chap06[1].ppt 249KB May 20 2010 09:29:46 PM

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS 8/E
Raymond McLeod, Jr. and George Schell

Chapter 6
Systems Concepts

Copyright 2001 Prentice-Hall, Inc.

6-1

Four Model Types
1) Physical models
– Three dimensional representation such as a scale
model

2) Narrative models
– Spoken or written

3) Graphic models
– Abstraction of lines, symbols, or shapes


4) Mathematical models
– Equation(s)
EOQ =

2PS
M

6-2

A Graphic Model of the
Economic Order Quantity Concep
Cost

Total cost
int
a
M

c
n

a
en

t
s
o
ec

Purchasing cost
0

EOQ

Order Quantity
6-3

Sales
Orders

Sales

Orders

Customers

1.

1.

Edit
Sales
Orders

2.

2.
3.

Sales
Order
Data


Enter Sales
Orders

Sales
Orders

Prepare Sales
Order Report

Sales
Orders
Report

Edit
Sales
Orders

Enter
Sales

Order
Data

Sales
Orders

Enter Sales
Order Data

Edit Sales
Orders

Sales Order
History
File

A. A Flowchart

Sales Order
History File


3.
Prepare
Sales
Order
Report Sales

Order
Report

Sales
Manager

B. A Data Flow Diagram
6-4

Uses of Models


All four models facilitate understanding and

communication.



The mathematical model also helps predict
the future.

6-5

The General Systems
Model
Graphic diagram with an accompanying
narrative that depicts all organizations in a
general way using a systems framework
 The Physical System








Material flow
Personnel flow
Machine flow
Money flow
6-6

The Physical System of the
Firm
Input
Resources

Transformation
Process

Output
Resources

Boundary of

the Firm
6-7

The Conceptual System


Open-loop systems



Closed-loop systems (feedback loop)



Management control



The information processor
6-8


A Closed-Loop System
Feedback

Input
Resources

Control
Mechanism

Transformation
Process

Feedback

Output
Resources

6-9


The Physical System of the Firm
as a Controlled System
Information

Information
Management

Input
Resources

Transformation
Process

Output
Resources

6-10

A Sales Report of
Fast-Moving Products
Item Number
400293
319421
786402
190796
001007
739792
722210
410615
963214
000123

Item Description

Year-to-Date
Sales Volume

BRAKE PIPE
DOOR HANDLE GASKET
CLUTCH DRIVEN PLATE
CARPET SNAP
SPARK PLUG
HOSE CLIP
RUBBER PLUG
UPPER DOOR HINGE
REAR TUBE SHOCK
NEEDLE VALVE
Totals

% of Total
Year-to-Date Sales

$1,702.93
1,624.00
1,403.97
1,102.00
1,010.79
949.20
946.73
938.40
922.19
919.26

.068
.065
.056
.044
.040
.038
.038
.038
.037
.037

$11,519.47

.461

6-11

from All of the Physical
System Elements

Information

Input
Resources

Management

Transformation
Process

Information

Output
Resources
6-12

Supplier Analysis Report
Item Number: 410615
Item Description: Upper Door Hinge
SUPPLIER
NUMBER
3062
4189
0140
2111

NAME
CARTER
& SONS
PACIFIC
MACHINING
A.B.
MERRIL
BAY AREA

LAST
DATE

P.O. #

7/12

1048-10

360

$8.75

12

.00

4/13

962-10

350

9.10

08

.02

1/04

550-10

350

8.12

03

.00

8/19

1196-10

360

11.60

19

.04

QTY.

UNIT
DAYS TO
PRICE RECEIPT

PCT.
REJECTS

6-13

Job Status Report Provides Informatio
about the Transformation Process
Job Number: 84-182
Customer: Wankel Automotive
CURRENT STATUS

Step 4-weld supports to frame
Department 410-Welding
Date and Time Begun-10/8; 10:15A
Projected Job Completion-10/14; 9:30A
NEXT PROCESS

•Step 5-paint frame
•Department 632-Paint
6-14

The Information Processor Transforms
Data into Information

Information

Management

Information

Information
Processor

Data

Input
Resources

Transformation
Process

Output
Resources
6-15

Conceptual System (cont.)


