Systems Thinking & Business Analytics

Question 1

Data, info and knowledge continuum

Answer 1

Data to info to knowledge to wisdom

Question 2

Data

Answer 2

Facts and figures without any real context or meaning

Question 3

Information

Answer 3

Data that has been made meaningful and helps someone understand something.

Question 4

Knowledge

Answer 4

Information that has been incorporated into someone’s view of the world. typically defined with reference to information. information having been processed, organised or structured in some way, or else as being applied or put into action.

Question 5

Wisdom

Answer 5

ability to increase effectiveness and add value, which requires judgment. The ethical and aesthetic values are inherent to the actor and are unique and personal

Question 6

Big data

Answer 6

Big Data applies to data that can’t be processed or analysed using traditional processes or tools.…organisations today have access to a wealth of data,… don’t know how to get value out of it because it is sitting in its most raw form or in a semi-structured orunstructured format

Question 7

Three characteristics that apply to Big Data

Answer 7

Volume, variety and velocity

Question 8

Problem with Big Data

Answer 8

The problem with big data is it cannot be easily manipulated or processed through the use of traditional data processing software.

Question 9

Problem

Answer 9

A situation that may cause damage to or provide opportunities for the operation of the business

Question 10

First step of solving problems

Answer 10

To solve a problem, you must first identify the cause. Symptom/Effect is a condition produced by the problem. Cause is the situation, often obscured by one/ more symptoms/effects, that is generating those symptoms

Question 11

Taking a systems thinking approach to problems

Answer 11

Instead of breaking a situation into little pieces, take a “connected view of an organisation” Wholes - totality of persons’ lives, groups, organisations, communities. Nothing exists by itself. Take a broad view of the situation. Look at the situation from multiple perspectives

Question 12

The following scenario is an example of a well-intentioned person failing to use systems thinking in practice

Answer 12

A physician prescribed a diet for a diabetic patient without regard for her limited income, or for her husband’s reluctance and intellectual inability to comprehend his wife’s condition or needs.

Question 13

System

Answer 13

A collection of interrelated components that function together to achieve some well-defined purpose(s)

Question 14

Natural system

Answer 14

occurs naturally in the world (eg, respiratory system, human body, ecological system, solar system)

Question 15

Designed Abstract System

Answer 15

constructed by human’s, but not physically implemented (eg, the logic of a management information system, a spoken or computer language, the laws of mathematics, a religious belief system)

Question 16

Engineered/Technical system

Answer 16

a man-made system that is physically implemented (eg, a toaster, a car)

Question 17

Human activity system

Answer 17

systems where people come together for some purpose (eg, an accounting department, a sports club, a university). Includes business organisations

Question 18

The key system characteristics

Answer 18

Photo 1

Question 19

The purpose of a system

Answer 19

To learn about problem solving/identifying business opportunities

Question 20

System characteristics

Answer 20

Inputs
Outputs
Components
Interrelated Components
Boundary
Environment
Interfaces
Constraints
Stakeholders

Question 21

Inputs

Answer 21

whatever a system takes from its environment in order to fulfil its purpose

Question 22

Outputs

Answer 22

whatever a system returns to its environment in order to fulfil its purpose

Question 23

Component

Answer 23

a part, or aggregation of parts, of a system, commonly referred to as a subsystem

Question 24

Interrelated components

Answer 24

the dependency of one subsystem on one or more other subsystems. Subsystems are related and usually interact with each other in order to achieve their pre-declared objectives, within their environment

Question 25

Boundary

Answer 25

the line that distinguishes the inside from the outside of a system and so distinguishes the system from its environment

Question 26

Environment

Answer 26

everything external to a system that interacts with the system

Question 27

Interfaces

Answer 27

points of contact where a system meets its environment or where subsystems meet each other

Question 28

Constraints

Answer 28

limits or conditions within which a system can accomplish its objectives

Question 29

Stakeholders

Answer 29

person(s) or organization(s) that have a direct interest in the system

Question 30

Classroom example of inputs

Answer 30

students needing to learn about systems thinking

Question 31

Classroom example of outputs

Answer 31

students knowing about systems thinking

Question 32

Classroom example of component

Answer 32

research the content, prepare lecture content, plan delivery, deliver content, assess with feedback on whether transformation achieved

Question 33

Classroom example of interrelated components

Answer 33

cannot deliver content without research and preparation

Question 34

Classroom example of boundary

Answer 34

this class on systems thinking within the context of the business computing course

Question 35

Classroom example of environment

Answer 35

the business computing course in current semester

Question 36

Classroom example of interfaces

Answer 36

interfaces with the degree, timetabling and enrolment systems

Question 37

Classroom example of constraints

Answer 37

delivered in 1 hour in a lecture room

Question 38

Classroom example of stakeholders

Answer 38

you, lecturer, admin, course co-ordinator, program co-ordinator

Question 39

Classroom example of purpose

Answer 39

To learn about systems thinking

Question 40

Systems thinking - nice problems

Answer 40

Well defined structure comprised of parts and relationships. Suitable for systematic reduction of the whole problem to its component parts.

