SYSTEMS APPROACH TO

PROBLEM SOLVING
ABHIJITH SURESH B
TVE17MEIE01
 PRESENTATION PLAN
• INTRODUCTION
• STEPS IN SYSTEMS APPROACH
• AN EXAMPLE
• CONCLUSION
• REFERENCE
 INTRODUCTION
SYSTEMS APPROACH
• Systems approach is widely used in problem solving
in different contexts.
• The systems approach to problem uses a system
orientation to define problem and develop solutions.
 STEPS IN SYSTEMS APPROACH TO
PROBLEM SOLVING

Source: [Link]
 STEPS
 Designing the problem
• This is the step when the problem has to be
defined.
• It is vital to drill deep into an issue and clearly
understand the problem rather than having a
superficial understanding of the problem.
• Systems approach is therefore used to
understand the problem in granular detail to
establish requirement and objectives in-depth.
 STEPS
 Develop alternative solutions
• This is the next logical step in the systems
approaches for problem solving.
• In this stage alternative solutions are generated.
This requires creativity and innovation.
• In this stage-the analyst uses creativity to come
up with possible solutions to the problem.
• Typically in this stage only the outline of solutions
are generated rather than the actual solutions.
 STEPS
 Select the solution
• The solution that suits the requirement and
objectives in the most comprehensive manner is
selected as the 'best' solution.
• This is done after evaluating all the possible
solutions and then comparing the possible set of
solutions to find the most suitable solution.
• Lot of mathematical, financial and technical
models are used to select the most appropriate
solution.
 STEPS
 Designing the solution
• At this stage the details of the solution are
worked out to create the blueprint for the
solution.
• Several design diagrams are used to prepare the
design document.
• At this stage the requirement specifications are
again compared with the solution design to
double check the suitability of the solution for
the problem.
 STEPS
Implementing the solution
• The solution that has been designed is
implemented as per the specifications -laid
down in the design document.
• During implementation care is taken to ensure
that there are no deviations from the design.
 A systems approach example
• Let us assume that A is the coach of the Indian
cricket team. Let us also assume that the
objective that A has been entrusted with is to
secure a win over the touring Australian
cricket team. The coach uses a systems
approach to attain this objective. He starts by
gathering information about his own team.
• Through systems approach he views his own
Indian team as a system whose environment
would include the other team in the
competition, umpires, regulators, crowd and
media. His system, i.e., team itself maybe
conceptualized as having two subsystems, i.e.,
players and supporting staff for players. Each
subsystem would have its own set of
components/entities like the player subsystem
will have openers, middle order batsmen, fast
bowlers, wicket keeper, etc.
• The supporting staff subsystem would include
bowling coach, batting coach, physiotherapist,
psychologist, etc. All these entities would
indeed have a bearing on the actual outcome
of the game. The coach adopts a systems
approach to determine the playing strategy
that he will adopt to ensure that the Indian
side wins. He analyses the issue in a stepwise
manner as given below:
• Step 1: Defining the problem
He realizes that the problem he faces is that of
losing the game. This is his main problem.
• Step 2: Collecting data
The coach employs his supporting staff to gather
data on the skills and physical condition of the
players in the competing team by analyzing :
1. Past performance data
2. Viewing television footage of previous games
3. Making psychological profiles of each player.
The support staff analyses the data and comes up with the
following observations:
• Both teams use an aggressive strategy during the period of
power play. The competing Australian team uses the opening
players to spearhead this attack. However, recently the
openers have had a personal fight and are facing
interpersonal problems.
• The game is being played in Mumbai and the local crowd
support is estimated to be of some value amounting to
around fifty runs. Also the crowd has come to watch the
Indian team win. A loss here would cost the team in terms of
morale.
• The umpires are neutral and are not intimidated by large
crowd support but are lenient towards sledging.
Step 3: Identifying alternatives
Based on the collected data the coach generates the
following alternate strategies:
• Play upon the minds of the opening players of the
competitors by highlighting their personal differences
using sledging alone.
• Employ defensive tactics during power play when the
openers are most aggressive and not using sledging.
• Keep close in fielders who would sledge and employ
the best attacking bowlers of the Indian team during
the power play.
Step 4: Evaluating alternatives
• The first alternative may lead to loss of concentration
on the part of openers and result in breakthroughs.
• The second strategy provides a safer option in the
sense that it will neutralize the aggressive game of the
openers but there is limited chance of getting
breakthroughs.
• The third option of employing aggressive close in
fielders to play upon the internal personal differences
of the openers and at the same time employing the
best bowlers may lead to breakthroughs and may also
restrict the aggressive openers.
Step 5: Selecting the best alternative
The coach selects the third alternative as it
provides him with the opportunity of
neutralizing the aggressive playing strategy of
the openers as well as increases the chances of
getting breakthrough wickets.
Step 6: Implementing and monitoring
The coach communicates his strategy to his
players and support staff, instructs support staff
to organize mock sessions and tactics to be
employed to make the strategy a success. The
players and support staff performance is
monitored by the coach on a regular basis to
ensure that the strategy is employed perfectly.
 CONCLUSION
• The systems approach to problem solving
used a systems orientation to define problems
and opportunities and develop solutions.
• Different steps in systems approach can be
used to find the solution to different problems
by different mathematical, financial and
technical models.
 REFERENCES
• [Link]
information-systems/systems-approach-to-
problem-solving/
• [Link]
system-approach-mis
• [Link]
and-system-
concepts/systemsapproachtoproblemsolving