The use of soft systems methodology in emancipatory development

This paper discusses the use of Checkland's soft systems methodology with t he broader framework of participative systemic action research. It builds o n an earlier critique of SSM, discussing particularly its use as a tool for participation and emancipation: the paper discusses how SSM was used as a method to help successfully achieve emancipatory development in a rural are a in the Philippines. Important emergent features that ensured such success for SSM were (a) the role of the facilitator and the process of facilitati on, (b) the commitment to learning with and from all participants, (c) the contextualization of the SSM, and (d) a commitment to authentic participati on of all stakeholders. Mention is also made of the different issues concer ning the implementation of agreed change in situations where there are no c lear power hierarchies. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.