44095: IT for Management
Systems Concepts 2
By: Ian PerryRoom: C48E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 01723 35 7287
http://itsy.co.uk/ac/0607/Sem2/44095_IT4M/
Ian Perry Slide 244095: IT for Management: Systems Concepts 2
The Previous Lecture Introduced the following systems
concepts: System, Sub-system, Element Boundary & Identity Environment
External Internal
Connection & Interaction And went on to show how all of the
above could be depicted using relatively simple diagrams.
Ian Perry Slide 344095: IT for Management: Systems Concepts 2
A ‘System in Context’ Diagram
The System is composed of a number of Sub-systems (i.e. the Internal Environment).The System has a Boundary (which separates it from other Systems) and a ‘unique’ Identity (which distinguishes it from similar Systems).The System ‘exists’ within other Systems (i.e. the External Environment).
ABC Ltd.
Warehousing
CustomerServices
Manuf acturing
Competitors
Suppliers
CustomersGovernment
Economy
ABC Ltd.
Warehousing
CustomerServices
Manuf acturing
Competitors
Suppliers
CustomersGovernment
Economy
Showing that;
Ian Perry Slide 444095: IT for Management: Systems Concepts 2
A ‘High Level Systems Diagram’
Customers ABC Ltd.Customer Services
Warehousing
Manufacturing
SupplierI nteraction
Competitors
SuppliersGovernment
Economy
CustomerI nteraction Manufacture
I nteraction
ManufactureCustomerServices
I nteraction
WarehouseI nteraction
WarehouseI nteraction
ManufactureI nteraction
CustomerServices
I nteractionCustomer
I nteraction
Customers ABC Ltd.Customer Services
Warehousing
Manufacturing
SupplierI nteraction
Competitors
SuppliersGovernment
Economy
CustomerI nteractionCustomer
I nteraction ManufactureI nteractionManufactureI nteraction
ManufactureCustomerServices
I nteraction
WarehouseI nteractionWarehouseI nteraction
WarehouseI nteractionWarehouseI nteraction
ManufactureI nteractionManufactureI nteraction
CustomerServices
I nteractionCustomer
I nteractionCustomer
I nteraction
Names the Elements which are components of each Sub-System.
Shows the connections & interactions;
Which, in addition to all of the things that the ‘Systems in Context’ diagram included, also;
And
between this System & other Systems (i.e. in the External Environment).
between the Elements of each Sub-System (i.e. in the Internal Environment).
Ian Perry Slide 544095: IT for Management: Systems Concepts 2
What now? Having previously ‘discovered’;
the main building blocks of the system under investigation, i.e.:
sub-systems & elements. and a number of important External
Environmental factors, e.g.: Customers, Suppliers, etc.
We must now explore the system in much more detail; especially the connection and interaction
of the components of the system.
Ian Perry Slide 644095: IT for Management: Systems Concepts 2
Why? Our aim is to understand (i.e. name) the
Information flows: Connecting the System with its External
Environment, i.e.: Interactions between specific elements, of
specific sub-systems; and other systems that exist in the external environment.
Connecting the sub-systems of the Internal Environment, i.e.:
Interactions between specific elements, of specific sub-systems; and other sub-systems within the internal environment.
Ian Perry Slide 744095: IT for Management: Systems Concepts 2
Our ‘Systems View’ so far:
Customers ABC Ltd.Customer Services
Warehousing
Manufacturing
SupplierI nteraction
Competitors
SuppliersGovernment
Economy
CustomerI nteraction Manufacture
I nteraction
ManufactureCustomerServices
I nteraction
WarehouseI nteraction
WarehouseI nteraction
ManufactureI nteraction
CustomerServices
I nteractionCustomer
I nteraction
Customers ABC Ltd.Customer Services
Warehousing
Manufacturing
SupplierI nteraction
Competitors
SuppliersGovernment
Economy
CustomerI nteractionCustomer
I nteraction ManufactureI nteractionManufactureI nteraction
ManufactureCustomerServices
I nteraction
WarehouseI nteractionWarehouseI nteraction
WarehouseI nteractionWarehouseI nteraction
ManufactureI nteractionManufactureI nteraction
CustomerServices
I nteractionCustomer
I nteractionCustomer
I nteraction
Shows what is connected to what; BOTH Internally and Externally.
What we now need to discover is what information is flowing along each of these connections.
Can’t ‘simply’ add the information flows to this diagram; would become VERY messy.So, we ‘zoom-in’ on one sub-system at a time.
Ian Perry Slide 844095: IT for Management: Systems Concepts 2
A ‘Detailed Information Flow Diagram’
Customer Services
Customers
CustomerI nteraction
Warehousing Manufacturing
WarehouseI nteraction
ManufactureI nteraction
I nformCustomer
CheckStock
ReceiveRequest
Request forProducts
Yes/Delay?
Are ProductsAvailable?
Yes!
Are ProductsAvailable?
Yes/No?
RequestMore
Need n moreof Product x
Manufacture n moreof Product x
Will take us y Days
AwaitingManufacture
Delay
ABC Ltd.
Customer Services
Customers
CustomerI nteraction
Warehousing Manufacturing
WarehouseI nteraction
ManufactureI nteraction
I nformCustomerI nformCustomer
CheckStockCheckStock
ReceiveRequestReceiveRequest
Request forProducts
Yes/Delay?
Are ProductsAvailable?
Yes!
Are ProductsAvailable?
Yes/No?
RequestMore
RequestMore
Need n moreof Product x
Manufacture n moreof Product x
Will take us y Days
AwaitingManufacture
AwaitingManufacture
Delay
ABC Ltd.
The ‘Elements’ are Processes which were ‘hidden’ on the ‘High-level Systems Diagram’.
Processes require ‘Inputs’ (i.e. data) and produce ‘Outputs’ (i.e. information).
Customer Services is the System.
Do we now know ‘enough’ to suggest where IT might be employed effectively?
Ian Perry Slide 944095: IT for Management: Systems Concepts 2
This Week’s Workshop Taking the output of the previous Workshop
as a starting point, we will; attempt to draw a ‘Detailed Information Flow
Diagram’, for ONE of the sub-systems of the organisation as described by the Case Study.
And then see if this detailed ‘view’ of the system enables us to answer the question: Where, and how, might Information Technology (IT)
be used to improve the efficiency and/or effectiveness of Case Study organisation’s information system?
NB. Do not leave it too late to begin working on your Assignment. You MUST make an ‘attempt’ to answer Part 1 of
the Assignment in advance of the next teaching session, i.e. the Saturday Day School on the 10th of March.
Ian Perry Slide 1044095: IT for Management: Systems Concepts 2
Oops - forgot to ‘Name the Elements’!
Sales
Reading
Newcastle
Leeds (HO)
Assembly
Planning
Warehouse
Customers
Suppliers
NationalDistributionCompany
EZPC
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