Table of Contents
PROBLEM: DESIGNING THE PROBLEM: SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY AND REQUIREMENTS ANALYSIS ....... 3
2022: BOTH SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY (SSM) AND JAKE KNAPP'S SPRINT WEEK (IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM) FOCUS ON
LEARNING ABOUT A PROBLEM. THE FORMER FOCUSES ON DESIGNING PROBLEMS, THE LATTER ON BUILDING QUICK PROTOTYPES.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE TWO APPROACHES WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A LARGE, UNIONISED, ORGANISATION SEEKING TO
IMPROVE A CONTENTIOUS PART OF ITS HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. ...........................................................3
2020: SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY (SSM) IS OFTEN USED TO DESIGN PROBLEMS WITHIN INFORMATION SYSTEMS
DEVELOPMENT. DESCRIBE WHY DESIGNING PROBLEMS IS IMPORTANT AND HOW SSM MIGHT ASSIST. CRITICALLY DISCUSS HOW THE
APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD (THE EPISTEMOLOGY) OF SSM DIFFERS FROM THAT OF THE UNIFIED MODELLING
LANGUAGE (UML)? ................................................................................................................................................3
2019: “LARGE SCALE INFORMATION SYSTEMS PROBLEMS ARE NOT DISCOVERED, THEY ARE DESIGNED.” EXPLAIN WHAT IS MEANT
BY THIS STATEMENT AND DESCRIBE A TECHNIQUE WHICH MIGHT BE USED FOR PROBLEM DESIGN. WITHIN YOUR ANSWER YOU
SHOULD EXPLAIN THE LIMITATIONS OF PROBLEM DESIGN, PARTICULARLY IN OUR MODERN WORLD OF CLOUD PLATFORMS AND
DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS. ..............................................................................................................................................3
2018: PETER CHECKLAND’S SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY FOCUSES ON MODELLING A WORLD OF INTERPRETATION AND
SUBJECTIVITY. DISCUSS THE ROLE THIS METHODOLOGY COULD HAVE IN MODERN INTERNET FOCUSED DIGITAL INNOVATION
INVOLVING DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS AND CLOUD COMPUTING. ...........................................................................................3
2017: DESCRIBE THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY (SSM). EVALUATE HOW THIS APPROACH TO
SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT FACILITATES LEARNING. ...........................................................................................................3
2017: DISCUSS THE ROLE OF REQUIREMENTS IN THE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. USE EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE SOME OF
THE TECHNIQUES THAT CAN SUPPORT THE ASSESSMENT OF REQUIREMENTS.......................................................................18
2016: “PETER CHECKLAND’S SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY (SSM) IS CONCERNED WITH BRINGING RIGOUR TO THE SUBJECTIVE
BY DESIGNING PROBLEMS WHICH MAY, OR MAY NOT, BE IMPROVED THROUGH INFORMATION SYSTEMS. YET IN A MODERN WORLD
OF PLATFORMS, INFORMATION SERVICES AND CLOUD COMPUTING, IT IS AS IMPORTANT TO DESIGN THE ARCHITECTURE OF A SYSTEM
AS TO DESIGN ‘PROBLEMS’”. CRITICALLY EVALUATE THIS STATEMENT, CONSIDERING THE USEFULNESS OF SSM WITHIN
CONTEMPORARY INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT. ...............................................................................................3
SOLUTION: MODELLING THE SOLUTION: INTRODUCTION TO UML. DATA, PROCESSES, ACTORS, OBJECTS ... 10
2022: BRIEFLY OUTLINE SOME OF THE CORE CONCEPTS WITHIN OBJECT-ORIENTED APPROACHES TO SYSTEMS ANALYSIS. DISCUSS
HOW OBJECT-ORIENTATION CAN SUPPORT DISTRIBUTED SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT. FOCUS YOUR DISCUSSION ON FUNCTIONAL
REQUIREMENTS. ...................................................................................................................................................10
