System Engineering Strategic Information Systems - Free Sample

Question: Discuss about theSystem Engineeringfor Strategic Information Systems. Answer: New Complex System Development Incurs Risks The development of new complex system and advanced technology raises risk in the organization. The advanced development phase is used to resolution majority of uncertainties through process of validation of the system design approach. The processes, which are used to develop the complex system, are installation as well as simulation of the environmental conditions, development test and validation of system components (Arvidsson, Holmstrom Lyytinen, 2014). Risk assessment is a system-engineering tool, which is used to develop the complex system and mitigate the risks from the system to work it properly. Both hardware as well as software is used to develop a project and system, therefore there is a risk of supply issue on the manufacturers end (Buede Miller, 2016). Within the old system, if the previous data are required to operate a new system, then conversion of data are needed to manage to make sure that it can run properly. If there is high turnover rate within the organization, then it will affect the development of new complex system (Paolucci Sacile, 2016). Therefore, any development of new system will incur risk as it takes long time away to develop it. For overcoming with the incurred risks, both change control as well as change management are used to deliver the system on time as well as in the budget. The new complex system development incurs risks in some of the cases. It is seen that development of new computing system for the aerospace application causes risks that result into extension of product time, drive up of budget as well as disrupt the programs. In the aerospace application, there is continuous change requirements, products are complex to execute and there is critical project module integration (Chernysheva, 2013). Technical risks within the aerospace application leads to larger risks which causes functionality as well as performance failure. Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) system is used to minimize the risks in new complex system development. This system mitigates the development risks within the new complex system through the process of testing. Aircraft as well as ground vehicle control application are designed properly (Sandu et al., 2014). Through the process of documentation, the risks within the system are reduced. The use of COTS system in the development phas e means that the development code is being written as well as debugged properly. When the cost of NRE is removed from the subsystem development lead time, then it reduces the cost of COTS computer system which results into elimination of risks from aerospace system development. The project stakeholders also play a major role in reducing risks from new complex system development project. The system has higher risk of failure; therefore, redundancy within the new complex system would mitigate the failure (Kapur Pecht, 2014). COTS system is used as a backup system and low cost COTS system reduces the consequences of failure of complex system. Such a redundant system reduces the system failure as well as gives a safe operation of the system. Six Design Features or Characteristics that Contribute to the Laptop Reliability A laptop is a portable computer, which is used by variety of people. It consists of input, output as well as capability of the desktop computer, which operates into various environments such as vibration, temperature as well as shock. There are many design features, which make the laptop reliable to use by people (Schwab, 2013). Most of the components of the laptop are interfaced with other, and the features of the laptop are significant based on its functionality. The following are six design features, which contribute to laptop reliability, are categorized as display quality, keyboard and responsive touchpad, hard drivers, battery, durable design as well as processor. Firstly, the display quality feature defines that the laptop screen displays all the functions of the laptop, which is performed, with input of user as well as internal processing part. With advanced technology, there are chances of developing the display screen. There are various types of screen and displays of lapto p such as LCD, plasma, LED etc. Its cost composition is medium (Mengxuan et al., 2016). Secondly, keyboard and responsive touchpad design feature shows that there is a smooth cursor movement. Some of the laptops have feature of turn on and off the touchpad. There are various types of keyboard such as standard, laptop size, flexible keyboard and thumb sized. Even a keyboard consists of basic keys like alphanumeric, shift, function and cursor control keys. Touchpad is a device, which has tactile sensor to translate the position of fingers of users. Its cost composition is low. Thirdly, the hard driver is the device for data storage for storing digital information into it. The magnetic head into the hard driver reads as well as write the data to the surface of platter. The hard driver requires a capacity of 2, 3 or 4 TB of storage space. Its speed varies between 4000 to 15000 RPM. Its cost composition is medium (Sabbaghi et al., 2015). Fourthly, the battery is one of the significant design features for the laptop reliability. The laptop is using Lithium-ion batteries, which is lightweight as well as longer lifespan. The life of the battery of laptop is finite. Even the batter life of the laptop is improved by dimming the laptop screen, changing the settings of power and disabling the Wi-Fi. Its cost composition is medium (Siewiorek Swarz, 2014). Fifthly, durable design signifies that the laptop should have best performance based on its maintenance of screen, battery, keyboard, hard disk etc. The laptop is designed with very thin spaces for purpose of airflow as well as cooling. Overheating of the laptop shortens the life of the components. Therefore, maintenance is required to keep it safe. It has low cost composition. Finally, it is processor, which works with the operating system in order to control the computer. The processor of the laptop is less heated as it runs at a lower voltage and with a clock speed (Kap ur Pecht, 2014). Therefore, it reduces heat as well as consumption of power but it slows the processor down. It has high cost composition. Three Factors of Test Failures and Steps to Diagnose the Causes of Failure In the testing process, there are many factors, which can result into failure of test. Firstly, test failure is due to environmental condition such as strong magnetic field, pollution cloud that results into hardware fault. This type of fault results into change the software execution. Secondly, the cause of failure is human factors. Sometimes, there is error from the human side to interact with the software (Meeker Escobar, 2014). There is wrong input of value and therefore the output is being misinterpreted. Thirdly, there are chances of incorrect assumptions related to the requirements of system. The software developer while understanding the requirements of the system testing does it (Christensen, 2013). Before, during and after the test failure, root cause analysis should require to do while diagnosing the causes of test failures. It is a popular technique, which helps the software tester to identify the problem within the testing process. This technique is used to analyze thre e of basic causes such as physical, human as well as organizational causes of failure. This analysis comes when there is a requirement of improving the quality of system (Sabbaghi et al., 2015). Root cause analysis consists of three steps to mitigate the problems such as providing a problem definition, gathering of data on the problems and analyzing the problems. It is the best method for analyzing the issues as well as problems within the system so that on time it should