Editing Soft systems methodology (section)

=== Four main activities (1990) ===
The four-activities model is iconic rather than descriptive and subsumes the cultural stream of analysis in the four activities. The seven stage model gave an approach which applies real world situations, both large and small and public and private sector. The four main activities were created as a way to capture the more flexible use of SSM and to include more of the cultural aspect of the workplace into the concept of SSM. The four activities are used to show that SSM does not have to be used rigidly; it's there to show real life and not be constrained. The four main activities should be seen as an individual concept rather than a descriptive which incorporates the cultural stream of analysis. The four activities are:<ref name="ChecklandScholes1999" />

# Finding out about a problem situation, including culturally/politically
# Formulating some relevant purposeful activity models: Creating and drawing specific&nbsp; diagrammatic illustrations of activity processes that occur in an organisation, which shows the relevant processes that take place in a structured order, and depicts any problem situation visually by showing the flow of one action to another. An example of this would be a diagram of a Soft Systems Methodology method, which is a&nbsp; 'Conceptual Model', which is a representation of a systems' human actions,&nbsp; or an 'Architecture System Map', which is a visual representation of the implementation of sections of a software system.
# Debating the situation, using the models, seeking from that debate both:
#* changes which would improve the situation and are regarded as both desirable and (culturally) feasible, and
#* the accommodations between conflicting interests which will enable action
# Taking action in the situation to bring about improvement