Designing a Management System for a Rural Community Development Organization

Using a Systemic Action Research Process. (Sidney Luckett, Steven Ngubane, and
Bhekathina Memela, 2001).
Introduction
This paper describes the first phase, ‘finding out’, of a systemic participatory action research
intervention in the management systems of a rural community development organization in
the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
The paper begins by briefly setting out the socioeconomic context of the community
development organization.
The systemic action research methodology used in this intervention. Critical Systems
Thinking (CST) informed the choice of systems methodologies and group process methods:
Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), Viable System Model (VSM), Concept mapping and
Delphi.
 We briefly introduce Critical Systems Thinking (CST),
 Hard Systems Thinking (HST), and
 Soft Systems Thinking (SST), and outline a methodology known as Soft Systems
Methodology (SSM) in some detail because it was the “dominant” methodology used
in our action research process.
 The techniques, Concept-mapping and Delphi will be explained at the relevant points
in the text, i.e., where they are used.
Statement of the problem
The population of the region has low socio-economic status due to The geophysical
landscape presents considerable challenges to development. The topography is
characterized by deep valleys and steep, eroded granite hills. And poor communications
infrastructure is a serious impediment to development