2020: DESCRIBE THE CORE CHARACTERISTICS OF OBJECT-ORIENTED SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT METHODS. CRITICALLY ASSESS
POSSIBLE REASONS WHY OBJECT-ORIENTATION IS PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR CONTEMPORARY AGILE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT
PROCESSES. ..........................................................................................................................................................10
2019: DISCUSS THREE USEFUL OBJECT-ORIENTED MODELLING TECHNIQUES AND HOW THEY ARE USED TO MODEL OBJECT-
ORIENTED SYSTEMS. IN YOUR ANSWER DESCRIBE THE KEY ASPECTS OF OBJECT-ORIENTED MODELLING APPROACHES. COMPARE AND
CONTRAST THE USE OF THESE TECHNIQUES WITH ALTERNATIVE MEASURES IN RELATION TO THE CHALLENGES OF MANAGING
UNCERTAINTY AND COMPLEXITY IN SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. ............................................................................10
2017: DESCRIBE THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF OBJECT ORIENTED APPROACHES TO SYSTEMS ANALYSIS. CRITICALLY ASSESS HOW
OBJECT ORIENTED TECHNIQUES SUPPORT DISTRIBUTED COLLABORATION. ..........................................................................10
2016: OBJECT-ORIENTATION IS A DOMINANT PARADIGM FOR ANALYSING AND DEVELOPING SYSTEMS. DESCRIBE WHAT IS MEANT
BY “OBJECT-ORIENTATION” AND EXPLAIN ITS ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES FOR DEVELOPING ROBUST SOFTWARE BASED
SYSTEMS. CONSIDER HOW THE MOVE TO WEB-SERVICES MIGHT INFLUENCE ITS DOMINANCE.................................................10
PROCESS: APPROACHES FOR STRUCTURING THE DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION PROCESS. PRINCIPLE OF
LIMITED REDUCTION, LIFECYCLE, SPIRAL, AGILE, RAD, OPEN-SOURCE, INTERNET-SPEED DEVELOPMENT ..... 17
2020: AGILE METHODS, INCLUDING EXTREME PROGRAMMING AND SPRINT, FOCUS ON HUMAN INTERACTION IN CONTRAST TO
FORMALLY DOCUMENTED SPECIFICATIONS AND RIGOROUS FORMALISED PROCESSES. DISCUSS WHY THIS IS THE CASE. CRITICALLY
EVALUATE THE BENEFITS AND LIMITATIONS THIS PRESENTS FOR MODERN SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES........................17
2019: “INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT IS ESSENTIALLY ALL ABOUT MANAGING RISK”. CRITICALLY DISCUSS THIS
STATEMENT. WHAT TOOLS CAN BE APPLIED IN SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT TO MITIGATE RISK? .................................................17
2019: CRITICALLY ASSESS THE SPRINT METHOD AS AN AGILE DEVELOPMENT APPROACH. DISCUSS TWO SELECTED SPRINT ACTIVITIES
IN TERMS OF KEY-CHARACTERISTICS OF AGILE DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES. ......................................................................17
, 2018: CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE USE OF JAKE KNAPP’S “1-WEEK SPRINT METHOD” WITHIN COMMERCIAL DIGITAL INNOVATION
PROJECTS. DRAW UPON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES AND THE THEORY TAUGHT WITHIN THE COURSE .........................................18
2018: BRIEFLY DESCRIBE ONE AGILE METHOD OF YOUR CHOICE. CRITICALLY DISCUSS AGILE METHODS AND TRADITIONAL PLAN-
BASED APPROACHES (E.G. THE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFECYCLE) IN THE CONTEXT OF CONTEMPORARY SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT.
ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWER WITH YOUR CHOSEN AGILE METHOD. ...................................................................................18
2017: "EXTREME PROGRAMMING (XP) IS SUPERIOR TO THE TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFECYCLE AS SYSTEMS
DEVELOPMENT IS NEVER A RATIONAL PROCESS ANYWAY!" CRITICALLY DISCUSS THIS STATEMENT. ..........................................18
PRACTICE: CONTINUES THE THEME ON PROCESS, BUT INCLUDES THE SPECIFIC PRACTICES INVOLVED.
