The Soft Systems Methodology Based Analysis Model in the Development of Selfmanaging Information Systems

Problem statement: In order to be able to manage its own information within its operating environment with minimal human intervention, a selfmanaging information system ought to identify and make use of information from the resources available in its environment. The development of requirements for selfmanaging information systems should start with an appropriate analysis model that can explicitly show the collaborating entities in the environment. The traditional forms of analysis in systems development approaches have not focused on computing systems environments and ways to identify environment resources. Approach: This study discusses the analysis activities in the development of selfmanaging information systems. Results: We propose an SSM based analysis model, which is able to examine the requirements for selfmanaging information systems. We describe the analysis of one particular system, the inventory management system and illustrate how this system fulfils certain desired selfmanaging properties. Conclusion: The SSM based analysis model is able to address the actuation capabilities of the systems and considers internal and external resources in the environment. The analysis model not only takes into account the information from the environment but is also able to provide support in determining the requirements for selfmanaging properties.