Dimensions of Information





Relevancy
Accuracy
Timeliness
Completeness

Too Much Information is called ‘Information Overload’
6-16

Conceptual System (cont.)


Standards
– Measure of acceptable
performance
– Usually stated in specific
terms
– Used to control physical
system
– Consists of:



Objectives
– Overall goal that a
system is to obtain
– Systems have one or
more objectives

» Management
» Information processor
» Standards
6-17

omparison of Objectives and Standa
Objectives
Satisfy Customer
Needs
Produce a return
on investment for
the owners
Operate efficiently
Invest in the future
Develop sources
of supply

Operate ethically

Standards of Performance
Achieve an annual sales volume of at least $25 million
Maintain a 20% share of the market
Maintain an annual growth rate of 15%
Pay dividends to stockholders each quarter
Maintain the price of the firm’s common stock above
$85 per share
Realize an after-tax profit of 15% of sales
Maintain a record of accident-free days
Keep employee turnover below 10%
Invest in a minimum of 15% of sales revenue in research
and development
Achieve stockout on no more than 2% of the items in
inventory during the year
Keep the number of backorders to less than 5% of all
orders processed
Have no plant shutdowns due to unavailable materials
Have no legal actions filed against the firm by
customers, suppliers, and the government
6-18

Performance Standards are Made Available
to Both Management and the Information
Processor
Standards
Information

Information

Management

Information
Processor

Data

Input
Resources

Transformation
Process

Output
Resources
6-19

Conceptual System (cont.)


Management by exception
– Compares standards with information output of
system
– Manager becomes involved when system falls
outside range of acceptable performance
– Capability provided by CBIS

6-20

Conceptual System (cont.)


Critical Success Factors (CSFs)
– A CSF is one of the firm’s activities that has a
strong influence on the firm’s ability to meet its
objectives
– Firms have multiple CSFs
– CSFs focuses attention on a portion of a firm’s
activities

6-21

Changes are Made in the
Physical System Through the
Decision Flow
Standards
Decisions

Management

Information Information
Processor

Data

Input
Resources

Transformation
Process

Output
Resources
6-22

Conceptual System (cont.)


Decision Flow
– Data is transformed into information by the
information processor
– Manager transforms information into decisions

6-23

The General Systems Model of the
Firm
Environment
Standards

Decisions

Information
and
Data

Information
Management

Information
Processor

Data
Physical
Resources
Input
Resources

Transformation
Process

Output
Resources

Physical
Resources
6-24

General Systems
Model in Context
Helps adjust firm
 Provides a sense of stability
 Provides mental picture of what to expect


6-25

Problems -- Good and Bad


Problem solving
– Suppress harmful effects
– Capitalize on opportunity for benefit



Decision
– The act of selecting a strategy or action

6-26

Elements of Problem
Solving
Desired state
 Current state
 Constraints


}

Difference =
Solution Criterion

– Internal -- limited resources
– Environmental -- pressures to restrict resource
flows

6-27

Problem

Elements
Elements of
of the
the
Problem-Solving
Problem-Solving
Process
Process

Elements of the conceptual system
Standards

Desired state
Current state

Information

Alternate
solutions
Problem
solver
(manager)

Constraints

Solution
6-28

Problems versus
Symptoms
Know the difference
– Symptoms are produced by the problem
– The problem causes the symptoms
– When the problem is corrected the symptoms
will cease, but not vice versa

6-29

Problem Structure


Structured
– Elements and relationships understood



Unstructured
– No elements or relationships understood



Semistructured
– Some elements understood



DSS concept of managers and the computer
working jointly towards a solution
6-30

Problem Structure

Computer
Solve

Structured

DSS
DSS

Semi-structured

Manager
Solve

Unstructured
6-31

The Systems Approach
John Dewey, 1910
Columbia philosophy professor
 1. Recognize the controversy
 2. Weigh alternative claims
 3. Form a judgment

Problem
Problem
Solution
Solution

6-32

Phases and Steps of the Systems
Approach
Phase I: Preparation
Effort
Step 1.
Step 2.
Step 3.