DECENTRALISATION, REUSE, OPEN-SOURCING, OUTSOURCING, REFLECTIVE PRACTICE, SOFTWARE FACTORY
(CMMI) ........................................................................................................................................................ 31
ARCHITECTURE: CONSIDERS THE STRUCTURE AND ARCHITECTURE OF SYSTEMS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. CLOUD COMPUTING, VIRTUALISATION ............................................................... 31
2022: MOCK: DESCRIBE THE MODULAR LAYERED ARCHITECTURES OF CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES. DISCUSS HOW THE WARDLEY
MAPPING TECHNIQUE CAN ASSIST IN STRATEGICALLY MANAGING SUCH COMPLEX SERVICES. .................................................31
2020: IN THE PAST THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOCUSED ON DESIGNING SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE SYSTEMS
THAT RESIDED ENTIRELY WITHIN THE ENTERPRISE. DISCUSS HOW THE RISE OF CLOUD COMPUTING AND ITS PROVISION OF MODULAR
CLOUD SERVICES MAY AFFECT INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY. THE DISCUSSION SHOULD INCLUDE ANY
TECHNIQUES WHICH MIGHT ASSIST SUCH SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT. ..................................................................................31
2019: “MICROSOFT AZURE AND AMAZON WEB SERVICES (AMONG OTHERS) PROVIDE CLOUD COMPUTING PLATFORMS FROM
WHICH COMPLEX INFORMATION SYSTEMS MIGHT BE CONSTRUCTED. THROUGH THE PLUGGING TOGETHER OF THEIR MODULAR
CLOUD SERVICES, DEVELOPERS CAN QUICKLY BUILD SYSTEMS FOR ENTERPRISES OF ALL SIZES”. CRITICALLY DISCUSS THIS STATEMENT.
OUTLINE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS OF HARNESSING MODULAR CLOUD SERVICE FOR DEVELOPING ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS. .....31
2018: HOW CAN CLOUD COMPUTING BE CHARACTERIZED IN TERMS OF THE CORE CONCEPTS OF DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURES? ...31
2016: AS WE MOVE TO HARNESS DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURES BUILT OF CLOUD-BASED SERVICES GLUED TOGETHER WITH SMALL
AMOUNTS OF CODE, SO OUR DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES NEED TO EVOLVE. DISCUSS THE IMPLICATIONS THIS MIGHT HAVE ON THE
CHOICE OF SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT METHODOLOGY AND THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF
METHODOLOGY TODAY. ..........................................................................................................................................31
MADE UP: DISCUSS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS MAINTENANCE AND ITS IMPACT ON SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND
OPERATIONS. IN YOUR ANALYSIS, CONSIDER THE CHALLENGES, APPROACHES, AND TOOLS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO INFORMATION
SYSTEMS MAINTENANCE. SUPPORT YOUR ARGUMENTS WITH EXAMPLES, RESEARCH FINDINGS, AND RELEVANT REFERENCES. .......38
MODULARITY: MODULES AND LAYERS. PRINCIPLES FOR MODULARISING. PATTERNS. VIRTUALISATION,
PACKAGED SOFTWARE AND MIDDLEWARE, API, WEB2.0, MASH-UP, SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURES .. 41
INNOVATION: INFORMATION SERVICES, LISTENING AND ENGAGING CUSTOMERS WITH IT. PROJECT V.S.
SERVICE DEVELOPMENT. ! FORGET ABOUT THIS. THEY WONT ASK ABOUT THIS ......................................... 41
IMPLEMENTATION: ORGANISATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF CHANGES ..................................................... 41
2022: MOCK: DURING THE GLOBAL COVID-19 PANDEMIC ORGANISATIONS RAPIDLY IMPLEMENTED NEW IT SYSTEMS, FOR
EXAMPLE: COMPANIES DEPLOYED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS FOR WORKING FROM HOME; GOVERNMENTS IMPLEMENTED DRASTIC
CHANGES TO HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS; AND CITIZENS ADOPTED NEW COMMUNICATION TOOLS AS WELL AS SERVICES
SUCH AS FOOD DELIVERY. CRITICALLY DISCUSS THIS RAPID IMPLEMENTATION AND WHETHER IT IS LIKELY TO REFLECT AN EASING OF
THE IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES DISCUSSED WITHIN THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS LITERATURE .........................................41
2020: BRIEFLY OUTLINE THE MAIN CHALLENGES WHEN ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INFORMATION
SYSTEM. CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF AN
INFORMATION SYSTEM AND INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS’ ACQUISITION AND USE OF SMARTPHONE APPLICATIONS (APPS). ..............42
2019: CONSIDERING THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE AS THE PROCESS WHERE A NEW INFORMATION SYSTEM IS BROUGHT INTO
ORGANISATIONAL USE, CRITICALLY ASSESS WHAT IS MEANT BY IMPLEMENTATION. ASSESS THE RELEVANCE AND CHALLENGE OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION PHASE IN THE CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT OF USER-FRIENDLY SMARTPHONE APPS. ......................................42
2018: CHARACTERISE THE BASIC STRATEGIES FOR THE ORGANIZATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS. DISCUSS
CRITICALLY THE CHALLENGES OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF LARGE-SCALE ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS. ....................42
FUTURE REVIEW OF COURSE, POINT TOWARDS POSSIBLE SCENARIOS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS ...ERROR!
BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
EVERYTHING ELSE: ....................................................................................................................................... 48
,PROBLEM: Designing the problem: Soft Systems Methodology and Requirements analysis
2022: Both Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and Jake Knapp's Sprint Week (in its
original form) focus on learning about a problem. The former focuses on designing
problems, the latter on building quick prototypes. Compare and contrast the two
approaches within the context of a large, unionised, organisation seeking to improve
a contentious part of its Human Resources Management system.
2020: Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is often used to design problems within
information systems development. Describe why designing problems is important
and how SSM might assist. Critically discuss how the approach to understanding the
world (the epistemology) of SSM differs from that of the Unified Modelling Language
(UML)?
2019: “Large scale information systems problems are not discovered, they are
designed.” Explain what is meant by this statement and describe a technique which
might be used for problem design. Within your answer you should explain the
limitations of problem design, particularly in our modern world of cloud platforms
and digital ecosystems.
2018: Peter Checkland’s Soft Systems Methodology focuses on modelling a world of
interpretation and subjectivity. Discuss the role this methodology could have in
modern Internet focused digital innovation involving Digital Ecosystems and Cloud
Computing.
2017: Describe the essential characteristics of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM).
Evaluate how this approach to systems development facilitates learning.
2016: “Peter Checkland’s Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is concerned with
bringing rigour to the subjective by designing problems which may, or may not, be
improved through information systems. Yet in a modern world of platforms,
information services and cloud computing, it is as important to design the
architecture of a system as to design ‘problems’”. Critically evaluate this statement,
considering the usefulness of SSM within contemporary information systems
development.
Example: Describe how an analyst might use Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) in
order to help design a problem to be addressed through a new information system.
Critically assess the role SSM can play in systems development in contemporary
organisations where portfolios of services are used rather than specially designed
software packages.
, What are the 5 P’s?
• Process: how we do it (that we need to instigate) à commiting resources, analysing
problems, user needs, designing software, introducing the system. Diff ways.
• Project: the structures we use to manage it (orchestrate a project): organising,
controlling, co-ordinating: activities, resources, products/deliverables, project
manager role (estimate effort and task, monitor work, milestones and deliverables)
• Product: the things we produce: hardware, software documentation, new jobs/roles
• People: lots of them in various roles: desires and needs, knowledge and skills,
problem owners, designers, developers, users, patients victim, etc
• Problem: why we started in the first place
Point 1: Introducing SSM
• Point: Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is a flexible and qualitative approach to problem-solving that
recognizes the complexity of problems (like sprint), considers human perspectives, multiple
stakeholders, and subjective elements. ‘Soft’ vs ‘Hard’
- Hard Systems: A structured, analytical approach to problem-solving that uses mathematical
models, quantitative data, and predefined objectives to find optimal solutions based on objective
criteria. Commonly used in engineering and technical fields.
- Soft Systems: emphasizes understanding and improving how people think about and deal with
the problem, rather than seeking a definitive solution
Ø Focusing on building a solution straight away – too narrow.
Ø SSM delivers some image of the new system and ways of working, but this undergoes a
continuous process of refinement in the project
• Evidence: There are 7 stages in SSM:
- Stage 1 and 2: Defining the problem: Identifying the problem and the stakeholders involved.
- Stage 3: Root definition: Understanding the problem
1. 7.
from the perspective of the stakeholders and the The problem Action to improve
situation the problem
larger system in which it is embedded. unstructured situation
- Stage 4: Conceptual models: Developing conceptual 6.
models of the problem and the system to help Feasible, desirable
5. change
understand it. 2.
The problem Comparison
of 4 with 2
- Stage 5: Comparison of models with reality: situation
expressed
Real world
Comparing the conceptual models to the real-world
situation to identify discrepancies and areas for
Systems thinking
improvement. 4.
- Stage 6: Identification of desirable characteristics: Conceptual
models
3.
Identifying the characteristics that a solution to the Root definitions
problem should have. of relevant systems
- Stage 7: Generation of alternative solutions: 4a. 4b.
Formal
Generating alternative solutions that meet the system
Other systems
thinking
desirable characteristics identified in the previous step. concepts
- Choice and implementation of a solution: Choosing the best solution
and implementing it.
• Explanation: Key features:
- Soft: SSM is focused on finding and framing problems, as much as solving them and emphasizes
social processes over technical ones.
- Iterative and flexible: SSM allows for adjustments to be made as new information is discovered
or as the problem evolves.