be mitigated. At the time of maintaining a video game, which contains millions of lines of code, root cause analysis is the best technique to detect the problems (Lewis, 2016). Mainly, there is test failure into the video game due to error in entry of codes. This technique tracks the defects and then identifies its patterns. It identifies the weakness of the system within development system. Further, the software tester does review if this analysis gives any chances in the test failure defects (Collacott, 2012). This technique provides with data in order to improve the software development. It helps to give customer value as well as accurate data. A stakeholder meeting is conducted to take their suggestions on diagnosing the problems. Tasks are allocated to different members based on their skills and knowledge (Maslach, 2016). Root cause analysis is used to identify as well as correct the causes of the test failure, rather than addressing the results. After identifying the problems, it is required to take preventive measures in the future. Brainstorming is required to do so that the project team can eliminate the causes of failure. Finally, the changes, which are made due to test failure, are monitored properly so that it cannot give any influences on the project work (Gercek, Saleem Steel, 2016). Most of the software developer uses this technique so that they can recognize the problem within the testing process. Problem definition, data gathering and problem analyzing are the most important to identify the causes of the test failure in any system development project work. Criteria to Decide the Best Approach (in-house or procure) A complex system consists of subsystems, parts as well as components, which are required outside subcontractors as well as vendors. It is done either by in-house as well as procures those (Matsushima Pan, 2016). In this particular case, there are two choices such as buying of parts from outside and giving it to the sub-conductors to make the parts in-house. The criteria to select outsourcing vendor are that the vendor should be focused on quality of products and services (Jan et al., 2016). The vendor should have price that it should enable customer sufficient for savings of cost. It is required to understand the capability of the vendor. Most important is security of the customer data at the vendor site. Therefore, vendor should consist of security policies to secure the data of their customers. A technology infrastructure is required for the complex systems as there are unexpected failures are done within the system, which causes system failure (Sesay Ramirez, 2016). The other cr iteria to select the best approach are the communication method. It is required to see the way the vendor can communicate with their customers. In any system development project, a new complex system is outsourced should contain comprehensive system documentation. The outsourcer should take responsibility of document specification. The person can also plan for quality documentation and coding for the system. It is the way an outsourcer can make sure that it will obtain over the code, if it requires to. As an example, the organization can outsource their network management of their system but they can keep their end user support in-house. It provides the organization with a good balancing of on-site support for the employees (Buede Miller, 2016). Most of the organizations are using the outsourcing process to improve the customer service, quality as well as reduction of costs (Buede Miller, 2016). The reasons for outsourcing of the products are specialized skills of subcontractors, specialized equipments as well as cost savings. The other approach is in sourcing which is criticized by building of project team in order to operate the system functions. The team can control the activity as well as quality of the system (Meeker Escobar, 2014). Most of the organizations are in-house their core operations in order to innovate their business within marketplace. While hiring of in-house, the organization requires skilled as well as knowledgeable person to work with system so that the proj ect work should kept in-house. At the time of hiring of persons for the project, it has greater control of cost. If the project work gets overtime, then after sometimes it will contain same cost. A specific work culture is also required to hire vendor for the work (Maslach, 2016). Therefore, after analyzing the two approaches, it is seen that outsourcing of vendor is the best approach for any organization for no down time, cost savings, concentrated expertise as well as no requirement to invest into equipments. Involvement of System Engineer in Design and Definitions of Support System The system engineer involves in design and support system project work, as they are required to writ code based on system requirements. Based on client requirements, the project is required to maintain. A logistics support system is required for successful system operational performance (Lewis, 2016). It optimizes of functional support, leverages of accessible resources as well as directs the process of system engineering. Logistics support is a process, which reduces the demand of logistics and makes the system efficient to support. The system engineer involves in supply support to acquire of support items as well as spare parts, catalog and receive of items, storage as well as warehouse, transfer and issue of items and providing initial support for the system (Matsushima Pan, 2016). The key features of supply chain activities of the service are to source the system components, ensure the transportation of service and deliver the services to the customers on time and within deadlin e. The features of spare parts in logistics support system are kept in the inventory to replace the failed units. There are two types of spare parts such as repairable and consumables (De Lemos et al., 2013). In logistics, there are two chances in investment of cost such as cost of ordering replacement part as well as cost to repair that part. There is requirement of spare parts to overcome with failure of system equipments. Even procurement of spare parts requires long lead-time. At the moment when the system fails, if there is no spare parts then there is system failure. Replaceable part level is the quick replacement of any damaged parts and units from the system at an operating location. This level is used for logistics planning as well as operation. Line replacement unit is used to improve the maintenance operations as they are stocked as well as replaced on quickly basis from the on-site inventories. It also reduces the cost of system as well as there is an increase in system quality. Training as well as documentation features are used to meet with the customers requirements (Sabbaghi et al., 2015). The training teams are system designers, training specialists as well as instructors. The documentation team ensures that transfers of knowledge to the employees are accurate as well as proper. While giving training to the employees, training manuals are required for them to give proper information on use of logistics support system. Training and documentation tracks, documents as well as implements the training activities in the organization. Customi zation of the training materials require instructions on the training topics, link with the training programs as well as ensure the employees to train them properly (Paolucci Sacile, 2016). Documentation is done on catalog and receives of items, transfer and issue of items, storage items and warehousing. The support system allows for leveraging of resources, directing the system process and optimizing of functional system support. Finally, the system engineer analyzes the quality of the system based on customer requirements as well as business requirements. References Arvidsson, V., Holmstrm, J., Lyytinen, K. (2014). 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