Discuss the Work System Framework of Steven Alter Discuss th

Solution

The work system framework is a useful basis for describing and analyzing an IT-reliant work system in an organization because its nine elements are part of a basic understanding of a work system. The framework outlines a work system’s form, function, and environment.

The definitions of the 9 elements of a work system are as follows:

1)Processes and activities include everything that happens within the work system. The term processes and activities is used instead of the term business process because many work systems do not contain highly structured business processes involving a prescribed sequence of steps, each of which is triggered in a pre-defined manner. In effect, “business process” is but one of a number of different perspectives for analyzing the activities within a work system. Other perspectives with their own valuable concepts and terminology include decision-making, communication, coordination, control, and information processing.

2)Participants are people who perform the work. Some may use computers and IT extensively, whereas others may use little or no technology. When analyzing a work system the more encompassing role of work system participant is more important than the more limited role of technology user (whether or not particular participants happen to be technology users). Customers are participants in many work systems.

3)Information includes codified and non-codified information that is used, created, captured, transmitted, stored, retrieved, manipulated, updated, displayed, and/or deleted by processes and activities. Typical informational entities include orders, invoices, warranties, schedules, income statements, reservations, medical histories, resumes, job descriptions, and job offers. The distinction between data and information is not important for understanding a work system since the only data/ information that is mentioned is information that is created, used or processed by the work system.

4)Technologies include tools (such as cell phones, projectors, spreadsheet software, and automobiles) and automated services (i.e., hardware/software configurations that perform totally automated activities).

5)Product/services consist of information, physical things, social products such as agreements, intangibles such as entertainment or peace of mind, and/or actions produced by a work system for the benefit and use of its customers.

6)Customers are recipients of a work system’s product/ services for purposes other than performing work activities within the work system. Since work systems exist to produce product/services for their customers, an analysis of a work system should consider who the customers are, what they want, and how they use whatever the work system produces.

7)Environment includes the relevant organizational, cultural, competitive, technical, regulatory, and demographic environment within which the work system operates, and that affects the work system’s effectiveness and efficiency. Organizational aspects of the environment include stakeholders, policies and procedures, and organizational history and politics, all of which are relevant to the operational efficiency and effectiveness of many work systems. Factors in a work system’s environment may have direct or indirect impacts on its performance results, aspiration levels, goals, and requirements for change.

8)Infrastructure includes relevant human, informational, and technical resources that are used by the work system but are managed outside of it and are shared with other work systems.

9)Strategies that are relevant to a work system include enterprise strategy, department strategy, and work system strategy. In general, strategies at the three levels should be in alignment, and work system strategies should support department and enterprise strategies.