7/10: Ch. 3 Solving Business Problems

• The systems approach to problem solving– Define problem (systems thinking)– Develop alternative solutions– Select the solution– Design the solution– Implement the solution

• Developing IS solutions– Investigation– Analysis– Design– Implementation– Maintenance

A Systems Approach to Problem Solving

Define Problem

Develop Alternative Solutions

Select the Solution

Design the Solution

Implement the Solution

Systems Approach: Define the Problem

• Symptoms vs. problems

• Systems thinking: “See the forest and the trees”

Define Problem

Develop Alternative Solutions

Select the Solution

Design the Solution

Implement the Solution

Systems Approach: Develop Solutions

• Use previous experience

• Research: print, web, people resources

• Imagination

• One alternative: do nothing

Define Problem

Develop Alternative Solutions

Select the Solution

Design the Solution

Implement the Solution

Systems Approach: Select the Solution

• Evaluate the alternatives:– various requirements:

financial, business, HR, etc.

– use specific criteria to evaluate

• Select the solution:– might not be the best

in the “rankings”

Define Problem

Develop Alternative Solutions

Select the Solution

Design the Solution

Implement the Solution

Systems Approach: Design the Solution

• Elaborate on specifications

• Create implementation plan– hardware– software – including

operating procedures– HR – IT techs, training– timetables for

conversion & finalization

Define Problem

Develop Alternative Solutions

Select the Solution

Design the Solution

Implement the Solution

Systems Approach: Implement the Solution

• Do it.

• Follow up with a post-implementation review

Define Problem

Develop Alternative Solutions

Select the Solution

Design the Solution

Implement the Solution

Developing IS Solutions

Systems Approach Developing IS SolutionsInvestigation

Analysis

Design

Implementation

Maintenance

Define Problem

Develop Alternative Solutions

Select the Solution

Design the Solution

Implement the Solution

Small Groups: Cases

Use the systems approach to analyze these cases:

• Millipore Corporation (pg. 90): Find the 5 steps

• Camelot Music (pg. 79): Find the 5 steps

• George W. Bush’s campaign:“not knowledgeable enough”: recommend a solution

• New stadium for Cardinals baseball: is this the right solution? What is the problem?

• The SLU bookstore: What is the problem? Recommend a solution.

Developing IS Solutions

• A cycle, not a one-time-through process

• Encompasses thesystems approach, butadds maintenance andthe cycle concept

Investigation

Analysis

Design

Implementation

Maintenance

Developing IS Solutions: Investigation

• Is there a problem?

• What is the cause?effects? system?

• What is feasible?– organizational– economic – technical– operational

Investigation

Analysis

Design

Implementation

Maintenance

Developing IS Solutions: Systems Analysis

• Cost/Benefit Analysis– intangibles– tangibles

• Systems Analysis– in-depth analysis of

what end users need– organizational analysis

• Functional requirements

Investigation

Analysis

Design

Implementation

Maintenance

Developing IS Solutions: Systems Design

• User Interface Design– simple– clean– logical

• Data Design– relationships– data elements– attributes

• Process Design

• System Specifications

Investigation

Analysis

Design

Implementation

Maintenance

Developing IS Solutions: Systems Design

• Prototyping– web based– physical prototypes– mockups– speeds up design time

Investigation

Analysis

Design

Implementation

Maintenance

Developing IS Solutions: Implementation

• Installation

• Training

• Testing

• Documentation

• possible ways:– pilot– parallel– phasing

Investigation

Analysis

Design

Implementation

Maintenance

Developing IS Solutions: Maintenance

• Post-implementation review

• Fixing errors & bugs

• Modifications becauseof changed environment

Investigation

Analysis

Design

Implementation

Maintenance