Soft systems methodology for modeling business processes in EDI implementation

EDI is a complex and inter-organizational innovation, hence, using traditional development methods in developing EDI applications is no longer appropriate. Several issues - technical, political, economics, intra- and inter-organizational - need to be simultaneously given serious considerations to ensure the adoption and integration of EDI into an existing information systems will truly benefit the adopting organization. Here, the authors proposed the use of the soft approach advocated by Peter Checkland as an alternative to conventional methods.