This thesis explores 'problem sketching' as a means of dealing with socially constructed, complex human activity problems. It investigates how visualisation is used to facilitate the process of thinking about complex human problems. The most common and popular form of problem sketching appears to be 'rich pictures' as attributed to Checkland from the 1960s, as a part of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM). However, many users of rich picturing no longer consider it as only available to SSM users, rather it has become a stand-alone, if poorly defined, problem sketching method. Meanwhile, in the U.S., Churchman's (1950, 1968, 1971, 1975, 1979 and 1982) interpretation of systems thinking as multiple perspectival thinking has also been advocated by many writers as a useful approach to human activity problem solving. This approach does not seem to have an associated problem sketching method. This thesis therefore uses perspectival thinking as a frame to research problem sketching generally and rich pictures in particular. / First a review of the problem sketching, perspectival thinking and rich picturing literature was used to construct an 'issues table' to guide the interpretive empirical research. The first learning loop of this involved being a participatory observer in six managerial problem solving sessions where rich pictures were used. The second loop collected and analysed as many rich pictures as could be found (268) using the issues table derived from the literature. As the last learning loop, 32 semi-structured interviews were conducted with users who had a wide range of different industrial backgrounds and levels of experience with rich picturing. / The research found no universal design of rich picture, including any explicit application of perspectival thinking in the picturing process. The picture analysis and interviews suggested that systems concepts such as stakeholders, their concerns and their inter-relationships were commonly incorporated while other systems concepts such as boundary and purpose were rarely incorporated. In addition, it was found that the designers of rich pictures were aware of the importance of seeking multiple perspectives on the problem situation, but rarely was any explicit effort aimed at searching for new viewpoints/lens revealed. So while both the picture analysis and interviews indicated that most pictures did include the basic elements of what some writers have defined as a rich picture, only a few seemed to explicitly include any soft system thinking concepts in their pictures. / Whiteboards and paper in group settings was the most popular medium, as was free-hand sketching compared to computer generated icons. The majority of rich pictures included cartoon representations and the interviewees further emphasised the usefulness of humour in cartoon-like rich pictures. Furthermore, a strong focus was found on the process of sketching rather than the usefulness of the finished sketch. A number of interviewees indicated that drawing rich pictures was a group facilitation activity, which helped them to brainstorm ideas and capture thoughts through a discussion focused by the picturing. / Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2004.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/280782 |
| Creators | Gao, Jing |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | copyright under review |
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