Lecture 1: Systems super systems, systems & subsystems

SYS366

Definition of a SystemSystem (from Latin systēma, in turn from Greek σύστημα systēma) is a set of interacting or interdependent entities forming an integrated whole.

Source: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System

Information Systems

Systems that Solve Business Problems

Collection of interrelated components that collect, process, store, and provide as output the information needed to complete business tasks

Types of Information Systems

Information Systems Super systems:

Made up of large, stand-alone systemsExample: the system for the Canada Games 2011

Large systems are often further divided into subsystems through functional decompositionDividing a system into components based on subsystems that in turn are further divided into subsystems (based on the Use Case Diagrams)

Information Systems and Subsystems

Major Subsystems within the Customer Support System

Order entryCustomer service/catalogOrder trackingShippingBack ordersReturnsSales analysis

System Boundary vs. Automation Boundary

Information Systems and Component Parts

Information systems are crucial to modern business

Key to success is thorough systems analysis and design

Systems analyst is a key individual in these activities

Information Systems

The Analyst

Business problem solverPractical knowledge

ComputersComputer programmingDatabases

Understand business problems

Use logical method for solving problems

Required Skills of the Systems Analyst

Technical knowledge and skillsComputer hardware, software,

databases, and related devicesTools to help develop analysis or design

specificationsTechniques for completing specific

development activities

Business knowledge and skillsOrganizational structureFunctional work processes

Required Skills of the Systems Analyst

People knowledge and skillsCommunication Team Management

Ethics and integrity CIPS

Analyst’s Approach to Problem Solving

Research problem

Verify benefits outweigh costs

Develop solutions

Recommend best solution

Define solution

Implement solution

Monitor results

Environment Surrounding the Analyst

Information system configurations encountered will range from PC to large mainframe systems

Job titles of the systems analyst vary greatly

Places of employment vary from small businesses to large corporations

Definition of a ProjectA Project is a sequence of unique, complex, and connected activities having one goal or purpose and that must be completed by a specific time, within budget, and according to specification. ( p. 65)

Participants in a Systems Development Project

AssignmentEach team is to decompose the super

system necessary to run the Canada Games 2011 into major subsystems based on category. For example, Volunteer subsystem

Then the team is to research the web sites for the Olympics being held in Vancouver from February 12 – 28, 2010, and the web site for the Pan American Games being held in Toronto in 2015 and add any subsystems that are unique to them to the table.