PROBLEM: DESIGNING THE PROBLEM: SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY AND REQUIREMENTS ANALYSIS ....... 3
2022: BOTH SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY (SSM) AND JAKE KNAPP'S SPRINT WEEK (IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM) FOCUS ON
LEARNING ABOUT A PROBLEM. THE FORMER FOCUSES ON DESIGNING PROBLEMS, THE LATTER ON BUILDING QUICK PROTOTYPES.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE TWO APPROACHES WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A LARGE, UNIONISED, ORGANISATION SEEKING TO
IMPROVE A CONTENTIOUS PART OF ITS HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. ...........................................................3
2020: SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY (SSM) IS OFTEN USED TO DESIGN PROBLEMS WITHIN INFORMATION SYSTEMS
DEVELOPMENT. DESCRIBE WHY DESIGNING PROBLEMS IS IMPORTANT AND HOW SSM MIGHT ASSIST. CRITICALLY DISCUSS HOW THE
APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD (THE EPISTEMOLOGY) OF SSM DIFFERS FROM THAT OF THE UNIFIED MODELLING
LANGUAGE (UML)? ................................................................................................................................................3
2019: “LARGE SCALE INFORMATION SYSTEMS PROBLEMS ARE NOT DISCOVERED, THEY ARE DESIGNED.” EXPLAIN WHAT IS MEANT
BY THIS STATEMENT AND DESCRIBE A TECHNIQUE WHICH MIGHT BE USED FOR PROBLEM DESIGN. WITHIN YOUR ANSWER YOU
SHOULD EXPLAIN THE LIMITATIONS OF PROBLEM DESIGN, PARTICULARLY IN OUR MODERN WORLD OF CLOUD PLATFORMS AND
DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS. ..............................................................................................................................................3
2018: PETER CHECKLAND’S SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY FOCUSES ON MODELLING A WORLD OF INTERPRETATION AND
SUBJECTIVITY. DISCUSS THE ROLE THIS METHODOLOGY COULD HAVE IN MODERN INTERNET FOCUSED DIGITAL INNOVATION
INVOLVING DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS AND CLOUD COMPUTING. ...........................................................................................3
2017: DESCRIBE THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY (SSM). EVALUATE HOW THIS APPROACH TO
SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT FACILITATES LEARNING. ...........................................................................................................3
2017: DISCUSS THE ROLE OF REQUIREMENTS IN THE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. USE EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE SOME OF
THE TECHNIQUES THAT CAN SUPPORT THE ASSESSMENT OF REQUIREMENTS.......................................................................18
2016: “PETER CHECKLAND’S SOFT SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY (SSM) IS CONCERNED WITH BRINGING RIGOUR TO THE SUBJECTIVE
BY DESIGNING PROBLEMS WHICH MAY, OR MAY NOT, BE IMPROVED THROUGH INFORMATION SYSTEMS. YET IN A MODERN WORLD
OF PLATFORMS, INFORMATION SERVICES AND CLOUD COMPUTING, IT IS AS IMPORTANT TO DESIGN THE ARCHITECTURE OF A SYSTEM
AS TO DESIGN ‘PROBLEMS’”. CRITICALLY EVALUATE THIS STATEMENT, CONSIDERING THE USEFULNESS OF SSM WITHIN
CONTEMPORARY INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT. ...............................................................................................3
SOLUTION: MODELLING THE SOLUTION: INTRODUCTION TO UML. DATA, PROCESSES, ACTORS, OBJECTS ... 10
2022: BRIEFLY OUTLINE SOME OF THE CORE CONCEPTS WITHIN OBJECT-ORIENTED APPROACHES TO SYSTEMS ANALYSIS. DISCUSS
HOW OBJECT-ORIENTATION CAN SUPPORT DISTRIBUTED SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT. FOCUS YOUR DISCUSSION ON FUNCTIONAL
REQUIREMENTS. ...................................................................................................................................................10
2020: DESCRIBE THE CORE CHARACTERISTICS OF OBJECT-ORIENTED SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT METHODS. CRITICALLY ASSESS
POSSIBLE REASONS WHY OBJECT-ORIENTATION IS PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR CONTEMPORARY AGILE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT
PROCESSES. ..........................................................................................................................................................10
2019: DISCUSS THREE USEFUL OBJECT-ORIENTED MODELLING TECHNIQUES AND HOW THEY ARE USED TO MODEL OBJECT-
ORIENTED SYSTEMS. IN YOUR ANSWER DESCRIBE THE KEY ASPECTS OF OBJECT-ORIENTED MODELLING APPROACHES. COMPARE AND
CONTRAST THE USE OF THESE TECHNIQUES WITH ALTERNATIVE MEASURES IN RELATION TO THE CHALLENGES OF MANAGING
