Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives At the completion of this subject students should know how to apply socio-technical analysis techniques in business problem solving; understand that not all business problems have a uniform interpretation nor a uniformly agreed solution; be able to identify such situations and to apply the appropriate techniques of socio-technical analysis to their resolution; and appreciate the subjective interpretations of business problem situations by those involved.
Synopsis This subject will extend the student's knowledge of systems analysis as a problem solving discipline specifically in the area of ill-defined or `soft' problem situations. Uncertainty will be discussed in an information systems requirements analysis context. Differing perceptions of models and of their usefulness in problematical situations will lead to an examination of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM). The techniques used in SSM-based analysis will be taught and applied to cases, ideally provided by the students, in industry and government. Socio-technical development methods will be discussed.
Assessment Practical work: 40% + Written (3000 words) or case study: 60%