How to Do Systems Analysis

Preface ix
 
Original Preface from Jack Gibson xiii
 
Acknowledgments xv
 
About the Companion Website xvii
 
Part One: Primer
 
1. Introduction 3
 
1.1 What is a System? 4
 
1.2 Terminology Confusion 6
 
1.3 Systems Analysis Equals Operations Research Plus Policy Analysis 10
 
1.4 Attributes of Large-Scale Systems 11
 
1.5 Transportation Systems: An Example of a Large-Scale System 13
 
1.6 Systems Integration 16
 
1.7 What Makes a "Systems Analysis" Different? 17
 
1.8 Distant Roots of Systems Analysis 19
 
1.9 Immediate Precursors to Systems Analysis 20
 
1.10 Development of Systems Analysis as a Distinct Discipline: The Influence of RAND 23
 
References 26
 
2. Six Major Phases of Systems Analysis 28
 
2.1 The Systems Analysis Method: Six Major Phases 28
 
2.1.1 Determine Goals 28
 
2.1.2 Establish Criteria for Ranking Alternative Candidates 30
 
2.1.3 Develop Alternative Solutions 31
 
2.1.4 Rank Alternatives 32
 
2.1.5 Iterate 34
 
2.1.6 Action 35
 
2.2 The Goal-Centered or Top-Down Approach 35
 
2.3 The Index of Performance Concept 41
 
2.4 Developing Alternative Scenarios 45
 
2.5 Ranking Alternatives 47
 
2.6 Iteration and the "Error-Embracing" Approach 47
 
2.7 The Action Phase: The Life Cycle of a System 51
 
References 53
 
3. Goal Development 55
 
3.1 Seven Steps in Goal Development 55
 
3.2 On Generalizing the Question 59
 
3.3 The Descriptive Scenario 61
 
3.4 The Normative Scenario 63
 
3.5 The Axiological Component 63
 
3.6 Developing an Objectives Tree 67
 
3.7 Validate 73
 
3.8 Iterate 74
 
References 75
 
4. The Index of Performance 76
 
4.1 Introduction 76
 
4.2 Desirable Characteristics for an Index of Performance 78
 
4.3 Economic

John E. Gibson, PhD, was the Commonwealth Distinguished Professor of Systems Management at the School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville. He served as Dean of Engineering at the University of Virginia and at Oakland University. Dr. Gibson was working on this book at the time of his death.
 
William T. Scherer, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Systems and Information Engineering at the University of Virginia, where he teaches courses on systems engineering. Dr. Scherer was a student in Dr. Gibson's classes and later became a colleague. Dr. Scherer has authored and co-authored numerous publications on intelligent decision support systems, stochastic control, systems engineering education, and financial engineering. He is a former President of IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Society and has won numerous teaching awards while at the University of Virginia.
 
William F. Gibson, MBA, MPA, is the Senior Managing Director and President of IVY Creek Associates, an international consulting firm for global asset managers, brokerage firms, and banks. He was Global Chief Operating Officer at ING Investment Management, and the Head of Securities and Fund Services Operations - EMEA at Citigroup. Mr. Gibson has led the infrastructure groups of global financial services firms, and is actively engaged in developing and applying new technologies in those domains. He has also been an executive lecturer at the S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Michael C. Smith, PhD, is the Executive Director of the Accelerated Masters Program in Systems Engineering at the University of Virginia. Prior to joining the University of Virginia, Dr. Smith was a Senior Scientist at Science Applications International Corporation (now Leidos) and also served on the Industrial Engineering faculties at Oregon State University and the University of Missouri. In addition to directing the University of