No abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to illustrate, through an example taken from a recent research project, how rich pictures could be used to more effectively evaluate the delivery of projects. It has as its focus a detailed account of the process of identifying, interviewing and co-developing rich pictures with research respondents. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reports on research that undertook a soft systems methodology (SSM) combined with an action learning approach. Findings – The authors provided, one of eight rich pictures developed as part of a PhD study that used rich pictures as part of wider SSM study into understanding project management best practice. Key findings pertaining to this paper are summarised as follows: rich pictures provide a sound and holistic means to capture context, meaning and impact of situations that are often very difficult to document; use of the more use of artistic and cultural flow of colour, diagrams and symbols in the rich pictures presented a significantly improved resolution of such intangible aspects on a physical artefact such as a picture simply because colour, flow, models and symbols can act as suitable proxy to understanding and resolution; and researcher needs to have an open mind and be rigorous in questioning and interacting with interviewees. Research limitations/implications – This was based on one study only and serves to illustrate the value of an approach rather than a template to be generally used. Practical implications – This provides practical “how to” guidance on developing rich pictures within a SSM research approach. Social implications – The paper illustrates how to portray participants in a particularly sensitive case resulting from a natural disaster. This approach may help people to better express their experiences and to give them a clearer voice in telling their story. Originality/value – The major new contribution that the paper stress this paper makes is one of not only demonstrating that rich picture development is a powerful sensemaking tool but the paper also illustrates how it can be implemented and the authors demonstrated how it allows stakeholders to have a strong and influential voice in project conception and delivery. In reflecting on the use of this tool the paper suggests that it can be effectively applied or adapted for use in a range of disaster recovery situations and even wider in the resolution of purposeful programme development for all range of challenging projects.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to describe and explain the use (at the situational analysis project phase) of an innovation to a sensemaking and problem-solving tool for aid relief and disaster recovery projects, that improves programmes to project management practice. Design/methodology/approach -There are tools that can assist in understanding a project situational context as a pre-cursor to planning and implementing project plans. One tool, soft system methodology (SSM), is used to visualise messy complex problems to understand this context and effectively plan. The authors used SSM and evolved some improvements reported upon here. Findings -The rich picture approach in SSM was adapted to add layers of meaning through colour coding and process mapping. This is explained in detail, using examples from a recent study to illustrate this approach that has been subsequently rigorously validated in practice.Research limitations/implications -The use of SSM can considerably assist in gaining a deeper understanding of how the project can be planned and monitored in future. The paper is limited to aid relief project examples. Practical implications -Macro-level project planning sets the stage for the effective delivery of a realistic program-to-project plan. Projects are often characterised by chaos, paradoxes and highly complex choices of action. The SSM tool enhancement and further developments can help practitioners improve their understanding of complex situations when preparing response and project plans. Originality/value -While SSM is not new, the way it was adapted for recent research into aid disaster recovery demonstrates a highly innovative development to visualising complex situations and offers some powerful improvements to SSM. The paper advances project management research through its SSM innovation and also illustrates an important adaptation to a standard SSM technique.