Root defintion

A root definition is a concise, tightly construction of a human activity system used in Soft Systems Methodology, it states what the system is; what is does is then elaborated in a conceptual model which is built on the basis of the definition. Every element in the definition must be reflected in the model derived from it. A well- formulated root definition will make explicit each of the CATWOE elements. A completely general root definition embodying CATWOE might take the following form: A (… O …)-owned system which, under the following environmental constraints which it takes as given: (… E …), transforms this input (…) into this output (…) by means of the following major activities among others: (… … …), the transformation being carried out by these actors (… A …) and directly affecting the following beneficiaries and/or victims (… C …). The world-image which makes the transformation meaningful contains at least the following elements among others: (… W …) (Checkland, 1993: 317).