An illustration of systems analysis - paper recycling

The following hypothetical example is presented to illustrate the "systems analysis model" obviously, a real example would be more comprehensive objective.

Objective

Initiate and implement a paper recycling program for a university.

Translation of objectives

Desing and create for university a systems of paper recycling that is capable of :

1. Efficiently collecting 75 to 90 percent of all paper products used by the university that are now considered waste.
2. Effectively channeling collected waste to facilities capable of sorting paper into biodegradable and non biodegradable categories of recycling waste into products that can be untilized by the community at large.

Constraints

1. Present technology recycling facilities cost approximately $20 million to build.
2. Available of water adequate facilities use 10 million gallon of water daily and produc 2 million gallon of effluent, plus solid wastes from deinking and other operations.
3. Only certain grades of paper can be recycled.
4. Paper can only be recycled a maximum of five or six times before libers become too short fot processing
5. Legal constraint the university is limited by law in the type of operations it can undertake
6. Public support it may be necessary to receive the support of the users before a feasible system can be outlined

Analysis

1. Investigation of various collection schemes 
   • wastepaper containers
   • central disposal locations
   • conveyors
   • incinerators
   • compressor/processors
2. Various removal schemes
   • trucks
   • conveyors
   • incinerators
   • compressor/processor 
3. Investigation of future requirements and opportunities
   • grow in paper consumption
   • pending disposal legislation
   • attitudes of paper suppliers, user, disposers, public
   • echniques of disposal and recovery
   • list of agencies oragnizations dealing with disposal and the recovery
4. Investigate cost of various kinds of collection , sorting and processing schemes.

Alternative couses of action

1. Collect, sort, and recycle the paper at a university plant. 
2. Colleect and sort but sell the paper to an outside contractor for recyling. 
3. Contract the collection sorting and processing of paper for recycling with outside organizations. 
4. Same as point 1...3 but purchasing for use only that paper which has been recycled.

Criteria for selection

1. How to effective is the program in utilizing the greatest percentage of wastepaper for recycling?
2. What are the cost of various alternatives to the university?
3. How acceptable is the system to students, faculty, staff, and public?
4. How difficult will the program be to implement relative to time and degree of change from present systems?
    

Tradeoffs

The alternative shich have been suggested are all feasible in that they will achieve the objectives within the constraints which have been ootlined. Now they need to be testes with regard to which of the alternative rates highest relative to selection criteria. That is which will recycle the greatest amount of paper, at the lowest cost, with the least objection, and with the least difficully of implementation? Each alternative may have certain adavantages.

Synthesis

At the synthesis stage it is necessary to develop a composite or program alternative which may include features of all alterntives or as the alternatives are reviewed in the trade-off/synthesis process, it may be possible to generate new alternatives or to refine some of those which have been suggested.

Source : Richard A. Johnson, 1973. Theory manajement systems. Singapore: McGWAW-HILL KOGAKUSHA, LTD.