Workshop 2

The workshop 2 took place on November 21st, 2019.

The aim of Unit 2's workshop is to introduce you to a framework we think is useful for systematically analyzing interventions in problem situations. This framework comes from the ‘Soft System Methodology’ school of thinking and is a mnemonic called BATWOVE.  It stands for Beneficiaries, Actors, Transformation, Worldview, Owner(s), Victims and Environmental Constraints.

Workshop learning outcomes

• Have applied and used BATWOVE to analyze an intervention
• Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the BATWOVE approach
• Worked in a multidisciplinary team
• Reflected on the process, benefits and possible drawbacks of this sort of teamwork.

Some Background

BATWOVE makes up an important part of a systems thinking method called ‘Soft Systems Methodology’ (SSM).  SSM is one of the major systems thinking methodology developed by Peter Checkland.  It is an approach that has been developed to deal with the complex and messy problems of the types that have been outlined in this unit.  It is an action-oriented process of inquiry into problematic situations.  SSM can be done participatively, in a workshop setting, or by using a researcher as an intermediary.

The two system mapping methods taught in Units 1 & 2 – the rich picture and BATWOVE, are used in SSM early on in the process to help structure thinking around the problem situation.  It is beyond the scope of this unit to teach SSM in its entirety.  However, if you are interested, you can find out more about it from the selected reading list below.