ITS410 FUNDAMENTALS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS

1
ITS410 FUNDAMENTALS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS

• LECTURE 1 FUNDAMENTAL SYSTEMS CONCEPTS (I)

2
WHAT IS A SYSTEM?
A system is a group of interacting, interrelated,
or interdependent elements forming a complex
whole.
biological
mechanical
3
THE EARTH IS A SYSTEM

• A system is holistic
• because it is a
• Whole
• Purposeful
• Organized
• Interrelated

4
A HOUSE IS A SYSTEM

• A system is holistic
• because it is a
• Whole
• Purposeful
• Organized
• Interrelated

5
THE UNIVERSITY IS A SYSTEM

• A system is holistic
• because it is a
• Whole
• Purposeful
• Organized
• Interrelated

6
A pile of stuff is not a whole, but a heap
IS THIS A SYSTEM?
7
WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF A SYSTEM?
The function of any system is to convert or
process energy, information, or materials into a
product or outcome for use within the system, or
outside of the system (the environment) or both.
8
SYSTEMS CONCEPTS
Systems are human concepts defined
subjectively. Groups of individuals may or may
not agree about what constitutes a particular
system.
Systems are organised to achieve a goal The
arrangements of the parts gives the system its
identity We can measure how well it performs to
meet its goal
9
SYSTEMS CONCEPTS
Structure defines components their relationships
THE HEART Structure central organ of the
circulatory systems Function circulate
blood Process pumping
STRUCTURE
FUNCTION
Function defines the outcomes or results produced
Process explicitly defines the sequence of
activities and the know-how required to produce
the outcome
PROCESS
Context
CONTEXT
Context defines the unique environment in which
the system is situated
10
SYSTEMS CONCEPTS

• Components are perceived to be related in
  hierarchical structures
• There are means of control and communication
  which promote system survival
• The system has emergent properties, some of which
  are difficult to predict
• The system has a boundary
• Outside the boundary is a system environment
  which affects the system
• System behaviour the behaviour of any
  particular system arises from the nature of the
  system (not as a random event)

11
SYSTEMS CONCEPTS
In the most general sense, system means a
CONFIGURATION OF PARTS connected and joined
together by a web of RELATIONSHIPS.
Basically, a system is how things are working
together.
The joining and integrating of the web of
relationships creates EMERGENT PROPERTIES which
we then experience as a whole.
These properties, because they are a property of
the relationships, will not be found in any
analysis of just the parts. This is the VALUE of
systems theory, seeing the WHOLENESS that can't
be seen in the parts apart.
12
SYSTEMIC PHILOSOPHY
Systemic philosophy asks the question, "How can
we understand systems in principle?"

• With the perspectives of systems philosophy,
• we look at the world in terms of facts and events
  in the context of wholes, and
• we understand them as integrated sets
  purposefully arranged in systemic relations.

13
WHY WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND SYSTEMS?
The Blind Men and the Elephant
14
We sometimes fixate on our part of the system,
and miss the whole
15
(No Transcript)
16
(No Transcript)
17
(No Transcript)
18
(No Transcript)
19
(No Transcript)
20
(No Transcript)
21
DEFINING SYSTEMS
The definition of a system implies something
beyond cause and effect. Rather than simply A
affects B, there is an implication that B also
affects A.
22
SYSTEMS DEFINITIONS
A system means a grouping of parts that operate
together for a common purpose. (Watson, 1994).
A system is an assemblage or combination of
elements or parts forming a complex or unitary
whole, such as a river system or a transportation
system (Random House Dictionary)
A system is a coordinated body of methods or a
complex scheme or plan of procedure, such as a
system of organization and management any
regular or special method of plan or procedure,
such as a system of marking, numbering, or
measuring (Blanchard Fabrychy, 1998).
A system is an interrelated set of business
procedures used within one business unit working
together for a purpose
. . . . . .
23
SYSTEMS DEFINITIONS
A system is a collection of components such as
people, hardware, software, materials, procedures
or services that are gathered and synchronized so
that mutual interactions using resources in a
given environment satisfies the needs and
expectations that are derived from the mission
and the objectives themselves derived from its
purpose
24
STANDARDIZED DEFINITION OF SYSTEMS
ISO/IEC 15288 A system is a combination of
interacting elements organized to achieve one or
more stated purposes Note 1 A system may be
considered as a product or as the services it
provides Note 2 In practice, the interpretation
of its meaning is frequently clarified by the use
of a associative noun, e.g. aircraft system
ANSI/EIA 632 A system is an aggregation of end
products and enabling products to achieve a given
purpose A system consists of both the end
products to be used by an acquirer for an
intended purpose and the set of enabling products
that enable the creation, realization and use of
end products or an aggregation of end products.
25
A MODEL OF THE DEFINITION OF A SYSTEM
26
A VIEW OF SYSTEMS DEFINITION
27
TUTORIAL QUESTIONS

• Give three examples of systems you see in your
  everyday life
• Describe the structure of the systems.
• Describe the function of the system.
• Describe the process of the system.
• Describe the context of the system.
• Name an emergent property of the system.