Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO Unit 10: The Rich Pictures Technique CSEM04: Risk and Opportunities of Systems Change in Organisations Prof. Helen M Edwards & Dr Lynne Humphries (This is based on the handout by Jeremy Rose, BIT, Manchester Metropolitan University)

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO Overview SSM (Soft Systems Methodology) Rich Pictures and How to Construct Them. Rich Picture Examples What follows is for interest –Root Definitions Format of Root Definitions What Does it Mean? –CATWOE Analysis Anything else?

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO SSM (Soft Systems Methodology) SSM “systems thinking” approach SSM has seven steps In step 2: “problem situation expressed”rich pictures are used.

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO Rich Picture of Constucting a Rich Picture is animation with explanation is from is from the Open University From the “Systems Thinking and Practice: Diagramming” unit.

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO Rich Pictures In reviewing a situation or examining a system the first task is to –'express' the problem situation i.e. to form a rich picture. –Rich picture = 'thorough, but non-judgmental understanding’. –N.B. Different rich pictures can be draw for the same system/situation by different stakeholders.

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO Rich Pictures Usually free form diagrams or “cartoons” –Pictures provide an excellent way of sorting out and prioritising complex problem areas. –Pictures display relationships -the way business functions work together. They may include elements of –structure (e.g. the departments of a university) –process (e.g. studying, examining), –issues, concerns, or developments (e.g. implementing a quality service).

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO How to Construct Them? They show what is considered important in the situation. But there are no rules: –Matchstick men and women are common, –sometimes bubbles coming out of their mouths indicate important issues, –crossed swords for conflict, –eyeballs indicate something being overlooked, inspected or supervised

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO Example Icons The idea is simply to get something on paper often working with others even where they have different, even conflicting, ideas.

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO Rich Picture Example Here is an example of a rich picture: what does it tell you? Can you see any risks here? Can you see any opportunities? source: Lewis, P.J. (1992) Rich Picture building in the SSM, European Journal of Information Systems

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO Example: Text The Secretary of a growing Professional Association believed many of its operations could be computerised: –including membership, examination, and tuition administration. Before commissioning any new systems she wanted: – an overview of where potential benefits would be found – and what problems might exist. A consultancy reviewed the organisation and created an initial rich picture of the situation. (from Avison,D. and Fitzgerald,G (1995) IS Development: Methodologies, Techniques and Tools. 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill,, McGraw-Hill)

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO Shows : conflict between the secretary and the education secretary about the how and what to computerise Worries of the education assistant about the thought of automation should alert to the potential for poor usage and user resistance, therefore also the need for training and support. Rich Picture

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO This is as far as you need to go What follows is for completeness and interest.

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO Root Definitions A root definition is –a short textual definition of the aims and means of the system to be modelled. –It is not the real world that is being modelled, but potential or 'virtual' systems that are logical and coherent Root definitions follow rich pictures.

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO Format of Root Definitions A system to do X, by (means of) Y, in order to Z –telling us what the system will do, how it is to be done, and why it is being done (its long term aims).

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO What Does it Mean? A university owned and operated system to award degrees and diplomas to suitably qualified candidates (X), by means of suitable assessment (Y), (in conformance with national standards), in order to demonstrate the capabilities of candidates to potential employers (Z). This is not everything a university does –The root definition is talking about one part of a much wider system –Opinions may differ as to the validity of various parts of the statement.

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO What Does it Mean? To reiterate: –This is not everything a university does The root definition is talking about one part of a much wider system Opinions may differ as to the validity of various parts of the statement. But the root definition it is not supposed to be a description of what assessment actually does in the university, –It is expected to be a well-defined concept so that we can consider it analytically: 'if this is what assessment is supposed to be, how would we go about doing it?'

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO CATWOE Analysis Rich pictures and basic root definitions are supplemented by CATWOE analysis. –To build coherent and comprehensive root definitions. CATWOE analysis for the assessment system results in:

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO Anything else? There is a lot more to SSM than this –but for the purposes of this module we go no further. Rich pictures and their accompanying root definitions and CATWOE analysis provide a mechanism for –mapping out a problem situation, –identifying conflicts, issues, risks and opportunities –clarifying the central focus of the system and –providing some clear structured way of expressing the elements within the system (CATWOE analysis).

Unit 10 University of Sunderland CSEM04 ROSCO References Avison,D. and Fitzgerald,G (1995) IS Development: Methodologies, Techniques and Tools. 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, McGraw-Hill Checkland, P., and Scholes, J. (1990) Soft Systems Methodology in Action, Wiley Lewis, P.J.(1992) Rich Picture Building. European Journal of Information Systems, Vol 1, No. 5 Open University (ud) Systems Thinking and Practice: Diagramming –“Talked through” exaplanation (with example of the energy debate). Patching, D. (1990) Practical Soft Systems Analysis. FT Prentice Hall, London. Rose, J (ud) Soft Systems Methodology, Department of BIT, the Manchester Metropolitan University. –Available from