The key characteristics that distinguish soft systems from hard ones are spelt out. The writings of Michael Polanyi and Martin Heidegger, despite their very different worldviews, are used to give philosophical underpinning to these characteristics, especially the notion of practitioner involvement. In addition, the complementary nature of Polanyi's ‘emergence’ and Heidegger's ‘breakdowns’ is highlighted. In conclusion, a reflection is given on what constitutes a soft systems approach.
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