INFORMATION SYSTEM DESIGN IN LARGE SCALE LOGISTIC SYSTEMS

Modern systems analysis is an effort to apply structured rationality to problems of choice. To be of use in information system design in large organizations the analyst must be aware that techniques of analysis require time and data. Neither may be available. New techniques are required which allow rapid modeling of information systems. In addition the analyst must understand that institutional factors cause real design to proceed from simultaneous policy and hardware selection through software to the final system. The analyst must supply advice on policy phasing, equipment phasing, flexibility, and backup. The paper described a situation in which a design process goes backwards from what is suggested. The implications for new analysis techniques may not be so much computational as educational.