In this paper Ceri Williams provides an overview of Soft Systems Method, its positioning alongside Systems Engineering Methods, and their significance for Enterprise Architects.

In Ceri Williams’ previous set of white papers on The Art of Judgment he applied the ideas of Sir Geoffrey Vickers to Enterprise Architecture. In particular, he considered the way in which we construct our reality and how the act of constructing that view changes our perception of what it is.

In his next series of white papers, Ceri explores the value of integrating Systems Engineering into the broader Soft Systems world in the context of Enterprise Architecture. He proposes the practical behaviors and values that Enterprise Architects can adopt in order to take their practice beyond the engineering domain and enhance their effectiveness.

This first paper provides an overview of Soft Systems Method, its positioning alongside Systems Engineering Methods, and their significance for Enterprise Architects.