An application of Checkland's soft system methodology in China

Using Checkland's (1981) soft system methodology, this paper studies the issues of state planning and the adjustment of the industrial structure in Guangdong, China. After a description of the problem situation, the authors concentrate on finding out the "transformation" elements (i.e. the ideal state of the industrial structure in the planning year) of the root definition of the relevant system. And then the authors continue by following the logical steps of the methodology to study the issue of the adjustment of industrial structure for this transformation in the province.