The picture approach article

Question 1

What is the picture approach?

Answer 1

It is a method for analysing, redesigning and combining system complexes and for improving business IT alignment in organizations.

It leads to a reduction in the objective and subjective complexities of the application portfolio and a shared basis for the redesign of the application portfolio between business and IT managers.

(the objective is to improve decision-making on IS portfolios from business management perspectives)

Question 2

How is IT defined within this paper?

Answer 2

1. information systems (databases, processing functionalities)
2. IT infrastructure (data networks, operating systems, hardware, IT skills)
3. IT policies (procedures for users and IT managers, IT coordination, education and support)

Question 3

How is a good merger results achieved?

Answer 3

Business ambitions are aligned well to the IT integration objectives and the IT integration method.

Question 4

What is objective complexity?

Answer 4

# of lines of code
# of function points
structure and type of code
(# interfaces)
(#people that work with the system)
(#functions)

Question 5

What is subjective complexity?

Answer 5

An observer will find an object complex if he or she is not able to oversee its operation or the combination of elements at a glance or within a limited amount of time.

(effort to understand the system and effort to cope with the system)

Question 6

Why was the picture approach invented?

Answer 6

For lack of an appropriate methodology to combine business process modelling (BPM) and information systems modelling (ISM) [13], the practical ‘picture approach’ was developed in order to map out system complexes for business and IT managers.

(geen goeie combi van BPM en ISM model)

Question 7

What is a picture?

Answer 7

An image/reflection of organizational processes

Question 8

What types of interface are there?

Answer 8

direct interfaces (intensive, on-line)

less intensive automated interfaces (file transfer)

manual interfaces

Question 9

A fact sheet is used to give an explicit description of the pictures of each system complex? What fact sheets are there?

Answer 9

• IT architecture
• Systems functionality
• process support
• Costs and benefits
• Risks

Question 10

How is alignment achieved by the picture approach?

Answer 10

By including business staff and IT staff in various project activities (multi-disciplinairy teams)

Question 11

What steps are there in the picture approach?

Answer 11

1. take pictures (first foto is a conceptual model, 2nd and 3rd zoom in on each part and identify precise relations between processes, actors etc. Final shoot shows a more detailed interaction.
2. The second step in the process is when the draft picture is presented to the core team using a largesize video screen and colour hardcopies. The presentation of pictures and fact sheets usually results
   in changes and additions (‘what are the precise relations between systems?’, ‘which data are
   exchanged?’).
3. The third step is a reflection on (i.e. stepping back from) the detailed picture created in Step 2: ‘what additional information do we need, and how do we show this information in the pictures?’ (detailing pictures)
4. In step four, the (up to 10) pictures of a system complex and its five fact sheets are presented to the
   core team. This is where all lines meet: where the individual pictures and processes are linked
   together and the system complexes are defined

Question 12

What two criteria does AHP have?

Answer 12

knock-out criteria (must haves)

preference criteria

Question 13

What case studies were done?

Answer 13

3 case studies

1. a large social security agency (merger of 5 agencies with the same core business) (reduced the subjective complexity)
2. a large insurance company (results of multiple mergers). (they choose a target system complex and reduced the subjective complexity)
3. health insurance company. (reduced subjective complexity, however not objective because old systems were used)