The use of soft systems methodology to improve the adoption by Australian cotton growers of the siratac computer-based crop management system

Abstract An action research project is described which was undertaken during 1986–1987, where the brief was to identify and investigate problems associated with the poor adoption rate of Siratac and develop an action plan to improve it. Soft systems methodology was used to structure the project. The processes of analysis, development of conceptual models and their comparison with the existing situation, and debate within the industry about desirable and feasible change showed that the reasons for non-adoption are symptoms of more fundamental organisational problems of policy, direction, management, marketing and methods of funding. The implications for the provision and acceptance by farmers of automated management information systems is discussed, as is the usefulness of soft systems methodology.