MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS EXAMINATION

Systems in the Management Universe can be examined initially by a broad investigation of their situation, operation, and efficacy.

The objective of the initial investigation of systems in the Management Universe is to obtain a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the systems involved. The initial examination enables those systems and their parts that need to be inspected in more detail to be identified. Systems can be examined most effectively first by inspecting all aspects of the situation within which the system exists. Within this situation the environment needs to be surveyed in terms of resources, activities, and events that occur in it. The second stage of inspection is concerned with the mechanism and operation of the system. This involves the objectives, performance and controls that are applied. The financial performance and controls are often assumed to be of most importance, although this is not always the case. In a retail garage the objectives would be to make a profit, the performance of which would be to sell service, and ensure that fitters did as much chargeable work and replaced as many parts as possible. In contrast a commercial garage, although their resources would be the same, might be concerned only with maintenance of the company’s own vehicles. Their objectives would be to carry out the minimum amount of maintenance and use of spares, consistent with obtaining the maximum amount of mileage and minimum breakdown of vehicles. The third and final stage initially in inspecting systems is to measure their efficacy, and to determine whether they achieve the necessary objectives. This involves considering issues that have been observed in the foregoing situational and operational examinations. These issues may now be examined in turn, and a set of possible solutions may be considered. From these, one or more possibilities for development may be selected on which to act.