Stage 6: Debate on feasible and desirable changes

The comparison undertaken in the previous stage can have two results.

• It can cause opinions to change on the problem situation and the issues arising from it.

• It can provide an agenda for change.

In either case (though both may result), the objective of this stage is to debate, with all concerned, the changes proposed to ensure that they are both desirable and feasible. The aim is to arrive at consensus about the proposed changes. However, as the soft systems approach specifically attempts to explore and reconcile different views and perceptions of the problem situation, this may not be totally achievable. Thus, soft systems seek accommodation between these different views to enable action to be agreed.