Application of Soft Systems Methodology in Structuring the Issue of Policy Making of Electronic Banking

Objective: Due to the fact that the banking industry is mixed with information and communication technologies, extensive developments are expected for this industry and its players in such a way that an ambiguous and complicated future is, specially, expected for the electronic banking industry. Also, analysis of the present research on policy making in electronic banking signifies the lack of a policy making model’s ability to continuously observe the uncertainties in order to set a long-term plan to preserve the future position of this industry. The aim of the present study is presenting a model for policy making in electronic banking under uncertain conditions. Methods: In order to do so, the issue of policy making in electronic banking has been structured using Soft Systems Methodology. The prescriptive methodology has been applied and the outcomes of this research are in such a way that they consider the targeted uncertainties in policy making. Results: The resultant outcome is a two-circle conceptual model, the main circle of which consists of 5 stages; problem defining ecosystem, scenario presentation ecosystem, control before execution, implementation ecosystem, and control after execution, and the outer circle of which has been designed to implement the necessary controls on the stages is mentioned in the central circle. Conclusion: for structuring the issues of policy making of electronic banking, the implementing of aforementioned model and responsibility of the main players in this area including the central bank, the ministry of economy and finance, banks, software producing companies and payment service providers is described.