Harnessing multiple mental models as a training technique for increasing understanding of people issues

Abstract

This paper describes and evaluates the experience of using soft systems methodology (SSM) a problem structuring method of soft operations research (OR) to create learning operations about “people issues” among District Health Officers working in the government health system in India. A day workshop for District Health Officers from two states of India, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat on human resources issues was facilities using SSM. Rich picture building one of the tools of SSM was used for facilitating the workshop. The use of SSM helped generate a creative learning situation and provided an opportunity to understand the human resources issues faced by those working in the government health department.