View the firm as a system
Recognize the environmental system
Identify the firm’s subsystems

Phase II: Definition Effort
Step 4.
Step 5.

Proceed from a system to a subsystem level
Analyze system parts in a certain sequence

Phase III: Solution Effort
Step 6.
Step 7.
Step 8.
Step 9.
Step 10.

Identify the alternative solutions
Evaluate the alternative solutions
Select the best solution
Implement the solution
Follow up to ensure that the solution is effective

Decisions are made at each step of
the definition and solution phases

6-33

Preparation Effort


Step 1

View the firm as a system



Step 2

Recognize environmental system



Step 3

Identify the firm’s subsystems




Business areas
Levels of management
Resource flows

Steps taken in any order or at the same time

6-34

The Systems Approach Requires
Decision Making
PHASE
STEP
DECISION
Definition
Effort

Solution
Effort

Where is the problem?
Do new data need to be gathered, or do data
to a subsystem level.
already exist?
5. Analyze system parts in a How will data be gathered?
certain sequence.
What is causing the problem?
How many alternatives should be identified?
6. Identify alternative
Are these alternatives feasible?
solutions.
Which criteria should be used?
7. Evaluate the alternative
How does each alternative measure up to
solutions.
each criterion?
Do all criterion have equal weight?
8. Select the best solution. Is there enough information to make a
selection?
Which alternative measures up best to the
criteria?
9. Implement the solution.
When should this solution be implemented?
How should the solution be implemented?
10. Follow up to ensure that Who should perform the evaluation?
How well is the solution meeting the
the solution is effective.
objectives?
6-35

4. Proceed from a system

Each Functional Area is a Subsystem
President

Marketing Subsystem

Manufacturing Subsystem

Human Resources
Subsystem

Finance Subsystem

Information Services
Subsystem

6-36

Something
Something Triggers
Triggers the
the
Definition
Definition Effort
Effort
The trigger can be:
1. An action
2. The passage of time
3. From within the firm or the environment

6-37

Definition Effort


Step 4: Proceed from System to Subsystem Level
– Each level is a system
– Are subsystems integrated into a smoothly functioning
unit?
– Does the subsystem need to be broken down further?

6-38

Definition Effort [cont.]


Step 5: Analyze System Parts in a Certain Sequence
1. Evaluation standards. They must be valid, realistic,
understandable, measurable
2. Compare system outputs with standards
3. Evaluate management
4. Evaluate the information processor
5. Evaluate the inputs and input resources
6. Evaluate the transformation processes
7. Evaluate the output resources
6-39

ach Part of the System Is Analyzed in Sequenc
1.
Standards

3.

5.

Inputs.

+

Input
resources

4.

Management

Information
processor

6.

7.

Transformation
processes

Output
resources

2.

Outputs

6-40

Solution Effort


Step 6: Identify alternatives
– Find different ways to solve the same problem
» Brainstorming
» Joint Application Design (JAD) session

Step 7: Evaluate alternative solutions
 Step 8: Select the best solution


» Analysis
» Judgment
» Bargaining

6-41

Final Steps of the Solution
Effort


Step 9: Implement the solution



Step 10: Follow-up to ensure that the
solution is effective

6-42

An Integrative Model of the Systems
Approach
Definition Effort
4. Proceed from a system to a
subsystem level
5. Analyze system parts in a certain
sequence

Solution Effort
6. Identify alternative solutions
7. Evaluate the alternative solutions
8. Select the best solution
9. Implement the solution
10. Follow-up to ensure solution is effective

6-43

Review of Systems
Approach

Integrating each step of the systems approach is a
managerial challenge
 Managerial preparation effort is a good starting
point
 Next, manager engages in functional decomposition


– Definition effort


Finally, manager solves problem
– Solution effort

6-44

Summary


Models are abstractions of reality
– Four types of models
– General systems model

Physical system
 Conceptual system
 Information Processor


– Computer
– Noncomputer
6-45

Summary [cont.]
Management by exception
 Managerial problem solving
 Classification of problems


– Structured
– Unstructured


Use of the systems approach

6-46