System Engineering

College of Computer Science and Engineering

Shandong University of Science and Technology
Tsu-Yang Wu
 Outline
• Computer-based System
• Tasks of System Engineering
• Feasibility Analysis

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 Computer-based System
• The collection or arrangement of elements organized together by
processing information to achieve some predefined goals
• The elements that make up the computer-based system mainly including
• Software, hardware, personnel, database, document, and procedure
• Software
• Computer programs, data structures and related work products to realize the
required logical methods, procedures, or controls
• Hardware
• Electronic equipment that provides computing power, interconnected equipment
that supports data flow (such as network switches, telecommunications
equipment), and electromechanical equipment that provides external world
functions (such as sensors, motors, etc.)
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 Computer-based System
• Personnel
• The users and operators of hardware and software
• Database
• A large organized collection of information accessed and permanently stored by
software
• Documentation
• Descriptive information describing the use and operations of the system (such as
models, specifications, hard copy manuals, online help files, websites)
• Procedures
• The steps to define the specific use of each system element or the procedural
context in which the system is located

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 System Hierarchy
• The computer-based system can become an element of a larger
computer-based system
• Called the macro element of that larger system
• In this way, the computer-based system can present a hierarchy

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 Tasks of System Engineering
• Computer system engineering is a problem-solving activity
• Its purpose is
• To analyze the function and performance requirements of computer-based
systems
• To assign them to each system element of computer-based systems
• To determine their constraints and interfaces

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 Tasks of System Engineering
• Identify user requirements
• To identify the function and performance range of the system
• To determine the function, performance, constraints, and interfaces of the system
• System modeling and simulation
• Cost estimation and schedule
• Feasibility analysis
• Generate system specifications

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 System Modeling and Simulation
• Generally, the following models can be considered
• The hardware system model
• To describe the hardware (including computers, other hardware equipment
controlled by the system, etc.) configuration, communication protocol, topology,
and measures to ensure the security, reliability, and performance of the computer-
based system
• The software system model
• To describes the functional and performance requirements of each software
subsystem, their deployment in the hardware system, and the interaction between
software subsystems
• The human-computer interface model
• To describe how people interact with computer-based systems including user
environment, user activities, syntax, semantics of human-computer interaction
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 System Modeling and Simulation
• The data model
• To describe which database management systems are used in the computer-based
system.
• If multiple database management systems are used, the data conversion mode
between them shall also be described
• The main data structure can be given if necessary
• The system model can usually be described graphically with corresponding
text description
• If necessary, after the system modeling
• The prototype can be constructed for system simulation to analyze whether the
model can meet the requirements of the whole computer-based system

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 Tasks of System Engineering
• Cost estimation and schedule
• Cost estimate and schedule the computer-based system to be developed
• Feasibility analysis
• To analyze whether the given solution is feasible from the aspects of the economy,
technology, and law
• Generally, the real development of computer-based system can be started only
when the solution is feasible and has certain economic or social benefits
• Generate system specifications

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 Feasibility Analysis
• The development of a computer-based system is usually limited by
resources (human, financeial, equipment, etc.) and time
• Mainly analyzing whether the given solution is feasible
• From the aspects of economy, technology and law
• Can be completed under the constraints of specified resources and time

• Economic feasibility mainly carries out a cost-benefit analysis

• to determine whether the system is worth developing from an economic point of
view

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 Economic Feasibility Analysis
• The cost of computer-based system mainly includes
• Purchasing hardware
• Purchasing software (such as database management system, components
developed by a third party, etc.) and
• Purchasing equipment (such as sensors, etc.)
• System development cost
• System installation, operation and maintenance costs
• Personnel training expenses