UNCERTAINTY AND COMPLEXITY IN SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. ............................................................................10
2017: DESCRIBE THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF OBJECT ORIENTED APPROACHES TO SYSTEMS ANALYSIS. CRITICALLY ASSESS HOW
OBJECT ORIENTED TECHNIQUES SUPPORT DISTRIBUTED COLLABORATION. ..........................................................................10
2016: OBJECT-ORIENTATION IS A DOMINANT PARADIGM FOR ANALYSING AND DEVELOPING SYSTEMS. DESCRIBE WHAT IS MEANT
BY “OBJECT-ORIENTATION” AND EXPLAIN ITS ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES FOR DEVELOPING ROBUST SOFTWARE BASED
SYSTEMS. CONSIDER HOW THE MOVE TO WEB-SERVICES MIGHT INFLUENCE ITS DOMINANCE.................................................10
PROCESS: APPROACHES FOR STRUCTURING THE DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION PROCESS. PRINCIPLE OF
LIMITED REDUCTION, LIFECYCLE, SPIRAL, AGILE, RAD, OPEN-SOURCE, INTERNET-SPEED DEVELOPMENT ..... 17
2020: AGILE METHODS, INCLUDING EXTREME PROGRAMMING AND SPRINT, FOCUS ON HUMAN INTERACTION IN CONTRAST TO
FORMALLY DOCUMENTED SPECIFICATIONS AND RIGOROUS FORMALISED PROCESSES. DISCUSS WHY THIS IS THE CASE. CRITICALLY
EVALUATE THE BENEFITS AND LIMITATIONS THIS PRESENTS FOR MODERN SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES........................17
2019: “INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT IS ESSENTIALLY ALL ABOUT MANAGING RISK”. CRITICALLY DISCUSS THIS
STATEMENT. WHAT TOOLS CAN BE APPLIED IN SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT TO MITIGATE RISK? .................................................17
2019: CRITICALLY ASSESS THE SPRINT METHOD AS AN AGILE DEVELOPMENT APPROACH. DISCUSS TWO SELECTED SPRINT ACTIVITIES
IN TERMS OF KEY-CHARACTERISTICS OF AGILE DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES. ......................................................................17
, 2018: CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE USE OF JAKE KNAPP’S “1-WEEK SPRINT METHOD” WITHIN COMMERCIAL DIGITAL INNOVATION
PROJECTS. DRAW UPON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES AND THE THEORY TAUGHT WITHIN THE COURSE .........................................18
2018: BRIEFLY DESCRIBE ONE AGILE METHOD OF YOUR CHOICE. CRITICALLY DISCUSS AGILE METHODS AND TRADITIONAL PLAN-
BASED APPROACHES (E.G. THE SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFECYCLE) IN THE CONTEXT OF CONTEMPORARY SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT.
ILLUSTRATE YOUR ANSWER WITH YOUR CHOSEN AGILE METHOD. ...................................................................................18
2017: "EXTREME PROGRAMMING (XP) IS SUPERIOR TO THE TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFECYCLE AS SYSTEMS
DEVELOPMENT IS NEVER A RATIONAL PROCESS ANYWAY!" CRITICALLY DISCUSS THIS STATEMENT. ..........................................18
PRACTICE: CONTINUES THE THEME ON PROCESS, BUT INCLUDES THE SPECIFIC PRACTICES INVOLVED.
DECENTRALISATION, REUSE, OPEN-SOURCING, OUTSOURCING, REFLECTIVE PRACTICE, SOFTWARE FACTORY
(CMMI) ........................................................................................................................................................ 31
ARCHITECTURE: CONSIDERS THE STRUCTURE AND ARCHITECTURE OF SYSTEMS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. CLOUD COMPUTING, VIRTUALISATION ............................................................... 31
2022: MOCK: DESCRIBE THE MODULAR LAYERED ARCHITECTURES OF CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES. DISCUSS HOW THE WARDLEY
MAPPING TECHNIQUE CAN ASSIST IN STRATEGICALLY MANAGING SUCH COMPLEX SERVICES. .................................................31
2020: IN THE PAST THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOCUSED ON DESIGNING SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE SYSTEMS
THAT RESIDED ENTIRELY WITHIN THE ENTERPRISE. DISCUSS HOW THE RISE OF CLOUD COMPUTING AND ITS PROVISION OF MODULAR
CLOUD SERVICES MAY AFFECT INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY. THE DISCUSSION SHOULD INCLUDE ANY
TECHNIQUES WHICH MIGHT ASSIST SUCH SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT. ..................................................................................31
2019: “MICROSOFT AZURE AND AMAZON WEB SERVICES (AMONG OTHERS) PROVIDE CLOUD COMPUTING PLATFORMS FROM
WHICH COMPLEX INFORMATION SYSTEMS MIGHT BE CONSTRUCTED. THROUGH THE PLUGGING TOGETHER OF THEIR MODULAR
CLOUD SERVICES, DEVELOPERS CAN QUICKLY BUILD SYSTEMS FOR ENTERPRISES OF ALL SIZES”. CRITICALLY DISCUSS THIS STATEMENT.
