Problem Situation

 A system is an organised set of components

and relationships that do something that
none of the components can do alone.
 We use system models as a convenient way to
view something in order to aid decision
making (to solve a problem).
 A System is described by:
 Observer: Who is interested in the system? Observer
 Purpose: Why define the system? Improve, output of interest
 Environment: outside the system. Define the system boundary
 Hierarchy: components and/or sub-systems are organized
 Components: Both affect and are affected by the system.
 Inputs: Affect the system but are not affected by it. Can be
controllable or uncontrollable. Decision variables/parameters
 Outputs: Are affected by the system. These are of interest to the
observer. Include measure of success
 Relationship/transformation process: Between system inputs,
outputs and components –relevant aspects.

 Study case : sum of money with choose dress at mall.

 The first step when approaching a problem
situation is to familiarize yourself with:
◦ the situation
◦ Its processes and structures
◦ The people involved
◦ Their aims and desires
◦ Relationship between them
◦ The hierarchy or structure
◦ The resources available
◦ The data sources and information
 Problem Situation System Structure
 To get a “ feel” for anything you discovered
and seems relevant for describing the
problem situation.
 The Tools for defining problem situation :
◦ Rich Picture Diagram
◦ Mind Map
◦ Cognitive map
 A cartoon-like summary of everything the
observer knows about the situation studied
 Diagram or concept -is not a system
description
 Only one approach of making a situation
summary
 Problematic Situation
 The person looking at the situation
 The structural elements
 The process elements
 The relationships between structure and
process
Guidelines:
 Elements of structure (All components of the
situation are relatively stable -e.g., all physical
aspects)
 Elements of process (All aspects that undergo
change -e.g., activities, flow and processing of
materials)
 Relationship between structure and process and
between process (how does the structure affect
condition of process; one process affects other
processes)
 For human activity systems:
A rich picture should be included hard facts and
soft facts.
 The rich picture is never finished
 Common mistake:
Each item pictured needs to be connected one or
more other items (Note that rich picture is not a
system description)
 The uses of rich picture:
An ideal vehicle for communicating with other people
about complex and problematic situation
 What is a mind map? When you think about
something — a phenomenon, an issue, or a
problem — a host of thoughts are evoked in
your mind: things, aspects, and concepts,
including fears and aims, data and facts,
and the possible actions and reactions by
yourself or other people or entities involved
and their consequences, both planned and
unplanned, desirable and undesirable, that
result from such actions, and the wider
context or environment of it all
 Cognitive map only captures the subjective,
personal perception of an individual. It
takes the form of a network of statements,
expressing concepts — ideas, goals,
concerns, preferences, actions — and their
contrasts or opposites.
 The concepts are linked together by arrows,
which indicate the direction of connections,
i.e. which concept leads logically to which
other concept(s).
 Decision maker who make decision

 Objective is the end towards which effort is

directed, an aim, goal or end of action

 Performance measure for assessing how well the

objectives have been achieved

 Decision criteria : the decision rule used for

judging whether or how well the objective has
been achieved.
• Decision maker: Elly Schuhmacher.

• Objective: Generate enough funds to

purchase the new equipment.

• Decision criterion: Funds generated are at

least equal to $140,000.

• Performance measure: Amount of funds

freed.
 Seorang developer rumah ingin membangun
sebuah rumah dengan biaya 100 jt, tetapi pada
prosesnya ternyata diketahui terdapat
kekurangan biaya sebesar 40 jt. Jika tidak ada
suntikan biaya, pembangunan akan berhenti.
 Jelaskan problem situationnya ?
(decision maker, objective, decision criterion,
performance measure)
 Observer:
 Purpose:
 Environment:
 Hierarchy:
 Inputs:
 Outputs:
 Components:
 Relationship/transformati
on process: