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The following case studies presented here, in summary, are the result of systems analysis based on the world as system, or black box principle, which suggests that any system can be analysed as long as its boundaries are established and any assumptions stated.
Transport management database
The transport systems analysis came from a project to build a relational database for a transport association which transports people in financial difficulty, in return-to-work situations, with social problems, or mobility impaired workers on low wages.
Service Site Model
The service site model analysis represents business relationships where parties both register their demand and the supply. This allows the database at its heart to evaluate both demand and supply and thus operate a system to match one with the other.
The Water Distribution System
The analysis of the water distribution system aims to model a water system starting from source (rain) to a valley system and out onto the sea. It considers this most integrated of natural systems as describable with discrete system boundaries.
Model of the French Social Security System
The French social security system is quite visible to users and lends itself well to analysis. We examine the physical and financial relationships between users and professionals, and some consideration of independent but integrated actors such as pharmaceutical companies.
The Compuprod Case Study
The Compuprod case study deals with the analysis of relationships between actors across the supply chain and discusses some of the justification for transversal systems such as an ERP and the information requirements of actors.
Informal Information Systems
The informal information systems model postulates that we can distinguish between formal and informal information systems in a business environment. In short, while systems analysis can model formal systems, there also exist multiple barely visible informal systems largely based on verbal communication systems.
Conclusion
These models are part of an attempt to model systems, to demonstrate that systems can be modelled and that to do so requires both visual language, written word and human interaction. The systems documented here are as observed on the principle of the world as a system.
Most of these systems diagrams were built with Enterprise Architect from Sparx Systems.
