Systems Approach Systems Approach

Climberor

Mountaineer

Stone cutterOr

Cathedral Builder

What is a System?What is a System?

Systems Approach• Natural (everyday experience)• Less used in Projects ….. (fragmented approach)

• Everyone has it but not consciously used– Career choice– Joining a project– …………

• Event Manager

A System involvesA System involves– Elements

•Large in number•of different variety

– Complex Interplay of Elements– Context Specific Variations

1 Client's Knowledge

2 Client'sExpectations

3 Clients Commitment

4 Client'sSatisfaction

5 BusinessRequirments

6 IT Industry'sGrowth

7 Project Nature8 Feedback Time &

Quality

9 Status Report

10 Client'sParticipation 11 Requirments

Elicitation12 TechnologyPlanning

13 URS

14 ResourceEstimation

15 TeamCommunication

16 ManpowerAllocated

17 Project Training

18 QA

19 Project SpecificSkills

20 Standards &Guidelines

21 SRS

22 Team Organisation

23 Team Skills

24 Work Progress

25 Errors

26 Learning

27 Client-ConsultantInteraction

28 Productivity

29 Rework

30 Maintenance

31 Quality

32 Motivation

33 Schedule Pressure

34 Time and CostOverruns

35 Reallocation

36 ToolsAvailability

37 H/W & S/WAvailability

38 SupportFacilities

39 AllocationProcedures

40 Govt Policies

41 CorporatePolicies

42 TechnicalEnvironment

43 Organization'sImage

44 Work Environment

45 Manpower Turnover 46 ManpowerAvailability

47 ProfitRealization

48 On-Going Projects

49 KnowledgeConsolidation

50 Project Priority51 TrainingProgrammes

52 Scheduling

53 Recruitment

54 BusinessEnvironment

55 Post ProjectAppraisal

56 Work BrakedownProcess

57 ProjectMonitoring

58 Clients Budget

59 Undetected Errors

60 ConfigurationManagement

61 ProductivityNorms

62 Study Of ExistingSystem

63 InternationalLaws

64 BenefitsPerceived by Client

65 Request forChange

66 IdentifiedRequirments

67 Project Scope

68 AnticipatedSkills

69 Organisation'sGrowth

70 Validation ByClient

71 Project Planning72 Methodology

73 Project Strategy

74 Quality Factors

75 Reusability

76 Risk Management

77 ProcessMeasurements

78 System Design

79 Internal Reviews

80 Creative Thinking

81 Coding

82 Testing

83 Documentation

84 AllocatedManpower Assessment

85 Team Size

86 Team Composition

Influence Diagram

Traditional ApproachTraditional Approach

– Fragment the whole (problem) into parts

– Specialist for each part– Optimal/perfect solution for each part– Assemble back the parts to obtain “optimised” solution for the whole (problem)

Traditional ApproachTraditional Approach– Banks on Specialists who know “more & more of less & less

– Ignores effects of Entropy– Assumes individual efficiency will always lead to group efficiency

– eg. Marketing/Design/Production/Support

Entropy / Cacophony?

Whole is less thanthe sum of parts

What is Systems What is Systems Approach?Approach?

Systems ApproachSystems Approach– Holistic View– Problem solving Methodology– Multi-dimensional perspective – Outscoping - beyond the obvious

Systems ApproachSystems Approach

– Multiple Solutions for the same objective

– Context Specific Appropriateness– “Choice” based on available information

– Fallibility of the Decision-maker

Synergy / Symphony !!

Whole is greater thanthe sum of parts

Contrast

Division of Labour

VsUnion of Minds

Principles of “Systems Principles of “Systems Approach”Approach”

– Addresses the problem situation from different angles

– Recognizes the interconnectedness of all components and arrive at the problem boundary

Principles of “Systems Principles of “Systems Approach”Approach”

– Studies the dynamic behavior of the system

– Possess ability to represent complex system

– Systematic but Probabilistic method of Analysis and synthesis

Why “Systems Approach” for Why “Systems Approach” for PLs?PLs?

– As a Team Member•“You Tell” - “I Do”

– As a PL•What to “Tell”? •“How to Tell” so that it is done?

•Attitude of “Enquire/Challenge”

•Understanding the larger picture

Why “Systems Approach” for Why “Systems Approach” for PLs?PLs?

– As a Team Member•Criterion - “Success”•Motivated & Driven

– As a PL•Criterion - Achievement

•Self Driven & Motivating

REFERENCES

1. HEART OF THE ENTERPRISE – Stafford Beer2. BRAIN OF THE FIRM – Stafford Beer3. SOCIETIAL SYSTEMS – John Warfield4. LIVING SYSTEMS THEORY – James Grier Miller