Day: January 19, 2016

  • A Business example approach

    Hard Systems Model of Change (HSMC) – based on methods from systems engineering (SE), operational research (OR) and project management (PM). With HSMC, easier to determine objectives, find options for action and test them against criteria. HSMC has three phases: 1) Description Description of current system. Explain why change is required. Described in words, diagrams…

  • Role of Hard Systems

    Hard Systems prevalent way of viewing world. Operational Research (OR) developed in 1940s, during World War 2 by Allied forces. Quantitative techniques and incorporation of logistics. Used to plan and deploy resources in Normandy beach landing. Also used in Enigma project – German submarine code cracking. Hard systems approach systematically worked through options. Rapid expansion…

  • Introduction

    Looking at two case studies focussing on agricultural industries and world of information systems. Illustrating complexity of modern world and interdependence of disparate players. Environment consists of many complex systems – biological systems to ecosystems to economic systems. Complex systems have many common structural and functional features – can be effectively simulated with software.