A generalized framework and methodology for systems analysis

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This article outlines the analytical basis of logistics. The concept of logistics management is described in a business context, and its strategic, tactical and operational tiers are discussed. The relationship that exists between systems analysis and logistics management is indicated. The seven consecutive steps in the systems analysis process are outlined. The role and essence of operations research in systems analysis and business logistics decision-making are described. The most pertinent operations research applications in the field of logistics management, as well as the analytical competencies that a logistician should possess, are identified. The role that operations researchers can fulfil in the successful execution and control of business logistics processes are detailed.

The study proposes a combination of the function points model for software estimation with the ADISSA methodology for systems analysis and design. This combined approach, which is supported by a software tool, enables one to estimate various software metrics, such as size, effort, and duration, in the early stages of systems development, by basing them on the products of a thorough system analysis and design process.

Introduction. The topicality of the article’ topic is due to the growing need for methodological and technological development of systems analysis in the transition of mankind to the information age, the complexity of social relations and the predominance of unsystematic, fragmentary thinking of modern managers. Purpose and methods. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the theoretical and methodological principles and practical recommendations for the implementation of systematic analysis in socio-cultural management. The methodological basis of the study is the dialectical principle of cognition, systemic, historical, cultural, philosophical, organizational, cybernetic and synergetic approaches to the study of organizational phenomena and processes. Results. The basic theoretical concepts of system analysis have been analyzed. The essence, role, significance of systematics and system analysis in the modern man’s life and society have been revealed. The methodology of system analysis as a unique form of cognition in socio-cultural management has been substantiated. The types of system analysis have been determined, which allows forming a holistic view of the possible directions of its implementation in the management of socio-cultural activities. The technology of conducting a systematic analysis of objects and problem situations in socio-cultural management has been developed. Conclusions. The scientific novelty of the research results is the deepening of the theoretical and methodological foundations of systems analysis in socio-cultural management on the basis of modern philosophical, organizational, cybernetic and synergetic approaches. The practical significance of the obtained results is manifested in the possibility of their use in the management of objects and situations of the socio-cultural sphere, as well as in the supplementation of the general theory of systems and socio-cultural management with new scientific ideas.

The results of the research on the application of a systematic approach to solving energy efficiency problems in Ukraine are presented. The reasons for restraining the level of energy efficiency are highlighted, among which are the hollowing: ineffective policy of incentives to reduce energy consumption; lack of investments and conditions for their attraction; inefficient tariff and price policy in the energy sector of the economy, non-compliance with regulations, programs of various levels and measures. The need to increase the level of energy efficiency in Ukraine is substantiated and a system analysis is proposed to solve this problem. The methodology of systems analysis is implemented using a systems approach, in particular, to the interpretation of the process of energy efficiency development as an open, nonlinear, complex system. As an element of systems analysis, the study uses a multilevel approach, which provides an opportunity to consider the object of study at different hierarchical levels: the international community, state, industry, region and individual. It is noted that in order to successfully develop the progress of energy efficiency in Ukraine, it is necessary to take into account global trends and recent large-scale changes in this area. Examples of progress realization at the state level are given, in particular, implementation of a large number of legal acts, a number of stimulating measures for energy saving, etc. The importance of the sectoral level to increase energy efficiency in Ukraine is indicated. The importance of energy efficiency potential at the regional level is emphasized, which can give a significant boost to its entire economy and significantly improve the lives of the population. The importance of optimizing the process of energy efficiency at the level of various institutions is presented; as one of the options for solving this problem, it is proposed to popularize its benefits both among the population and the individual. The multilevel approach to energy efficiency in Ukraine proposed in the study presupposes an integrated combination of efforts at different levels and a synergistic effect of solving the problem. Key words: energy efficiency, system, multilevel approach

The paper examined the problem of modeling and design of software computer systems. The article briefly describes the content aspects of the various stages of the implementation of software complexes and systems. The methodology of research and analysis of systems, which uses the method of computer simulation modeling, is given. The aim of the work is to create a new universal approach to the design and implementation of software systems of various levels of complexity. During the study, the following general scientific methods were used: system analysis, synthesis, formalization, modeling, decomposition, structuring, description, comparison. The materials used in the study were: computers and software development tools. As a result of the study proposed a universal agent-module approach to the design and implementation of software systems based on simulation agent-based modeling. The study presents the processes of modeling and designing software systems, their stages, and the possibility of their integration within the described approach. Examples of formal model and structure of the software system under design based on the agent-module approach are presented. The proposed approach can be used in the process of software development at the initial stages related to modeling and designing of software systems. Integration of modeling and design stages in the proposed approach will significantly reduce software development time and simplify the design process by making it clearer and more formalized. Materials of the article are of scientific and practical value for a wide range of specialists interested in system analysis, modeling, design and implementation of software systems.

Systems analysis: The need for a better understanding

Worst-case execution time (WCET) analysis of systems with data caches is one of the key challenges in real-time systems. Caches exploit the inherent reuse properties of programs by temporarily storing certain memory contents near the processor, in order that further accesses to such contents do not require costly memory transfers. Current worst-case data cache analysis methods focus on specific cache organizations (set-associative LRU, locked, ACDC, etc.), most of the times adapting techniques designed to analyze instruction caches. On the other hand, there are methodologies to analyze the data reuse of a program, independently of the data cache. In this paper we propose a generic WCET analysis framework to analyze data caches taking profit of such reuse information. It includes the categorization of data references and their integration in an IPET model. We apply it to a conventional LRU cache, an ACDC, and other baseline systems, and compare them using the TACLeBench benchmark suite. Our results show that persistence-based LRU analyses dismiss essential information on data, and a reuse-based analysis improves the WCET bound around 17% in average. In general, the best WCET estimations are obtained with optimization level 2, where the ACDC cache performs 39% better than a set-associative LRU.