Question 41

Systems - thinking messy wicked problems

Answer 41

Real-world problems are usually messy, ill-structured. The actions necessary to attain goal(s) are not obvious. Several people involved with different viewpoints - whose objectives should be addressed? The customer? The salesperson? The manager?

Question 42

Are the following examples of nice problems

Answer 42

Only d is a nice problem Photo 2

Question 43

What makes a problem wicked

Answer 43

Wherever there are people involved with different viewpoints it could potentially be a wicked problem!

Question 44

Purpose of a rich picture

Answer 44

Concerned with defining the options for improvement. Suitable for Messy “Wicked” Problems.

Question 45

Soft systems is essentially

Answer 45

committed to the examination of human activity.

Question 46

A soft systems thinking approach

Answer 46

A Soft Systems Thinking approach seeks to find the most appropriate solution for the situation.

Question 47

A hard systems thinking approach

Answer 47

A Hard Systems Thinking approach seeks to find the most efficient solution for the situation.

Question 48

When dealing with messy problems system analysts often use (soft systems thinking)

Answer 48

tools to help them visualise complex situations – in particular situations involving many different people who each hold different views.

Question 49

A key goal of soft systems thinking tools

Answer 49

is to achieve a representation of the problematic situation in a way which is as neutral as possible (i.e. an analyst does not want to jump to conclusions about what the problem is!!) This is achieved by building a rich picture

Question 50

Rich Picture example

Answer 50

Photo 3

Question 51

What is a rich picture

Answer 51

Technique used in Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) (but can be used elsewhere). A pictorial caricature of what the organisation (or group) is ‘about’. Should be self-explanatory and easy to understand. Should identify the elements of structure, process, climate, and issues in the situation

Question 52

Rich picture example 2

Answer 52

It should be people, not departments Photo 4

Question 53

What are the key issues and concerns shown in photo 4

Answer 53

Unable to quickly analyse sales. Unable to determine the commission earned by the sale representatives. Cannot analyse the product data to determine appropriate changes to the product mix. Need to determine which products and areas require more focus by the sale representatives

Question 54

What tasks might the organisation in photo 4 carry out to survive

Answer 54

Develop a process and a tool to analyse both the level and the type of sales, which can be used to produce reports as required. Such reports will aid in the performance management of the sales representatives (might possibly use a spreadsheet to prototype the tool)

Question 55

IPO Charts

Answer 55

An IPO chart records the input, processing, and output of a process, or program module. It is commonly used when designing spreadsheet formulas, calculated fields in databases, and designing algorithms in programming.

Question 56

IPO Chart example

Answer 56

Photo 5

Question 57

Reporting tools

Answer 57

These are information systems that collect data from a variety of sources, process that data, and format it into reports to business users. The processing that is applied is typically straightforward – sorting, grouping, carrying out simple arithmetic operations such as generating totals, identifying max and min values, and calculating averages. Reporting tools generate intelligence related to how the business has historically functioned, and how it is functioning at the present time. Typical of such tools are the primary functions of the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet application, about which more will be said in later chapters

Question 58

Data mining tools

Answer 58

These are information systems that process data using statistical techniques, often techniques that are mathematically complex based on possible models of the business. These tools search the data for patterns and relationships among the data. By so doing, these tools make predictions. information systems often play a key role in assisting with the process of strategic planning and problem-solving.

Question 59

Knowledge management tools

Answer 59

These are computer systems that are used to store employee knowledge, with a view to making that knowledge available widely to employees, customers, vendors, auditors etc., so supporting their decision-making. Knowledge management tools differ from reporting and data-mining tools in that the source of their data is human knowledge, rather than operational facts and figures. FAQS, search engines, web portals.

Question 60

Example 1 of why business analytics is important

Answer 60

Netflix has changed the movie rental industry using business analytics! Netflix collects extensive data using surveys, web site user testing, and brand-awareness studies. When a new customer connects they are prompted to enter genre preferences and rate a selection of movies. The Netflix movie inventory is tagged with various attributes. Customer ratings are compared with these attributes and are also matched to other people who have similar viewing histories. The result – Netflix can predict movies that each customer is likely to enjoy, and so can create individual customer recommendations. Netflix knows what movies you will like before you and your friends do!

Question 61

Example 2 of why analytics is important

Answer 61

Predictive policing refers to the application of analytical, predictive techniques in law enforcement to identify potential criminal activity. Predictive policing includes: methods for predicting crimes, methods for predicting offenders, methods for predicting perpetrators’ identities, and methods for predicting victims of crime. Predictive policing uses data on the times, locations and nature of past crimes, to provide advice to police management concerning where, and at what times, police patrols should patrol, or maintain a presence, so making the best use of resources and/or having the greatest chance of deterring or preventing future crimes.

Question 62

Exam question 1

Answer 62

Photos 1 - 3 of computing exam questions

Question 63

Exam question 2

Answer 63

Photos 4-5