OUTLINE THE OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS OF HARNESSING MODULAR CLOUD SERVICE FOR DEVELOPING ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS. .....31
2018: HOW CAN CLOUD COMPUTING BE CHARACTERIZED IN TERMS OF THE CORE CONCEPTS OF DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURES? ...31
2016: AS WE MOVE TO HARNESS DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURES BUILT OF CLOUD-BASED SERVICES GLUED TOGETHER WITH SMALL
AMOUNTS OF CODE, SO OUR DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES NEED TO EVOLVE. DISCUSS THE IMPLICATIONS THIS MIGHT HAVE ON THE
CHOICE OF SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT METHODOLOGY AND THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF
METHODOLOGY TODAY. ..........................................................................................................................................31
MADE UP: DISCUSS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS MAINTENANCE AND ITS IMPACT ON SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND
OPERATIONS. IN YOUR ANALYSIS, CONSIDER THE CHALLENGES, APPROACHES, AND TOOLS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO INFORMATION
SYSTEMS MAINTENANCE. SUPPORT YOUR ARGUMENTS WITH EXAMPLES, RESEARCH FINDINGS, AND RELEVANT REFERENCES. .......38
MODULARITY: MODULES AND LAYERS. PRINCIPLES FOR MODULARISING. PATTERNS. VIRTUALISATION,
PACKAGED SOFTWARE AND MIDDLEWARE, API, WEB2.0, MASH-UP, SERVICE ORIENTED ARCHITECTURES .. 41
INNOVATION: INFORMATION SERVICES, LISTENING AND ENGAGING CUSTOMERS WITH IT. PROJECT V.S.
SERVICE DEVELOPMENT. ! FORGET ABOUT THIS. THEY WONT ASK ABOUT THIS ......................................... 41
IMPLEMENTATION: ORGANISATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF CHANGES ..................................................... 41
2022: MOCK: DURING THE GLOBAL COVID-19 PANDEMIC ORGANISATIONS RAPIDLY IMPLEMENTED NEW IT SYSTEMS, FOR
EXAMPLE: COMPANIES DEPLOYED COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS FOR WORKING FROM HOME; GOVERNMENTS IMPLEMENTED DRASTIC
CHANGES TO HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS; AND CITIZENS ADOPTED NEW COMMUNICATION TOOLS AS WELL AS SERVICES
SUCH AS FOOD DELIVERY. CRITICALLY DISCUSS THIS RAPID IMPLEMENTATION AND WHETHER IT IS LIKELY TO REFLECT AN EASING OF
THE IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES DISCUSSED WITHIN THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS LITERATURE .........................................41
2020: BRIEFLY OUTLINE THE MAIN CHALLENGES WHEN ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INFORMATION
SYSTEM. CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF AN
INFORMATION SYSTEM AND INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS’ ACQUISITION AND USE OF SMARTPHONE APPLICATIONS (APPS). ..............42
2019: CONSIDERING THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE AS THE PROCESS WHERE A NEW INFORMATION SYSTEM IS BROUGHT INTO
ORGANISATIONAL USE, CRITICALLY ASSESS WHAT IS MEANT BY IMPLEMENTATION. ASSESS THE RELEVANCE AND CHALLENGE OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION PHASE IN THE CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT OF USER-FRIENDLY SMARTPHONE APPS. ......................................42
2018: CHARACTERISE THE BASIC STRATEGIES FOR THE ORGANIZATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS. DISCUSS
CRITICALLY THE CHALLENGES OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF LARGE-SCALE ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS. ....................42
FUTURE REVIEW OF COURSE, POINT TOWARDS POSSIBLE SCENARIOS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS ...ERROR!
BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
EVERYTHING ELSE: ....................................................................................................................................... 48
,PROBLEM: Designing the problem: Soft Systems Methodology and Requirements analysis
2022: Both Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) and Jake Knapp's Sprint Week (in its
original form) focus on learning about a problem. The former focuses on designing
problems, the latter on building quick prototypes. Compare and contrast the two
approaches within the context of a large, unionised, organisation seeking to improve
a contentious part of its Human Resources Management system.
2020: Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is often used to design problems within
information systems development. Describe why designing problems is important
and how SSM might assist. Critically discuss how the approach to understanding the
world (the epistemology) of SSM differs from that of the Unified Modelling Language
(UML)?
2019: “Large scale information systems problems are not discovered, they are
designed.” Explain what is meant by this statement and describe a technique which
might be used for problem design. Within your answer you should explain the
limitations of problem design, particularly in our modern world of cloud platforms
and digital ecosystems.
2018: Peter Checkland’s Soft Systems Methodology focuses on modelling a world of
interpretation and subjectivity. Discuss the role this methodology could have in
modern Internet focused digital innovation involving Digital Ecosystems and Cloud
Computing.
2017: Describe the essential characteristics of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM).
Evaluate how this approach to systems development facilitates learning.
2016: “Peter Checkland’s Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is concerned with
bringing rigour to the subjective by designing problems which may, or may not, be
improved through information systems. Yet in a modern world of platforms,
information services and cloud computing, it is as important to design the
architecture of a system as to design ‘problems’”. Critically evaluate this statement,
considering the usefulness of SSM within contemporary information systems
development.
Example: Describe how an analyst might use Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) in
order to help design a problem to be addressed through a new information system.
Critically assess the role SSM can play in systems development in contemporary
organisations where portfolios of services are used rather than specially designed
software packages.
, What are the 5 P’s?
• Process: how we do it (that we need to instigate) à commiting resources, analysing
problems, user needs, designing software, introducing the system. Diff ways.
• Project: the structures we use to manage it (orchestrate a project): organising,
controlling, co-ordinating: activities, resources, products/deliverables, project
manager role (estimate effort and task, monitor work, milestones and deliverables)
• Product: the things we produce: hardware, software documentation, new jobs/roles
• People: lots of them in various roles: desires and needs, knowledge and skills,
problem owners, designers, developers, users, patients victim, etc
• Problem: why we started in the first place
Point 1: Introducing SSM
• Point: Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is a flexible and qualitative approach to problem-solving that
recognizes the complexity of problems (like sprint), considers human perspectives, multiple
stakeholders, and subjective elements. ‘Soft’ vs ‘Hard’
- Hard Systems: A structured, analytical approach to problem-solving that uses mathematical
models, quantitative data, and predefined objectives to find optimal solutions based on objective
criteria. Commonly used in engineering and technical fields.
- Soft Systems: emphasizes understanding and improving how people think about and deal with
the problem, rather than seeking a definitive solution
Ø Focusing on building a solution straight away – too narrow.
Ø SSM delivers some image of the new system and ways of working, but this undergoes a
continuous process of refinement in the project
• Evidence: There are 7 stages in SSM:
- Stage 1 and 2: Defining the problem: Identifying the problem and the stakeholders involved.
- Stage 3: Root definition: Understanding the problem
1. 7.
from the perspective of the stakeholders and the The problem Action to improve
situation the problem
larger system in which it is embedded. unstructured situation
- Stage 4: Conceptual models: Developing conceptual 6.
models of the problem and the system to help Feasible, desirable
5. change
understand it. 2.
The problem Comparison
of 4 with 2
- Stage 5: Comparison of models with reality: situation
expressed
Real world
Comparing the conceptual models to the real-world
situation to identify discrepancies and areas for
Systems thinking
improvement. 4.
- Stage 6: Identification of desirable characteristics: Conceptual
models
3.
Identifying the characteristics that a solution to the Root definitions
problem should have. of relevant systems
- Stage 7: Generation of alternative solutions: 4a. 4b.
Formal
Generating alternative solutions that meet the system
Other systems
thinking
desirable characteristics identified in the previous step. concepts
- Choice and implementation of a solution: Choosing the best solution
and implementing it.
• Explanation: Key features:
- Soft: SSM is focused on finding and framing problems, as much as solving them and emphasizes
social processes over technical ones.
- Iterative and flexible: SSM allows for adjustments to be made as new information is discovered
or as the problem evolves.
