Analisis PIECES Part 1

Summary

This video introduces the PIECES framework (Performance, Information, Economic, Control, Efficiency, and Service) for evaluating and improving information systems. It focuses on identifying system weaknesses such as performance issues, data quality problems, and high costs. Practical examples include analyzing system performance in university portals, information accuracy in student records, and economic considerations like cost tracking. The goal is to help students recognize and address system flaws in real-world applications, ultimately leading to better, more efficient systems. The next video will cover additional analysis on security, efficiency, and service.

Takeaways

• 😀 Identifying key problems in a system requires the use of PIECES analysis, focusing on performance, information, and economic aspects.
• 😀 Performance analysis helps to identify issues like production quantity and response time, which can impact user satisfaction in various systems.
• 😀 A performance issue example is when the number of successful uploads (e.g., for student tasks) is far lower than expected, signaling poor performance.
• 😀 Response time issues can frustrate users, such as when a website takes too long to load or respond to clicks, exceeding ideal UX standards.
• 😀 Information analysis assesses the quality of data in a system, addressing issues like irrelevant, outdated, excessive, or inaccurate data.
• 😀 Common issues in information analysis include insufficient details (e.g., attendance without course breakdown) and outdated data (e.g., delayed grade updates).
• 😀 Solutions for information issues may include adding filters to dashboards or implementing double validation for important data like tuition fees.
• 😀 Economic analysis in PIECES addresses financial concerns like hidden costs, untrackable expenses, high costs, and missed market opportunities.
• 😀 To avoid unforeseen expenses, it’s essential to conduct Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis before implementing new systems or projects.
• 😀 For startups or small-scale projects, economic analysis includes assessing the cost of software licenses, infrastructure, and expected returns like break-even points.
• 😀 The PIECES framework is a versatile tool for evaluating systems, applicable to scenarios from academic portals to business startups, helping to identify weaknesses and areas for improvement.

Q & A

What is the purpose of performing a pieces analysis in system design or evaluation?

The purpose of performing a pieces analysis is to identify key issues in a system, focusing on performance, information, economics, control, efficiency, and service to improve the design and evaluation of information systems.

What are the two key metrics for performance analysis in an information system?

The two key metrics for performance analysis are production quantity and response time. Production quantity refers to the amount of work completed (e.g., how many tasks can be uploaded in a system in an hour), while response time refers to the time it takes for the system to respond to a request.

Can you provide an example of a performance issue based on the script?

An example of a performance issue is when students try to upload files to the academic system but only a fraction of the files are successfully uploaded, indicating low production performance.

What are the common issues identified in information analysis?

The common issues in information analysis are: lack of relevant information, untimely information, excessive information, and inaccurate information. Each of these issues affects how data is presented and used in the system.

How does a lack of relevant information affect a system?

A lack of relevant information can lead to confusion or incorrect decisions, such as when an attendance report only shows the total number of students present without details on specific courses, making it difficult for instructors to assess student engagement.

What is the significance of timely information in a system?

Timely information is crucial because delays can hinder decision-making. For example, if assignment grades are updated too late, students may not have enough time to prepare for exams, affecting their performance.

What are the risks of having too much information in a system?

Having too much information can overwhelm users, as seen with an e-learning dashboard that displays too many different metrics at once. This can confuse students about where to focus their attention and can reduce the overall user experience.

What are some potential economic issues that might arise in information system projects?

Potential economic issues include unknown costs (e.g., maintenance costs not accounted for in a server purchase), untrackable expenses (e.g., mixed-up costs between hosting and publication), and excessively high costs (e.g., expensive software licenses when free alternatives are available).

How can a system improve its economic analysis before implementation?

To improve economic analysis, it's important to conduct a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis, accounting for both direct and indirect costs, and to explore potential new markets and revenue streams. This helps ensure that the project is financially viable and sustainable.

What is the importance of economic analysis in a student’s thesis project, as described in the script?

In a student’s thesis project, economic analysis is important for evaluating costs such as access to online journals, software licenses, and any other financial resources needed. This helps in making informed decisions on budget and resource allocation for the project.