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 Economic Feasibility Analysis - Benefit
• Economic benefits include increased revenue and saved operating costs
after using the computer-based system
• Such as the number of operators, working hours, materials consumed, etc.
• In the cost-benefit analysis, usually only the economic benefits within five
years are counted
• Social benefit refers to the impact on the society after using the
computer-based system
• Such as improving the efficiency of handling affairs, making users satisfied, etc.
• Usually, the social benefit can only be estimated qualitatively
• Economic benefits can usually be measured by the time value of money,
investment payback period, and net income
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 The Time Value of Money
• Assume that the current amount is P, the annual interest rate is i, and the
amount of money after n years is F, then
F  P(1i)n and P  F/(1i)n
• During calculation, the accumulated economic benefits shall be converted
into the current amount of money
• For example
• After a computer-based system is used, the annual economic benefit is 100000
• If the annual interest rate is 5%, the cumulative economic benefit of the system in
five years is 43294800, not 500000
10 10 10 10 10
• P= + + + + = 43.2948
1.05 1.052 1.053 1.054 1.055

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 Investment Payback Period & Net Income
• Investment payback period
• The time required for the cumulative economic benefit to be equal to the number
(cost) of investment
• Net income = Accumulated economic benefits - Investment
• When the net income is greater than zero
• The project is worth investment and development
• When the net income is less than zero
• The project is not worth investing (unless it has obvious social benefits)
• When net income equals zero, it is usually not worth investing
• Obviously, the greater the net income, the better

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 Technical Feasibility Analysis
• To analyzes whether the system can be realized
• Under the existing resources and technical conditions
• According to the function, performance, and constraints of the system
• Technical feasibility analysis usually includes
• Risk analysis
• Resource analysis
• Technical analysis

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 Risk Analysis
• To analyze the risk of designing and implementing the system under given
constraints
• Using immature technology may cause technical risks
• Personnel turnover may bring risks to the project
• Budget risk caused by unreasonable cost and personnel estimation

• The purpose of risk analysis

• To find out the risk,
• To evaluate the size of the risk
• To effectively control and mitigate the risk

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 Resource Analysis
• To verify whether there are various personnel, software, hardware, and
other resources and corresponding working environment required for
system development
• For example
• If there is a development and management team that has developed similar
projects
• Or the developers are familiar with the field of the system
• There are enough personnel to ensure that the required hardware and supporting
software can be obtained by legal means
• From a technical point of view, it can be considered to have the conditions for
designing and realizing the system

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 Technical Analysis
• To analyze whether the current science and technology supports various
activities of system development
• In the process of technical analysis, analysts
• To collect information on system performance, reliability, maintainability, and
productivity
• To analyze the technologies, methods, algorithms or processes required to realize
system functions and performance
• To analyze the possible risks and the impact of these technical problems on costs
from a technical perspective
• System modeling is usually required for technical feasibility analysis, and
prototype and system simulation can be built when necessary

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 Legal Feasibility Analysis
• To study the contract, tort, liability, and various problems in conflict with
the law that may be involved in the process of system development
• In 1990
• China promulgated the copyright law of the People's Republic of China,
• To take computer software as the protection object of the copyright law
• In 1991
• The State Council promulgated the regulations on the protection of computer
software
• These two legal documents are the main basis for legal feasibility analysis

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 Options and Compromises
• A computer-based system can have multiple feasible implementation
schemes
• Each scheme has different requirements for cost, time, personnel,
technology, and equipment
• The systems developed by different schemes will also be different in
function and performance
• Therefore, it is necessary to choose among several feasible
implementation schemes

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 Options and Compromises
• The basis of scheme evaluation is the function, performance, cost,
development time, adopted technology, equipment, risk, and
requirements for developers of the system to be developed
• Because the function and performance of the system are affected by
many factors, some factors are interrelated and restricted
• For example
• Achieving high accuracy may lead to a long execution time
• Achieving high reliability will lead to high cost
• Therefore, a compromise should be made when necessary

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 Conclusion of Feasibility Analysis
• Can start immediately
• It needs to be postponed until certain conditions are implemented
• Such as funds, manpower, equipment, etc.
• Need to make some changes to the development objectives before you
can start
• It cannot be carried out for some reason
• Such as immature technology, uneconomical economy, etc.

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The Second Report
• Review of the movie “TRANSCENDENCE”
• To write a review including the feeling, inspiration, and harvest
• Using Microsoft Word
• The file is named by “Review of TRANSCENDENCE_your name”
• Please send your file via email to the Teaching Assistant
Ms. Guo
• 1679464909@qq.com
• The title is “The second report of Introduction to Software Engineering”
• The deadline is October 18, 2021

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