodology developed from principles of soft systems methodology (SSM). It has been developed to help understand and change socio cultural technical issues in organisations, particularly issues that are holistic, systemic and complex, prone to dynamic change and impact on process performance.
Similar to other soft systems methodologies (SSMs) PrOH Modelling is used to explore opportunities for improvement that are systemically desirable and culturally feasible. PrOH modelling enables modellers to elicit systemic success factors (SSFs) for change that will help improve process performance.
Q. What is a holon?
PrOH Modelling produces human-centred models in holons. Holons are models of systems that are parts of larger systems and also have systems within. Holons can be joined together to form a set of models known as a holarchy. A holarchy can visualise hidden and emergent properties of socio-technical systems, subsystems and meta-systems in multiple layers.
Q. What is a holarchy?
A holarchy of models is formed through enrichment and abstraction of holons. In contrast a hierarchy of models is formed through reduction and aggregation of entities with inheritable properties. PrOH modelling’s holonic properties makes holon-based modelling and the use of holarchies possible to build sets of models of systemic success factors in people centric organizational systems as enrichment and abstraction allows for an accurate descriptions of different behaviours observed at different organizational levels that are not necessarily observed at other levels. PrOH modelling is unique in being able to model holons and holarchies for organizational improvement.
Q. What is the purpose of PrOH Modelling Methodology?
The PrOH Modelling Methodology works best in an action research context. When used in an action research context PrOH Modelling is able to make changes in practice to organizations, a contribution to general theory on the topics being investigated (e.g. digitalization, productivity) and a contribution to systems thinking methodology itself.
Q. How and why is storyboarding done for PrOH Models?
When a detailed PrOH Model has been formed its purpose is usually to present it to a wider audience to spread the knowledge contained within it. This is often to help built consensus about systemic success factors of change and allocate change tasks to those present. However it is often the case that there is so much knowledge in a PrOH Model that it is overwhelming and that is why storyboarding is used where parts of the model are shown scene by scene.
In each scene part of the model is presented and its systemic success factors are given. A PrOH Model with a good level of systemicity will normally have between 4-7 scenes to present.
Q. Why is PrOH Modelling used in action research?
PrOH Modelling is usually used in action research for when researchers are exploring a particular topic within an organization to make improvements. Action research enables researcher to make changes to practice and contribution to theory through abductive rationalisation. Often cycles of action research are performed to make iterative changes to practice and incremental knowledge creation. Classic ways to do this would be to take either a top-down approach starting with strategic issues or a bottom-up approach starting with operational issues. PrOH Modelling can do either.
Q. What are the benefits to using PrOH Modelling?
It is anticipated that users of PrOH modelling will become advocates of impactful action research, authentic contributors to practice based theory and active members of the PrOH Modelling user group and wider systems thinking community.