Peter Checkland
Encyclopedia
Peter Checkland is a British management scientist and emeritus professor of Systems at Lancaster University
. He is the developer of soft systems methodology
(SSM): a methodology based on a way of systems thinking
.
at St John's College, Oxford
, where he graduated with 1st class honours.
He worked in the industry for 15 years as a manager in ICI's chemicals business. At the end of the 1960s he joined the pioneering department of Systems Engineering
at Lancaster University
, where he became professor of Systems. At Lancaster he led a programme of action research
. This research team developed a new way of tackling problem situations faced by managers - Soft Systems Methodology. The SSM approach is now used and taught worldwide. Since the 1990s he is Professor Emeritus of Systems in Lancaster University Management School
.
Peter Checkland worked on the editorial board of journals such as European Journal of Information Systems
; the International Journal of Information Management; the International Journal of General Systems
; the Systems Practice; and the Systems Research journal.
In 1986 Peter Checkland was president of the Society for General Systems Research
, now International Society for the Systems Sciences. In May 1996 he was awarded an honorary degree
from the Open University
as Doctor of the University. In 2004 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Czech University of Economics. In 2007 he was awarded the prestigious Beale Medal by the OR Society, in recognition of his sustained and significant contribution to the philosophy, theory and practice of operational research.
Lancaster University
Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...
. He is the developer of soft systems methodology
Soft systems
Soft systems methodology is a systemic approach for tackling real-world problematic situations. Soft Systems Methodology is the result of the continuing action research that Peter Checkland, Brian Wilson, and many others have conducted over 30 years, to provide a framework for users to deal with...
(SSM): a methodology based on a way of systems thinking
Systems thinking
Systems thinking is the process of understanding how things influence one another within a whole. In nature, systems thinking examples include ecosystems in which various elements such as air, water, movement, plants, and animals work together to survive or perish...
.
Biography
Checkland attended George Dixon’s Grammar School, and in 1954 received a M.A. degree in chemistryChemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at St John's College, Oxford
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
, where he graduated with 1st class honours.
He worked in the industry for 15 years as a manager in ICI's chemicals business. At the end of the 1960s he joined the pioneering department of Systems Engineering
Systems engineering
Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering that focuses on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed over the life cycle of the project. Issues such as logistics, the coordination of different teams, and automatic control of machinery become more...
at Lancaster University
Lancaster University
Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...
, where he became professor of Systems. At Lancaster he led a programme of action research
Action research
Action research or participatory action research – is a reflective process of progressive problem solving led by individuals working with others in teams or as part of a "community of practice" to improve the way they address issues and solve problems. Action research is done simply by action,...
. This research team developed a new way of tackling problem situations faced by managers - Soft Systems Methodology. The SSM approach is now used and taught worldwide. Since the 1990s he is Professor Emeritus of Systems in Lancaster University Management School
Lancaster University Management School
Lancaster University Management School in Lancaster, England, is the business school of Lancaster University. The School was established in 1964. A full range of subjects are taught, ranging from undergraduate degrees to postgraduate degrees including MBAs, PhDs and post-experience executive...
.
Peter Checkland worked on the editorial board of journals such as European Journal of Information Systems
European Journal of Information Systems
The European Journal of Information Systems is an interdisciplinary scientific journal, which wants to offer a distinctive European perspective on the theory and practice of information systems....
; the International Journal of Information Management; the International Journal of General Systems
International Journal of General Systems
The International Journal of General Systems is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering research on basic and applied aspects of systems science and systems methodology. Its focus is on "general systems" - systems ideas that have general applicability...
; the Systems Practice; and the Systems Research journal.
In 1986 Peter Checkland was president of the Society for General Systems Research
Society for General Systems Research
The Society for General Systems Research is predecessor of the current International Society for the Systems Sciences , known to be one the first interdisciplinary and international co-operations in the field of systems theory and systems science...
, now International Society for the Systems Sciences. In May 1996 he was awarded an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
as Doctor of the University. In 2004 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Czech University of Economics. In 2007 he was awarded the prestigious Beale Medal by the OR Society, in recognition of his sustained and significant contribution to the philosophy, theory and practice of operational research.
Publications
Checkland wrote four books on Soft Systems Methodology and several articles and papers:- 1981, Systems Thinking, Systems Practice, Wiley [rev 1999 ed]
- 1990, Soft Systems in Action, Wiley (with Jim Scholes) [rev 1999 ed]
- 1998, Information, Systems and Information Systems, Wiley (with Sue Holwell)
- 2006, Learning For Action: A Short Definitive Account of Soft Systems Methodology, and its use Practitioners, Teachers and Students, Wiley (with John Poulter)
External links
- Professor Peter Checkland at Lancaster University, UK.
- Peter Checkland introduction by the Open University, UK.