3. Systems / Processes


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	3. Technological Systems / Processes
		Welcome back to the study of technology. This presentation continues our exploration into technological systems. Remember, a technological system has 4 main parts:

		This time we will look at Processes.
		Definition please.
		The term process refers to the steps needed to complete a task. There are 3 types of processes involved in technological systems. Chart please! The first is Problem Solving...

		Problem solving, problem solving, teachers are always talking about problem solving. They give you a problem and say figure it out.
		Yeah, and most of the time, I either know the answer or I don't. When I do I'm OK but when I don't, I'm stuck.
		How do professionals like engineeers solve problems?
		You would think that people involved with technology must have a system to solve problems.
		They do. It's called the Design Process and it is used throughout industry to develop new things.
		Wait, Development...that's that R&D thing.
		What's R&D?
		R&D stands for Research and Development.
		Correct! Here are the steps involved in the problem Design Process.

		Do you think we can use this method to invent something new?
		Sure, in fact, iMAG students will have an opportunity to work in teams in the class to develop a new invention as part of the TSA competition called Engineering Design. For now though, I want to keep looking at the other processes involved in technological systems.

		The next set of processes on the list is Production. That sounds like manufacturing, factories and stuff.
		Very good! Production includes all the operations needed to produce the thing you want. And yes, many of the things we use everyday are produced in factories. But that's not all.
		Never is.
		Try to broaden your idea of production.
		How about farming. Growing and harvesting food? Does that count?
		Yes. Agriculture is included as a production process.
		How about medical treatments in a hospital? Does that count?
		Yep.
		How about the iMAG shop that prints T-shirts? Does that count?
		Absolutely. Each technological system has its own production process. Experts have identified the following 9 areas or fields of technological production.

		Does that take care of the production process for now?
		Yes, what's next?

		The 3rd and last set of technological processes is Management.
		The Management processes include all the actions taken to make sure that the production processes operate efficiently and appropriately. Really, management is involved in every aspect of technology. Let's see if you guys can brainstorm some ideas of where management relates to technology. Here I will give you some clues:

		Planning Like in the shop. We have to set goals and go over the proper steps to get the job done. And sometimes we try to think of new ways to make money for the shop. So we make both short term and long term plans.
		Perfect examples.
		Organizing Remember, I work in the shop, too. We also have to decide who is going to do what and in what order, and we have to make sure we have all the supplies we need.
		That hands-on learning is really paying off. Actuating Now that's a word you probably don't know. Actuating is the part of the management process that involves starting the job. In other words, your team plans the goal and organizes how you're going to do the job, then someone, like the team leader says OK let's get started.
		Oh, so actuating is telling people to get to work.
		Yes, but it can also include teaching someone new skills, solving problems during the job, motivating workers.
		You mean YELLING!
		No! Motivating, encouraging, telling someone they're doing a good job. Team leaders and managers have to keep an eye on everything to make sure that things are going correctly.
		Sometimes I resent my manager at work. But I guess she is just doing her job.
		A manager may see things differently than you do. But a good manager will explain why things need to be done a certain way and will be open to your ideas. Try to remember that everyone involved in a project needs to understand and agree on the goal of the project and know and understand the steps needed to get the job done correctly and on time.
		So, Actuating is like actually doing the job. That will help me remember the meaning of actuating.
		What's left? Management processes include the Planning, Organizing, Actuating, and...
		Controlling
		My boyfriend says I'm a control freak.
		Well, control is more than making people or even things do what you want. That's part of it, of course. But control includes comparing the output of a system to the goal. Now we have not talked about output yet...
		...and we will I'm sure.
		As I was saying, take a car, for example. As you learn to drive, you learn how to look down the road and move the steering wheel in the direction needed to get you where you're going.
		And not hit something, my cousin plowed into a fence the very first time out.
		The idea about control that I want you to understand is the relationship between looking and acting. In manufacturing, you will hear the term Quality Control. Who knows what that means?
		I do. Quality Control is about making sure that there aren't any mistakes.
		When we are printing shirts, the person putting the shirts in the oven checks to see if the shirt meets our standard. If something is wrong we stop and figure out how to fix it.
		Perfect example! Control is about comparing a situation or product to a standard or goal and making corrections if needed.
		If only my cousin was paying more attention to the road and less attention to his iPOD.
		Remember, the term control is used in different ways through out the study of technology and in other subjects too. Here we are using the term control to descibe the management operations in a technological system.
		We know, control includes all the actions needed to make sure that the technological system operates efficiently and appropriately.
		Remember! These management processes have been used in our discusion of technological systems. As you study other iMAG subjects, including areas of marketting, you will learn additional managment skills and processes. Ok, Let's wrap this up. We have been talking about the processes involved in technological systems. We have identified 3 kinds, Chart!

	We said that there are 4 steps in the Problem Solving and Design Process, Chart!

	Then we looked at production and we said that production was the various operations needed to produce something. For example, production processes are used to grow and process crops, convert and use energy, build structures, produce media messages, treat illnesses and transport people and cargo. And finally, we talked about the Management Process. Chart!

	Next time we will explore the outputs and feedback involved in technological systems.
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3. Technological Systems / Processes