Procedures

1
Procedures

• Software for People

2
Agenda

• Procedure Definition
• Software for People
• Designing Procedures
• Procedures as Problem Solving
• Software Procedures for Computers
• Some Important Lessons

3
Procedure Definition

• From the textbook include the strategies,
  policies, methods and rules for using the CBIS
  (pg. 12)
• My definition a step-by-step description of what
  a machine is to do to accomplish a goal.
• Implications People are sometimes machine-like

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Software for People

• Characteristics
• Broken into steps
• Involve information that has to be obtained
• Steps are discrete
• Elements of a step
• Input
• Process
• Output
• Procedures have a stopping point
• Procedures produce products

5
Designing Procedures

• People make mistakes expect them
• People get tired people work imperfectly and
  inconsistently
• People need feedback let people know how the
  procedure is working
• People have limited skills people cant do
  everything, cant understand everything.

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Procedures as Problem Solving
Problem-solving Procedure
Execution
Intelligence
Gather information on the currentenvironment
Design
Access a pre-designed Procedure
embodying knowledge
Choice
Execute the procedure, bringingthe environmental
knowledgeto bear on the steps carried out
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Procedures as Problem Solving
Effectiveness depends on users research and
observation skills as well as quality of
environmental data
Usefulness depends on how expert the model is
and how well it matches the current environment
This is the information or data the procedure
user brings to the situation This is based on
knowledge or a theory about the best way to get
something accomplished its the equivalent of
expert opinion and hopefully has been
tested. The execution depends on how well the
procedure can be carried out by the procedure
user.
Gather information on the currentenvironment
Access a pre-designed Procedure
embodying knowledge
Usability depends on user skills and the match
with what the procedure is demanding from the user
Execute the procedure, bringingthe environmental
knowledgeto bear on the steps carried out
8
Software Procedures for Computers

• Software is exactly a procedure that a computer
  performs.
• Steps are accessed sequentially
• Activities are computer activities (addition,
  etc.)
• Feedback is less important and computers dont
  have human failings (or capabilities)

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Some Important Lessons

• Procedures are only as good as
• Users ability to access and provide accurate and
  valid descriptions of the current situation and
  manipulate the procedural parameters
• The knowledge embedded in the procedure for
  software, this means that users and systems
  analysts have to know what process needs are and
  programmers have to program correctly and
  effectively
• Users ability to carry out the procedure with
  respect to physical and cognitive limitations.
  Computers can usually execute software without
  problems, but not always.