During the NASA Heavy Lift and Propulsion Systems Analysis and Trade Study, Orbital Sciences Corporation (Orbital) was selected to conduct a study defining a new launch vehicle and the propulsion technology that enables NASA to meet the Nation's exploration goals and objectives. One of Orbital's primary objectives of the study was to analyze multiple Heavy Lift System (HLS) architectures and make recommendations of system concepts capable of affordably conducting the NASA Design Reference Missions (DRMs) for LEO, lunar exploration, and Mars exploration. Orbital implemented a goal-driven process to develop optimal, robust HLS architectures. Requirements analysis and functional decomposition initiated the process, in parallel with identifying options for each of the HLS elements. Following the development of driving requirements, various vehicle configurations, technologies, propellants, and components were assessed and assembled into numerous candidate architectures. Each of these architectures was sized to meet the system requirements and then assessed against weighted system attributes to determine the most effective architectures. Orbital conducted a comprehensive architecture study that explored the entire Heavy Lift System trade space. The study relied primarily on quantifiable results for decision making rather than qualitative judgments. In doing so, several top level objectives related to risk, reliability, affordability, and performance were kept at the forefront during trade study execution. The system trade studies and analyses leveraged Orbital’s Integrated Systems Analysis Process, which connects Orbital’s existing suite of analysis tools inside an integrated design environment to apply multidisciplinary design optimization techniques necessary to fully explore the design space.

This article explores the potentials of systems analysis and design of information system for sustainable natural resource management. Soft and hard system analyses were performed to better understand the information needs and design of an information system for improving decision making for achieving sustainable natural resource management. In order to analyze the complex and soft systems situations for developing an effective information system, which meets related actors’ changing needs, a conceptual model inspired by soft systems methodology (SSM) was developed. This model is based on information derived from twelve farmers who were purposely selected to represent diverse conditions and 23 agricultural extension experts across the Alborz Watershed in Mazandaran Province, located in northern Iran. Since a conceptual model resulting from SSM is not in itself sufficient as the basis for the implementation of information systems, a hard system methodology was used to structure the data handling by using unified modeling language. This research has shown the promising potentiality of using soft system analysis methodology as a preliminary step to the actual design of an information system in the natural resource management situation in the watershed system level when combined with hard system analysis methods.

The development of information systems is no longer limited to a few locations throughout the world. They are developed in countries whose business environment and culture are very different. Culture, we suggest, is therefore an important variable in the development process and may introduce its own set of problems, the consequences of which may range from project failure to delayed delivery of working systems. But culture’s influence may be indirect, difficult to isolate, and difficult to measure. For these reasons, perhaps, there has been no research that directly addresses culture’s role in the systems analysis and design process. This paper is an attempt to fill that void. It identifies the stages in the systems analysis and design process likely to be influenced by culture and the pattern which these influences are likely to take. The benefit of such a framework is that it draws attention to the issue of culture at the beginning of the development cycle and may reduce the chances of failure or costly delays.

System analysis and design is an engineering technique which is widely used in industrial projects to ensure a solution is reached which fulfills the requirements of the user. The same technique has been used in this research for the design and implementation of a cricket bowling system which has been designed with both existing technology and the requirements of players and coaches in mind. The structured analysis and design methodology has been teamed with an object oriented approach to provide a component based solution which includes a bowling machine able to recreate any common bowling delivery, a visualization to provide temporal and spatial information about the delivery and an independent user interface to ensure robustness. This papers looks in more detail at the design and analysis methodologies used to create this solution.

This chapter presents the general framework for systemic analysis of a set of interconnected civil infrastructural systems described in this book. While the relevant following chapters provide details on specific aspects of distributed seismic hazard (Chap. 3), vulnerability of components (the companion book), functional model of each system and their interactions (Chap. 5), and socio-economic impact evaluation (Chap. 4), this chapter focuses mainly on how the overall model has been developed according to the object-oriented paradigm, and on the way uncertainty in all factors is modelled.

Subject. We consider models of the formation of terminological systems in the field of management. Objectives. The study aims to develop methodological tools for the formation of models of terminosystems in the field of management. Methods. The study rests on the methodology of systems analysis and the cognitive theory. We apply modeling and prototyping methods. Results. The study presents the methodology, mechanism, flow and cognitive models of the formation of the terminological system for solving specific tasks in the customs sphere. It provides the results of experiments in the field of application of methodological recommendations. The developed models can be used in research and analytical structures of departments of State authorities, including the Federal Customs Service, which carry out strategic planning and design of the organization's activities. Conclusions. The methodology and the flow model reveal the features of the formation of terminological systems and the order of application of such methods as the systems analysis, prototyping, and cognitive modeling. The cognitive model unveils possibilities of applying the intelligent digital technology in order to construct terminological systems.

A general analysis framework is presented in this paper for many different types of finite element methods (including various discontinuous Galerkin methods). For the second-order elliptic equation −div(α∇u) = f, this framework employs four different discretization variables, uh, ph, ŭh and $${\mathord{\buildrel{\lower3pt\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle\smile$}}\over p} _h}$$ , where uh and ph are for approximation of u and p = −α∇u inside each element, and ŭh and $${\mathord{\buildrel{\lower3pt\hbox{$\scriptscriptstyle\smile$}}\over p} _h}$$ are for approximation of residual of u and p · n on the boundary of each element. The resulting 4-field discretization is proved to satisfy two types of inf-sup conditions that are uniform with respect to all discretization and penalization parameters. As a result, many existing finite element and discontinuous Galerkin methods can be analyzed using this general framework by making appropriate choices of discretization spaces and penalization parameters.