The paper introduces an application of the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) in the charity organization Pão dos Pobres de Santo Antônio, located in Porto Alegre, Brazil, which assists boys living under intensive social privation. The aim is to divulge for the Brazilian audience a methodology for studying complex settings, and to foster the interaction of academicians and practitioners with community groups facing special needs. Implementing the SSM was interesting for both organization and researchers: it supported a global and systemic understanding about the charity to mature, suggested alternatives for dealing with issues in it, granted the authors access to blurred facets of their community, and nourished cooperation and learning of all stakeholders - notably one of the most reported benefits as resulting from the methodology.
Soft Systems Methodology; complex systems; systems thinking; learning; philanthropy
