44221: Information Systems Systems Concepts 2 By:Ian Perry Room: C48 E-mail:[email protected] Tel: 01723 35 7287

44221: Information Systems

Systems Concepts 2

By: Ian PerryRoom: C48E-mail: [email protected]

Tel: 01723 35 7287

http://itsy.co.uk/ac/0708/Sem1/44221_IS/

Ian Perry Slide 244221: Information Systems: 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.


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;


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


ManufactureI nteraction

CustomerServices

I nteractionCustomer

I nteraction


Warehousing

Manufacturing


Competitors

SuppliersGovernment

Economy

CustomerI nteractionCustomer

I nteraction ManufactureI nteractionManufactureI nteraction


I nteraction

WarehouseI nteractionWarehouseI nteraction


ManufactureI nteractionManufactureI nteraction

CustomerServices



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).


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.


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.


Our ‘Systems View’ so far:


Warehousing

Manufacturing


Competitors

SuppliersGovernment

Economy

CustomerI nteraction Manufacture

I nteraction


I nteraction




CustomerServices


I nteraction


Warehousing

Manufacturing


Competitors

SuppliersGovernment

Economy

CustomerI nteractionCustomer

I nteraction ManufactureI nteractionManufactureI nteraction


I nteraction



ManufactureI nteractionManufactureI nteraction

CustomerServices



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.


A ‘Detailed Information Flow Diagram’

Customer Services

Customers

CustomerI nteraction

Warehousing Manufacturing



I nformCustomer

CheckStock

ReceiveRequest

Request forProducts

Yes/Delay?

Are ProductsAvailable?

Yes!


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



I nformCustomerI nformCustomer

CheckStockCheckStock

ReceiveRequestReceiveRequest

Request forProducts

Yes/Delay?


Yes!


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?


Customer Interaction? Two Processes

Receive Request Input

“Product Request” – Customer - External Environment Output

“Product Availability?” – Check Stock - Warehouse Interaction Inform Customer

Inputs “Products Available” - Check Stock - Warehouse Interaction “Will be Delay!” – Awaiting Manufacture - Manufacture

Interaction Output

“Yes/Delay” – Customer - External Environment

Everything is ‘known’. Should be able to suggest where IT might be

employed effectively.


Manufacture Interaction? Two Processes

Request More Input

“Need more of Product x” – Check Stock - Warehouse Interaction Output

“Manufacture more Product x – ??? – Manufacturing Sub-system Awaiting Manufacture

Inputs “Will take n days” - ??? – Manufacturing Sub-system

Output “Delay!” – Inform Customer – Customer Interaction

Everything isn’t ‘known’. Need to ‘zoom-in’ on Manufacturing Sub-system,

before suggesting where IT might be employed effectively.


Warehouse Interaction? One Process

Check Stock Inputs

“Product Availability?” – Receive Request - Customer Interaction

“Yes/No!” - ??? – Warehousing Sub-system Outputs

“Are Products Available?” – ??? – Warehousing Sub-system “Need more of Product x” – Request More – Manufacture

Interaction “Yes!” – Inform Customer – Customer Interaction

Everything isn’t ‘known’. Need to ‘zoom-in’ on Warehousing Sub-system,

before suggesting where IT might be employed effectively.

AND, perhaps ‘Check Stock’ is actually more than one process?


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 ‘GIC’ 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?


Assignment 1? DO NOT leave it too late to begin

working on your Assignment. You should already have attempted to

answer Part 1 a) of Assignment 1, i.e.; Draw a ‘High Level Systems Diagram’ of ‘EZPC’.

After this week’s workshop you should attempt to do the same for:

Part 1 b) of Assignment 1, i.e.: Draw a ‘Detailed Information Flow Diagram’ of ONE of

the Sub-systems of ‘EZPC’. Part 2 of Assignment 1, i.e.:

Discuss where, and how, Information Technology might be used to improve the efficiency and/or effectiveness of this specific Sub-system.


Assignment Hand-in Process You MUST hand in TWO copies of each Assignment for

this Module. BOTH copies must be submitted by 3pm of the submission

date.

An Electronic Copy (via Turnitin) See the ‘Assessment Method’ page of the ‘IS Web-site’; in

order to find out how to enrol for & use Turnitin. The ‘Class ID’ and ‘Password’ for the IS Module are:

Class ID: 42019 Password: 1224

Make sure that you submit to the correct place, i.e.: Code Name: E1 – IS Analysis

A ‘Paper’ Copy (to the School Office) With properly completed Front-sheets, and a Turnitin receipt,

in the correct drawer of the wooden filing cabinet outside of CH5.

Documents

44221: Information Systems Systems Concepts 2 By:Ian Perry Room: C48 E-mail:[email protected] Tel: 01723 35 7287