44095: IT for Management Systems Concepts 2 By:Ian Perry Room: C48 Tel:

Ian PerrySlide : 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 PerrySlide : 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). Showing that;

Ian PerrySlide : IT for Management: Systems Concepts 2 A ‘High Level Systems Diagram’ 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 PerrySlide : 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 PerrySlide : 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 PerrySlide : IT for Management: Systems Concepts 2 Our ‘Systems View’ so far: 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 PerrySlide : IT for Management: Systems Concepts 2 A ‘Detailed Information Flow Diagram’ 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 PerrySlide : 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 PerrySlide : IT for Management: Systems Concepts 2 Oops - forgot to ‘Name the Elements’! Sales Reading Newcastle Leeds (HO) Assembly Planning Warehouse Customers Suppliers National Distribution Company EZPC ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?