Two strands model of the soft systems in action: the case of an sme in automotive component and defense industry

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2018

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Kılıç, Ayşe Begüm

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Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) have significant value for the economy as being a source of employment opportunities and creating a large portion of the total added value. Guiding them to solve their problems or improving their work processes is beneficial for both parties as researchers gain real-world experiences. This thesis aims to improve an SME’s work processes by adopting the Two Strands Model of Soft Systems Methodology. This model is a more practical and iterative approach than Mode 1 that it considers social, cultural and political sides of the problem situation. The study was conducted by interviewing the employees, partners and the owner of the SME; observing the SME’s daily flux and collecting the necessary documents provided by the SME. As found in the literature, there are only three journal papers that fully apply Two Strands Model on real cases and they all published as original papers. This thesis is the first study that applies the Two Strands Model to the automotive component industry and also the defense industry. Since there is not any paper found in the literature that applies that methodology to an SME, another significance of this thesis is that it collaborates with an SME. Therefore, it is believed that this thesis provides valuable insight by filling a gap about SMEs that operates in important sectors. The findings of the thesis ensured beneficial suggestions to the SMEs and some of the suggestions already applied and developments in the work processes achieved.

Subject Keywords

Small business., System analysis., Defense industries., Systems engineering., Automobile industry and trade.

URI

http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12622500/index.pdf
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/27603

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Graduate School of Informatics, Thesis

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Citation Formats

A. B. Kılıç, “Two strands model of the soft systems in action: the case of an sme in automotive component and defense industry,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2018.